Swine Flu

Swine flu is a respiratory disease which infects pigs. Caused by an influenza type A virus, there are regular outbreaks among herds of pigs, where the disease causes high levels of illness but is rarely fatal. It tends to spread in autumn and winter but can circulate all year round.

The swine flu viruses aren't the same as human flu viruses. The virus did not often infect people, and only a few people who had direct contact with pigs were affected by it. However, the current "swine flu" outbreak is different. It has been caused by a new swine flu virus. This virus has changed in many ways that allow it to spread from person to person, even when the people have had no contact with pigs. To distinguish this virus both from flu viruses infecting mainly pigs and from the seasonal influenza A H1N1 viruses, the virus has been named the "novel influenza A (H1N1) virus".

Symptoms of swine flu include sudden fever and cough, sore throat, running nose, body aches, headache, chills, aching muscles, limb or joint pain, fatigue and loss of appetite. Many people with swine flu have had diarrhea and vomiting. Nearly everyone with flu has shown least two of these symptoms. However, these symptoms can also be caused by many other conditions. This means that you cannot know for sure if you have swine flu. Rapid flu tests can be used to diagnose the disease. However, a negative result in such a test does not necessarily mean the absence of swine flu. Only lab tests can determine with certainty it one has got swine flu. State health departments can do these tests. However, due to the large volume of samples coming in to state labs, these tests are being reserved for patients with severe flu symptoms. Currently, doctors are reserving antiviral drugs for people with or at risk of severe influenza.

Swine flu can cause neurologic symptoms, like seizures and changes in mental status, in children. These events though rare, can be very severe and often fatal. Most serious illnesses of swine flu have been in younger age groups. Most U.S. cases of H1N1 have swine flu have been older children and young adults.

There are some preventive measures that can be taken. Firstly, washing hands regularly with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing, is important. If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand cleaner can be used. Avoid close contact or being within 6 feet of people who have flu-like symptoms. Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes. This will require a lot of self control. Wear a medical mask in public places. This can offer additional defense against the flu. However, there is no definite proof of the effectiveness of such masks. However, people who have swine flu or are suspected of having it should wear medical masks when around family members. In case of flu like symptoms, stay home for seven days after symptoms begin or until you've been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.

Tamiflu and Relenza are effective in the treatment of swine flu. These drugs have been found to be most effective when taken within 48 hours of the start of swine flu symptoms. But, they should never be taken without medical prescription because of their side effects. Laxity in taking preventive measures will certainly prove dangerous.

Linus Orakles
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