How do I know if I have symptoms of Swine Flu? Are the swine flu symptoms of children the same as H1N1 symptoms adults? Let us know the answer to the question “Do I have symptoms of Swine Flu?”
Swine Flu is a number one health concern the world over. The HI1N1 flu or Swine Flu was first detected in US in April 2009. The worst affected areas initially were Canada and Mexico before swine flu cases began to emerge in other areas of the world. In a short span of four months, the disease has spread to almost all regions in the world. World Health Organization has called H1N1 as pandemic which means a big epidemic that involves the entire country or perhaps the world. Usually, the signs of a pandemic are when a virus without any immunity to stop it, spreads across various parts of the world.
Risk factors of Swine Flu
Swine Flu spreads from person to person in the same way as regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. People with high risk for seasonal flu are also at high risk for Swine Flu. For example, people above 65 years of age, pregnant women, children below 5 years of age and those with chronic medical conditions and lifestyle diseases like diabetes are at high risk of getting swine flu.
Symptoms of Swine Flu
In children, the symptoms of swine flu include:
1. Rapid Breathing or Difficulty in breathing.
2. Grayish or Bluish Skin Color
3. Dehydration
4. Persistent of severe vomiting
5. Not able to interact properly with people, become irritable
6. Flu like symptoms, bad cough and fever
In adults, the symptoms of swine flu include:
1. Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing
2. Pain in chest or abdomen
3. Sudden dizziness or loss of energy
4. Severe or continuous vomiting
6. Flu like symptoms, bad cough and fever
The symptoms of H1N1 swine flu is similar to the ones that people get in regular, seasonal flu and so things like fever, sneezing, cough, body ache, head ache, shivering, sore throat and fatigue are common. Diarrhea and vomiting are also symptoms that have been associated with some cases of swine flu.
How do I catch swine flu?
H1N1 Swine Flu is transmitted the same way like seasonal flu. Flu viruses are spread usually from person to person through sneezing or coughing by people who have influenza. Some people may become infected with the deadly H1N1 by touching something that has virus on it and then bringing to their nose or mouth
How can someone with swine flu infect it to someone else?
Infected people can actually infect others from the first day itself, even before they themselves get any symptoms. This means there are also chances that one can pass on the symptoms of swine flu even before she or he knows that she or he is sick.
How do I protect myself from swine flu? How can I take precautions against swine flu?
There is no vaccine that can protect you or be prevention against H1N1 Swine Flu. You can only maintain hygiene and take care to prevent spread of germs that can lead to illnesses like influenza. Here are the ways in which you can prevent yourself against swine flu:
1. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. Throw the tissue in the trash after you sneeze into it.
2. Wash your hands with a liquid handwash like Dettol or Lifebuoy, especially after you cough or sneeze.
3. Do not touch your mouth, eyes or nose. Germs can spread in this manner.
4. Avoid contact with people who are infected with swine flu. This is sad but then the disease is highly infective.
5. If you are sick with influenza, stay at home and do not go to school or work. Limit your contact with people so that they do not get infected.
6. Do not venture into crowded spaces.
7. Increase the airflow in your room by opening the windows for proper ventilation.
8. Sleep well, eat nutritious food and practise healthy habits so that you are physically active and immune to the flu
How long can the Swine Flu virus stay on things like doorknobs and furniture?
According to medical experts, the influenza virus can stay on environmental surfaces and infect people from 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on things like door knobs, books etc. Germs of swine flu can spread when a person touches infected areas or infected people and then touches their eyes, ears, nose or mouth. Cough droplets or sneeze from an infected person can travel through the area. When a person comes in contact with droplets of sneeze of another person or touches things like books or desk of that person that is contaminated with sneeze droplets, and touches his or her own eyes, mouth, nose etc; before washing hands, one can contract H1N1 virus.
What are the medicines and treatment options for H1N1 swine flu?
Taking oseltamivir(Tamiflu) or zanamivir(Relenza) can treat swine flu or H1N1 but they should be taken in the early stages of the disease. Antiviral drugs or prescription medicines can make your immune system strong and keep the flu viruses at bay and stop them from reproducing in your body. So, you should start taking antiviral drugs within two days of getting H1N1 or influenza symptoms.
How do I prevent getting H1N1 (Swine flu) in high risk areas?
If you live in places where people have been infected with H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus or have influenza like symptoms mentioned above, then you should stay home and avoid contact with these people. If you develop flu like symptoms, do not leave things to chance and take instant medical care. Your health care provider or doctor will be able to tell you whether H1N1 flu testing is required.
