What is Swine Flu? How Much Do You Really Know About It?

Before you even get to shielding yourself from a swine flu outbreak, it’s important you know what is swine flu and what are the intricacies of this disease in the first place.Read on to find know what are the signs for swine flu or how can you prevent it if you don’t know already.

What is Swine Flu?

It is a highly contagious disease, which usually spreads among pigs. In the past, people who came in direct contact with pigs caught it, but over the years, the virus causing the infection mutated. The new virus, known as the H1N1 virus, has genetically evolved to affect humans directly.The first H1N1 virus symptoms were observed in Mexico in April 2009, and it grew into a pandemic due to lack of awareness. Although the pandemic was contained by August 2010, there have been several cases of swine flu outbreaks since then.

Swine Flu Transmission

Swine flu transmission commonly occurs through inhaling or ingesting droplets that contain the virus. The virus can undergo mutation so rapidly that the antibodies in the human body are not able to recognise it and therefore contain it. As a result, it can be easily transmitted. Isolation of an infected person for the duration of the swine flu incubation period is the best way to prevent swine flu transmission.An adult with swine flu symptoms can transmit it up to a week from the onset of incubation. Children, due to a weaker immune system, can transmit it up to two weeks.

Swine Flu Symptoms to Look Out For

Symptoms of swine flu are almost identical with the symptoms of the seasonal flu.Take your swine flu masks out when you come across the following signs of swine flu shown by people around you or yourself:

• Fever
• Dry Cough
• Nasal Secretions
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Chills
• Diarrhoea

How to Treat Swine Flu?

Swine flu treatment is the same as the treatment for seasonal flu and involves relieving the symptoms. A doctor can prescribe medicines like ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen to reduce fever, sore throat etc. Most people recover without any medication within a week. The best swine flu cure is allowing your immune system to develop adequate antibodies by following a healthy diet and taking adequate rest. However, this is not applicable to people with a weak immune system or pregnant women. For these two categories, medications are a necessity owing to their weak body constitution. Do not take any medication without consulting a doctor first. You can book an appointment conveniently on MediBuddy if you’re feeling under the weather. It’s best not to step out or come in contact with others.

Home Remedies for Swine Flu Treatment

The home remedies for swine flu cure include:

• Regularly washing hands with soap
• Exercising to boost your immune system
• Getting adequate sleep to strengthen the immune system
• Stress management
• Maintain a balanced diet coupled with food that can boost immunity
• Drinking enough liquids

How to Prevent Swine Flu?

Take the following precautions to prevent swine flu -

• Wear a swine flu mask.
• A swine flu vaccine helps people who are in the high-risk category. They include pregnant women, and people with chronic health complications like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease etc.
• If you have swine flu then stay at home to prevent it from spreading.
• Wash your hands regularly. Avoid touching your mouth and nose.

To sum up, the best way to combat swine flu is to prevent it in the first place. So, if you hear of an imminent swine flu threat, do not forget to wear your mask when you step out.

Source:

webmdpractohealthline [av_promobox button='yes' label='Book a Consultation on MediBuddy' link='https://www.medibuddy.in/?utm_source=blog_cta&utm_medium=blog' link_target='' color='blue' custom_bg='#f00' custom_font='#ffffff' size='large' icon_select='no' icon='ue800' font='entypo-fontello'] Protect yourself from the Swine Flu by ensuring you get your flu vaccinations. Book a consultation with a doctor and get the necessary vaccinations at the earliest. [/av_promobox]