From the last few days, there has been panic all over the country because of the H1N1 pandemic. Here are more details about the virus, how to prevent infection and most important what to do if infected:
H1N1 is the name given to a virus, the H1N1 flu is also called swine flu, it is basically a respiratory disease of pigs, but have spread to humans in Mexico, US and other countries. Because of travel between countries, the virus has gradually spread to other countries, including India.
Usually swine flu is not contagious, but the virus has mutated creating a new strain called Type A, subtype H1N1 - this new strain unfortunately infects humans.
How the virus spreads:
The virus spreads from person to person when infected people cough or sneeze. People may also get infected if they touch something, with flu virus on it, and then they touch their nose/mouth. When a person sneezes/coughs, the droplets move into the air and may land on tables, chairs, etc. A healthy person touching this and then touching his nose can easily get infected.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of H1N1 flu include:
Fever, Cough, Sore throat, Chills, Fatigue and general malaise (body ache), runny nose
Please note the above symptoms are similar to that of common cold/flu. Immediate hospitalisation is required if there are emergency symptoms, which are:
1) Fast breathing or trouble breathing
2) Bluish skin colour
3) Dehydration
4) Very high fever
5) Dizziness, fainting
Detection:
H1N1 flu can be detected by tests. If there is a suspicion of H1N1, a throat swab (sample from throat using cotton) is taken and tested. Testing centres vary from city to city, eg : In Bangalore it is the Rajiv Gandh Institute for Chest Diseases)
Treatment:
Remember, antibiotics have no effect on viruses and there is no medicine that can kill viruses. So a viral infection has to run its whole course. However the medicine Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) is given to prevent the virus from growing. For it to be effective, it must be given within 2 days of infection. Apart from medicine - complete rest, taking liquids (water, tender coconut) and hot soups is good for flu patients. Also paracetamol (Crocin) is useful to relive pain and malaise. Note : Children should not be given Aspirin for flu, it can cause severe problems. Also don't take medicines without a doctor's prescription.
Alternate therapies like homeopathy can be useful and can be administered along with conventional treatment for best effect.
Prevention:
Prevention is the best way to tackle this troublesome virus.
1) Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze and discard the tissue
2) Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, preferably alcohol-based hand scrubs
3) Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth
4) Avoid crowded places and avoid contact with sick people
5) Exercise with a diet of fruits and vegetables to improve immunity (resistance power)
6) If you or someone you know if infected, quarantine the person to prevent the flu from spreading
It is believed that the deaths occur due to other underlying conditions like low immunity, obesity, respiratory problems rather than the flu itself. So if you feel you have the flu symptoms, get yourself tested. Don't panic and take care of your health.
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h1n1, virus, swine, flu, Health, Tips, detection, Prevention, treatment