Does WHO recommend using a MASK?
If you are not sick or if you are not living in high risk areas, it is not required to wear a mask. If a near and dear one is sick with H1N1, you need to wear a mask since you will be in close contact with the ill person. Dispose the mask after contact and wash and clean your hands thoroughly. Using the mask correctly is important because using it incorrectly will spread infection.
How can I differentiate between H1N1 Swine Flu and seasonal flu?
You cannot tell the difference between HI1N1 Swine Flu and Seasonal Flu without a medical verdict on it. Since symptoms for both the diseases are same like cough, headache, sneezing, fever, runny nose etc, only your doctor will be able to say if you have H1N1 virus. In case, your doctor suspects symptoms, they will have your blood sample, nasopharyngeal (nose to mouth) and throat swab to laboratories.
Home remedies for swine flu:
There are no home remedies for swine flu, especially when you have to figure out if it is swine flu or season flu. Swine Flu requires anti-viral drugs because treating it is an emergency issue. However you can prevent the spread of swine flu and strengthen your immune system by doing the following:
- Wash your hands properly before having a meal, not just with soap and water.
- Wear face mask before going outside. If someone is coughing or sneezing near you, cover your nose and mouth with palms or a hanky. Swine flu gets into the body through the mouth and nose.
- Drink lemon balm tea because it has anti-viral properties.
- Chew fresh garlic cloves because they have antiviral properties as well.
- Steam inhalation with chamomile or eucalyptus thrice a day can relieve lung congestion and prevent swine flu symptoms
Arunraj V.S.
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/i-have-symptoms-of-h1n1-swine-flu-1121813.html
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Comments
What are the symptoms of H1N1 (swine flu) ?
Yesterday morning i woke up with a runny nose and it has gotten worse since then. Toward the end of the day, I had a headache, my eyes where running, i had a stuffy nose and a scratchy throat. I am also really weak, while brushing my teeth I had to sit on the side of the bath tub, because i had no energy.
The symptoms are the same as any other flu strain that’s evey gone around, you cannot diagnose a flu as Swine without blood work.
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Same as the regular flu, or even a cold.
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don’t worry you don’t have H1N1 you have Sinus Congestion. It’s nothing serious but I would get it looked at before you get a sinus infection.
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http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/qa.htm#b
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if you had swine flue you wouldn’t of made it out of bed never mid bush your teeth
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You probably have the common cold. If you get a high fever go to a doc and they can get you on some meds, but don’t conclude that it’s H1N1 - it’s really no different from the seasonal flu as far as symptoms go, and it has killed far fewer people.
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Some Symptoms Of Swine Flu
1.Difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath
2.Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen;headache
3.Sudden dizziness or tiredness
4.Fever with Rash(among Children)
5.Runny nose and sneezing ; Sore throat
6.Loss of appetite
7.Severe or persistent vomiting
8.Vomiting and diarrhea
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Have someone look down your throat and tell them to look for white spots or blisters.
The symptoms are;
1. Runny nose
2. Cough
3. Fever
4. Achey bones
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My dr.
It may just be a cold, but here’s a site that lists some symptoms.
The symptoms sound like they could be nearly anything however, so just beware.
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/swineflu/a/409_symptoms.htm
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http://pediatrics.about.com/od/swineflu/a/409_symptoms.htm
I had it about a week ago and just starting to get over it and hun does it suck! But the symptoms are.
Dehidration (sometimes)
1) Chills (Cold very often)
2) High temperature
3) Lack of energy/ Hurts or doesn’t feel like moving
4) Coughing, sneezing, running nose
5) Fatigue
6) Vomiting and diarrhea
7) Scratchy/ itchy throt
9) Dizzyness (sometimes)
(Vomiting and diarrhea are only reported in some people not everyone)
i truly hope you feel better
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Eye pain
Sore Throat
Coughing
Sneezing
Vomiting or Diarrhea (can be both)
Extreme Fatigue
Headache
Body aches
Fever
Stuffed or Runny nose
Problem in Breathing
Bluish or Grayish skin
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Airport
I currently have H1N1 and this sounds more like allergies to me.
This is what H1N1 feels like (to me): Severe headache, a fever for almost a week now, a very bad cough with congestion, throat hurts severely, really bad ear ache, and no energy.
No one here on Yahoo can diagnose you. If you’re really concerned you should go see your doctor. But the symptoms you described sound more like allergy symptoms then H1N1 symptoms.
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Trained in First Aid, Former clinical Volunteer at a hospital, and I have H1N1 currently.