Facts on Swine Flu
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| While panic in the city is increasing day by day, rumours are also spreading at the same speed among people regarding Swine Flu. People with viral fever and common flu symptoms are landing up in hospitals to test for H1N1 infection. Many people have given up eating pork due to fear of H1N1 infection as it comes from pigs according to rumours.
As the world is wising up to this pandemic disease, here are a few facts about H1N1 infection. |
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| 1st thing is do not be scared as H1N1 infection is treatable. |
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| What is H1N1 virus / Swine Flu? |
| Swine Flu is a respiratory disease caused by Influenza virus Type A. It is a disease of pigs and a highly contagious respiratory disease. Currently H1N1 type of strain is infecting humans worldwide. |
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| How does the H1N1 virus spread? |
| It spreads through droplet infection when an infected person sneezes or coughs. The particles can be inhaled or transferred to others through hard surfaces such as door handles, phones, remotes etc. |
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| People at risk |
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Patients with chronic Kidney Disease. |
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Patients with chronic Lung Disease. |
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Patients with chronic Heart Disease. |
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Patients with Neurological Disorders e.g. Parkinson’s disease. |
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Diabetics. |
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Pregnant women. |
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Children under 5 years. |
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| How to reduce the risk? |
| By practising basic hygiene, we can reduce the chances of contracting the virus as well as of spreading it to others. |
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Always carry tissues with you. |
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Cover your nose and mouth with tissue when you sneeze or cough. |
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Throw the used tissues in the dust bin. |
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Do not reuse the tissues. |
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Wash your hands as frequently as possible. |
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If you are sick stay home. |
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Avoid contact with infected persons. |
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Avoid places which are overcrowded. |
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Drink plenty of water and eat healthy food. |
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| How to know that you are infected? |
| If two or more of the following symptoms are present in you, you need to consult your Doctor. |
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High fever. |
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Running nose. |
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Cough. |
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Headache. |
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Bodyache. |
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Vomiting or diarrhea. |
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| If your doctor thinks you are a H1N1 suspect he will send you to the nearest hospital for screening. If the hospital also suspects H1N1 virus in you a throat swab sample would be taken. |
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| What if I am H1N1 positive? |
| In case you are H1N1 positive hospital/home quarantine i.e. isolation will follow. |
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| What will be the Treatment? |
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Many people will respond to paracetamol based medicines and plenty of rest. These will help control fever. |
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The WHO has recommended Tamiflu as the drug. It shortens the duration of the disease and reduces the risk of complications such as pneumonia. |
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Antibiotics would be prescribed if you develop a secondary bacterial infection such as tonsillitis, chest infections. |
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Within 7 – 10 days the person infected with H1N1 virus recovers fully with proper care, rest and treatment. |
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| Reasons Not to Worry |
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H1N1 infection or Swine Flu is treatable. There are two antiviral drugs available -- Tamiflu and Relenza. These medicines are effective to treat flu symptoms. |
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The symptoms of Swine Flu are relatively mild in healthy people. Complications arise in people suffering from other health problems. |
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There is no evidence to show that the H1N1 strain is worse than the regular flu. Each year the regular flu kills almost 36,000 people worldwide which is almost 5 – 15 %. Deaths due to Swine Flu in U.S is 0.6 % and 0.1 % in Europe which is very less when compared to deaths from regular flu. |
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The H1N1 infection and symptoms last for 1 week in most cases. In some cases it might be for a shorter period. During this week, you will be kept in isolation. |
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With proper care and treatment there is complete recovery. You will feel weak for a few days but there would be no future complications. In fact, your immunity is strengthened against the flu. |
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Do not panic. At the slightest sneeze or cough, do not rush to the hospital for testing H1N1 virus. You might increase the chance of contracting Swine Flu by crowding the hospital. |
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| Got more questions chat with our online doctor |
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