Everything You Need To Know About H1N1 | Swine Flu
Table of Contents
It’s the year 2020 and H1N1 Virus or commonly known as Swine flu has once again attacked India taking its toll on one city at a time. In order to be safe, let us be informed about the various facts of swine flu.
What is H1N1 Flu?
H1N1 flu is a human respiratory infection caused by an influenza strain that started in pigs. It is also known as swine flu. It's called swine flu because in the past, the people who caught it had direct contact with pigs In 2009, H1N1 was spreading fast around the world, so the World Health Organisation called it a pandemic. The virus is contagious and can spread from human to human
How is Swine Flu transmitted?
First of all, let’s clear the misconception associated with H1N1 Flu. Swine Flu is not caused due to the consumption of pork products. Various modes of transmission are:Contact with an infected personContact with anything that has been touched by an infected personInhaling air infected with the virus
What are the symptoms of H1N1 Flu?
The symptoms of H1N1 flu are very similar to that of general fever making it hard for people to differentiate between the two. The various symptoms of H1N1 flu include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Watery/red eyes
- Body aches
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea and vomiting
People with chronic medical conditions like asthma, chronic lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, suppressed immune systems, chemotherapy and kidney failure are always at a higher risk of falling prey to the flu
Precautions From The Flu
- Stay Home: If you are sick or have any flu-like symptoms, stay home. Do not go to school or work. Swine flu symptoms may mimic those of regular flu and cold symptoms.
- Contain Your Cough: Cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm or cover your mouth/nose. A flu mask will help you avoid infection in enclosed spaces.
- Wash Hands Frequently: Anything you touch may be affected, so keeping hands clean will help you avoid infection.
- Clean Your Produce: Although there have been no known cases of swine flu transmission through fruit and vegetable consumption, there does seem to be some concern about the same. Make sure you wash your fruits and vegetables with water and soak for greater effectiveness.
Vaccinations for Swine Flu:
Most people with the flu, including swine flu, require only symptom relief. There are flu shots/vaccinations available to help prevent Swine flu. These shots are recommended to all age groups, especially children & the elderly, for they are more prone to getting infected. If you have a chronic respiratory disease, your doctor may prescribe additional medications to help relieve your symptoms.
There are four FDA-approved antiviral drugs that are sometimes prescribed within the first day or two of symptoms to reduce the severity of symptoms and possibly the risk of complications. These include:
- Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)
- Zanamivir (Relenza)
- Peramivir (Rapivab)
- Baloxavir (Xofluza)
However, flu viruses can develop resistance to these drugsIn all probability, swine flu is heading closer to your city and help is just an app away. Chat with health experts within minutes only on DocsApp.
**Stay informed. Stay safe.
****Team DocsApp. **
