Healthytalk8 What Is Swine Flu?
Contents
Swine flu is also known as the N1H1 virus, swine influenza, or pig influenza, which is a respiratory disease.
Swine flu got its name because it is commonly found in pigs. its first cases in humans were found in Mexico in 2009 and became a pandemic.
This is responsible for the global flu outbreak from 2009 to 2010 because this epidemic killed more than 2,700 people and affected more than 50,000 others.
NOTE: Initially, it was believed that pigs have a role in its infection, but later it was found that it also spreads from human to human.
According to WHO, every year about 250,00 to 500,000 people die from seasonal flu.
A study in 2010 showed that the risk of serious illness from the 2009 N1H1 flu was lower than the annual seasonal flu.
The 2009 flu pandemic highly affected children, young and middle-aged adults.
The impact of the (H1N1) virus on the global population during the first year was less severe than that of previous pandemics (1).
2. Reason
It is a respiratory disease caused by the influenza A virus, whose scientific name is H1N1 (H1N1 is one of many flu virus strains that can cause seasonal flu)
NOTE: The common cold is also H1N1 but swine flu is caused by being infected with a specific variety of H1N1.
3. Transmission
A person can spread this virus through saliva and mucus particles. A person may spread through:
- Coughing
- Sneezing droplets
- Sometimes a person is infected by touching infected surfaces. and then touching their face and eyes.
A 2009 study found that the composition capacity of the N1H1 influenza virus in households was lower than in previous pandemics.
4. Signs and Symptoms
The sign and symptoms of swine flu are much like those of another influenza. which include:
- Fever
- Dry cough
- Headache
- Muscle and joint pain
- Runny nose
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Vomitting
- Nervous system disorder
The contagious period for adults starts about 1 day before symptoms develop and lasts around 5 to 7 days after the person develops symptoms (2)
Like the regular flu, swine flu can show more serious problems including pneumonia, a lung infection, and other breathing problem.
5. Is It Still With Us and How Long Will It Last?
A flu follow-up study done in September 2010, found that the risk of most serious complications was not elevated in adults or children.
Yes, it is still around us, and not going too far back – In India, 2,752 cases and 44 death was recorded due to N1H1 in 2020, and in 2021 it was reduced to 65 cases and 0 death were reported.
With a help of the US, it is helped to end this epidemic with a large-scale global vaccine. But the H1N1 virus is still with us.
NOTE: Every year it spreads as the seasonal flu that causes illness, hospitalization, and deaths.
There is no information about it yet how long will it last? but its prevention can give relief from this disease.
6. Who is At High Risk of Swine Flu?
If a person comes in this following condition then they are more prone to swine flu. They include:
- Pregnant women especially during the third trimester
- People over 65 and younger children than 5 years old
- Under Medical conditions like diabetes, obesity, heart disease, asthma, and weak immunity people are more at risk of swine flu.
- Who Spends more time with pigs?
- Children with nerve and muscle problems may have a higher risk because they cannot cough hard enough to clear their airways.
- Traveling to another area where the N1H1 virus is more active
Due to its severe infection, many parts of the body can stop working, due to which death can also occur.
7. Diagnose
It can be difficult to tell whether you have swine flu or seasonal flu, as both have most of the same symptoms. and the doctor can do this test to find swine flu are
- Blood test
- Takes body fluid sample from nose or throat
- RIDT (rapid influenza diagnostic test), is for diagnosing influenza, not for H1N1
However, some researcher in Health System, says that rapid testing could actually pose dangerous public health.
8. Treatment
In most cases, wine flue doesn’t require medication for treatment.
However, seeing its symptoms in children, and adults it has been told to treat it such as:
In case of mild fever, without headache, body aches, and not vomiting, the doctor may recommend home isolation to the child.
NOTE: Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir and home isolation may be given in patients with lungs, pregnant women, older people, etc.
The doctor may also give pressure such as Brufen to reduce body pain and paracetamol may be given to reduce fever.
Make sure to apply the following tips:
- Proper rest
- Drink plenty of water
- Keep the body warm
Flu viruses can develop resistance to these medicines, so this is often reserved for people who are at high risk of complications from the flu.
9. Complications
Influenza complications include:
- Chronic conditions people, such as heart disease and asthma
- Pneumonia
- Nervous system disorder signs and symptoms, ranging from confusion
- Respiratory failure
10. Prevention
The best way to prevent Swine flu is to get the vaccination. It will reduce the chances of becoming infected with influenza viruses (4).
Besides vaccination, there are other ways, which you can do it at home:
- Wash your hands, especially after coming from out
- Use alcohol-based sanitizer
- Avoid sick people and large gathering areas
- Don’t touch your nose, eyes, and mouth, this increases the chances of coming in contact with the virus.
- Stay home during ill
- Regularly clean surface often-touched surfaces to prevent the spread of infection from a surface with the virus on it to your body.
BOTTOM LINE
It is a respiratory disease caused by the influenza A virus, whose scientific name is H1N1 (H1N1 is one of many flu virus strains that can cause seasonal flu).
A person can spread this virus through saliva and mucus particles.
This is responsible for the global flu outbreak from 2009 to 2010 because this epidemic killed more than 2,700 people and affected more than 50,000 others.
