| Swine Flu is a number one health concern the world | | | | 7. Increase the airflow in your room by opening the |
| over. The HI1N1 flu or Swine Flu was first detected in | | | | windows for proper ventilation. |
| US in April 2009. The worst affected areas initially | | | | 8. Sleep well, eat nutritious food and practise healthy |
| were Canada and Mexico before H1N1 flu cases | | | | habits so that you are physically active and immune |
| began to emerge in other areas of the world. In a | | | | to the flu. |
| short span of four months, the disease has spread | | | | How long can the Swine Flu virus stay on things like |
| to almost all regions in the world. World Health | | | | doorknobs and furniture? |
| Organization has called H1N1 as pandemic which | | | | According to medical experts, the influenza virus can |
| means a big epidemic that involves the entire country | | | | stay on environmental surfaces and infect people |
| or perhaps the world. Usually, the signs of a pandemic | | | | from 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on things like |
| are when a virus without any immunity to stop it, | | | | door knobs, books etc. Germs of H1N1 can spread |
| spreads across various parts of the world. | | | | when a person touches infected areas or infected |
| Risk factors of Swine Flu | | | | people and then touches their eyes, ears, nose or |
| Swine Flu spreads from person to person in the | | | | mouth. Cough droplets or sneeze from an infected |
| same way as regular seasonal influenza viruses | | | | person can travel through the area. When a person |
| spread. People with high risk for seasonal flu are also | | | | comes in contact with droplets of sneeze of another |
| at high risk for H1N1 flu. For example, people above | | | | person or touches things like books or desk of that |
| 65 years of age, pregnant women, children below 5 | | | | person that is contaminated with sneeze droplets, |
| years of age and those with chronic medical | | | | and touches his or her own eyes, mouth, nose etc; |
| conditions and lifestyle diseases like diabetes are at | | | | before washing hands, one can contract the virus. |
| high risk. | | | | What are the medicines and treatment options? |
| Symptoms of Swine Flu | | | | Taking oseltamivir(Tamiflu) or zanamivir(Relenza) can |
| In children, the symptoms of H1N1 virus include: | | | | treat H1N1 but they should be taken in the early |
| 1. Rapid Breathing or Difficulty in breathing. | | | | stages of the disease. Antiviral drugs or prescription |
| 2. Grayish or Bluish Skin Color | | | | medicines can make your immune system strong and |
| 3. Dehydration | | | | keep the flu viruses at bay and stop them from |
| 4. Persistent of severe vomiting | | | | reproducing in your body. So, you should start taking |
| 5. Not able to interact properly with people, become | | | | antiviral drugs within two days of getting H1N1 or |
| irritable | | | | influenza symptoms. |
| 6. Flu like symptoms, bad cough and fever | | | | How do I prevent getting H1N1 in high risk areas? |
| In adults, the symptoms of swine flu include: | | | | If you live in places where people have been infected |
| 1. Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing | | | | with H1N1 virus or have influenza like symptoms |
| 2. Pain in chest or abdomen | | | | mentioned above, then you should stay home and |
| 3. Sudden dizziness or loss of energy | | | | avoid contact with these people. If you develop flu |
| 4. Severe or continuous vomiting | | | | like symptoms, do not leave things to chance and |
| 6. Flu like symptoms, bad cough and fever | | | | take instant medical care. Your health care provider |
| The symptoms of H1N1 is similar to the ones that | | | | or doctor will be able to tell you whether H1N1 flu |
| people get in regular, seasonal flu and so things like | | | | testing is required. |
| fever, sneezing, cough, body ache, head ache, | | | | Does WHO recommend using a MASK? |
| shivering, sore throat and fatigue are common. | | | | If you are not sick or if you are not living in high risk |
| Diarrhea and vomiting are also symptoms that have | | | | areas, it is not required to wear a mask. If a near |
| been associated with some cases of this flu, also | | | | and dear one is sick with H1N1, you need to wear a |
| known as Influenza A. | | | | mask since you will be in close contact with the ill |
| How do I catch swine flu? | | | | person. Dispose the mask after contact and wash |
| H1N1 is transmitted the same way like seasonal flu. | | | | and clean your hands thoroughly. Using the mask |
| Flu viruses are spread usually from person to person | | | | correctly is important because using it incorrectly will |
| through sneezing or coughing by people who have | | | | spread infection. |
| influenza. Some people may become infected with | | | | How can I differentiate between H1N1 Swine Flu and |
| the deadly H1N1 by touching something that has virus | | | | seasonal flu? |
| on it and then bringing to their nose or mouth. | | | | You cannot tell the difference without a medical |
| How can someone with swine flu infect it to | | | | verdict on it. Since symptoms for both the diseases |
| someone else? | | | | are same like cough, headache, sneezing, fever, |
| Infected people can actually infect others from the | | | | runny nose etc, only your doctor will be able to say if |
| first day itself, even before they themselves get any | | | | you have H1N1 virus. In case, your doctor suspects |
| symptoms. This means there are also chances that | | | | symptoms, they will have your blood sample, |
| one can pass on the symptoms of flu even before | | | | nasopharyngeal (nose to mouth) and throat swab to |
| she or he knows that she or he is sick. | | | | laboratories. |
| How do I protect myself from swine flu? How can I | | | | Home remedies for swine flu: |
| take precautions against H1N1virus? | | | | There are no home remedies, especially when you |
| There is no vaccine that can protect you or be | | | | have to figure out if it is H1N1 or season flu. The |
| prevention against H1N1 Flu. You can only maintain | | | | H1N1 requires anti-viral drugs because treating it is an |
| hygiene and take care to prevent spread of germs | | | | emergency issue. However you can prevent the |
| that can lead to illnesses like influenza. Here are the | | | | spread of swine flu and strengthen your immune |
| ways in which you can prevent yourself against the | | | | system by doing the following: |
| flu: | | | | 1. Wash your hands properly before having a meal, |
| 1. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when | | | | not just with soap and water. |
| you sneeze or cough. Throw the tissue in the trash | | | | 2. Wear face mask before going outside. If someone |
| after you sneeze into it. | | | | is coughing or sneezing near you, cover your nose |
| 2. Wash your hands with a liquid handwash like Dettol | | | | and mouth with palms or a hanky. Swine flu gets into |
| or Lifebuoy, especially after you cough or sneeze. | | | | the body through the mouth and nose. |
| 3. Do not touch your mouth, eyes or nose. Germs | | | | 3. Drink lemon balm tea because it has anti-viral |
| can spread in this manner. | | | | properties. |
| 4. Avoid contact with people who are infected. This | | | | 4. Chew fresh garlic cloves because they have |
| is sad but then the disease is highly infective. | | | | antiviral properties as well. |
| 5. If you are sick with influenza, stay at home and do | | | | 5. Steam inhalation with chamomile or eucalyptus |
| not go to school or work. Limit your contact with | | | | thrice a day can relieve lung congestion and prevent |
| people so that they do not get infected. | | | | swine flu symptoms. |
| 6. Do not venture into crowded spaces. | | | | |