H1N1 or swine influenza spreads via sneezing and coughing, which then infects others. The majority of people have had the normal flu in their lifetime, and the symptoms of that and H1N1 are similar such as a fever over 100 degrees farenheit, chills, fatigue, stuffy nose, aching body, sore throat. There are some differences with H1N1 though.
For children, take them to the hospital immediately if they have difficulty breathing, severe vomiting, passiveness or not waking up, unusual and severe irritability, not drinking enough, skin tone being bluish or grayish, repeat flu symptoms that worsen when they return.
For adults, symptoms that indicate emergency medical help would include labored difficult breathing, severe vomiting, dizziness, pain in chest or stomach or pressure in those areas, confused thinking, and flu symptoms that diminish and then return with greater coughing and fever.
H1N1 flu: This is a respiratory disease that occurs frequently in pigs, and normally does not result in swine to human transmission of a virus. This year it has, as a new form of the virus. The U.S. is not detecting this virus in any herd of pigs presently, but an infected herd was found in Alberta, Canada, and is now under quarantine. If you have concerns about eating pork, the virus is not spread through food, even though some countries like Egypt have decided to slaughter all their pigs, though they appear to be the only country thus far who has taken this extreme measure. Pandemic flu is when a type of influenza spreads quicly person to person and is typically caused from a new flu virus. At the time of this writing, there is no pandemic flu. Pandemic flu results in a vast population becoming ill from the single disease. The H1N1 virus is being carefully monitored to ensure it does not show signs of becoming a pandemic flu. Seasonal (or common) flu is a respiratory illness that is spread between people. There is a vaccine for it, and most people have a certain amount of immunity to the common flu. Precautions: these could include having a lot of kleenex available, hand sanitizer, washing frequently with soap and water, and isolating groups of people until their symptoms have ended.
Why are the health watch experts monitoring the swine flu in particular? As in any flu, prior medical concerns may results in someone being more susceptible to the flu. People with heart disease are more susceptible to swine flu. As this is a respiratory virus, people who have pre-existing respiratory conditions can be impacted much more seriously. resulting in critical illness and in some cases, death.
Having a flu shot will not protect your from swine influenza, otherwise there would be lineups of people waiting for their vaccination.
There is an anti-viral drug for H1N1 that can be provided, but usually the symptoms need to be recent, within two days prior to having the drug. Health care departments are administering this anti-viral drug to the most severely ill and those who have to be in close proximity with them who are more susceptible to infection.
Who is most at risk for acquiring H1N1? People with respiratory conditions, especially those under age five, pregnant women and older people over age 65.
There were several people who came back from Mexico this past spring break at our office. We all wash our hands at work and a couple staff worked from home for one week as their spouse or them was feeling ill. I have not become ill, nor have any of them tested positive though they have been tested a few times now as a precaution.