Swine flu H1N1 Symptoms and Precautions

I myself got terrified with the flu spreading news in India and totally worried about this. Was searching for H1N1 symptoms and precautionary measures to fight against this and got some useful information in net as well as through friends mails all those information I'm collating together and putting it here for all of our use.Yesterday, a friend who listened wanted me to write down briefly what I advised so that he could tell others in similar words.

Note : Please realize that this tips and information is not an official advice, especially the one about face masks or N95.

will face masks and N95 respirators protect us from H1N1 ?
The hype in media about the utility of face masks and N95 respirators as a tool for general
protection against H1N1 can't be deplored enough.

Most N95 respirators are designed to filter 95% particulates of 0.3µ, while the size of H1N1 virus is about 0.1µ. Hence, dependence on N95 to protect against H1N1 is like protecting against rain with an umbrella made of mosquito net.

H1N1 Symptoms:
  • Fever, moderately high, but unlike seasonal flu, can be absent in some cases too
  • Non productive Cough
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Sore throat
  • Body ache
  • Headache
  • Chills
  • Fatigue/tiredness that can be extreme
  • Nausea/diarrhoea
  • Signs of a more serious swine flu infection might include pneumonia and respiratory failure

H1N1 Precautions :
Tamiflu does not kill but prevents H1N1 from further proliferation till the virus limits itself in about 1-2 weeks (its natural cycle). H1N1, like other Influenza A viruses, only infects the upper
respiratory tract and proliferates (only) there. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/ throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a
problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps - not fully highlighted in most official communications - can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds
dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

All these are simple ways to prevent, within means of most households, and certainly much less painful than to wait in long queues outside public hospitals.

"Health is wealth"
References : [1][2]
New H1N1 Screening Centers

H1N1 Screening Centers


New H1N1 Screening Centers

BANGALORE

Mallya Hospital

No.2 Vittal Mallya Road, Bangalore - 560001

Ph: 080-22277979

Manipal Hospital

Old Airport Road, Bangalore - 560 017

Ph: 080-2502 4444 / 3344

St Martha's Hospital

No.5, Nrupathunga Road, Bangalore-560001

Ph: 080-22275081 / 22275082 / 22275083 / 22275084

Mallige Medical Centre

31/32, Crescent Road, Bangalore- 560 001 India.

Ph: 080-22203333, 41138883

St John's Medical College and Hospital

Sarjapur Road, Bangalore – 560 034

Ph: 080-22065000

Ambedkar Hospital

Kadugondanahalli
Bangalore, Karnataka 560045

Ph: 080-25463442

Vydehi Hospital

#82, Nallurahalli, Near BMTC 18th Depot, Whitefield,
Bangalore - 560 066 Karnataka

Ph: 080-28412956,28413381/2/3/4/5

Citi Hospital

#25/91
20th Main ,West of Chord Road, 2nd Block
Rajaji Nagar, Bangalore -560010

Ph: 080-23131777, 080-23131778, 080-23131779

M S Ramaiah Medical College and Hospital

M. S. Ramaiah Medical College
MSR Nagar, MSRIT Post, Bangalore - 560054

Ph: 080-2360 5190/23601742/23601743/23605408

Pristine Hospital

#877, Modi Hospital Road,
II Stage Extension, West of chord Road,
Bangalore - 560 086.

Ph: 080 - 41354444 (30 lines), 51270776 / 7

Mahabodhi Mallige hospital

T. Mariappa Road, I Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore- 560 011

Ph: 080-26565678



What is swine flu?


Swine influenza, or ‘swine flu’, is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of pigs, caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses that cause regular outbreaks in pigs. Morbidity tends to be high and mortality low (1-4%). The virus is spread among pigs by aerosols, direct and indirect contact, and asymptomatic carrier pigs. Outbreaks in pigs occur year round, with an increased incidence in autumn and winter in temperate zones. Many countries routinely vaccinate swine populations against swine influenza. Swine influenza viruses are most commonly of the H1N1 subtype, but other subtypes are also circulating in pigs (e.g., H1N2, H3N1, H3N2). Pigs can also be infected with avian influenza viruses and human seasonal influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses.

The H3N2 swine virus was thought to have been originally introduced into pigs by humans. Sometimes pigs can be infected with more than one type of virus at a time, which can allow the genes from these viruses to mix. Pigs are therefore also called as “mixing vessels”, resulting in an Hide allinfluenza virus containing genes from a number of sources, called a ‘reassortant’ virus. Although swine influenza viruses are normally species specific and only infect pigs, they do sometimes cross the species barrier to cause disease in humans.

So far, the recent outbreak due to the new strain of influenza virus A (H1N1) has had cases reported from North America, Mexico, Spain and UK. Suspect cases have been reported from New Zealand and France and these are being investigated.

How does it spread?

It spreads in the same way as seasonal influenza – through direct contact (being within one metre of an infected person) or indirect contact (touching a contaminated surface). People usually get swine influenza from infected pigs, however, some human cases lack contact history with pigs or environments where pigs have been located. Human-to-human transmission has occurred in some instances but was limited to close contacts and closed groups of people.

What are the clinical symptoms?

Generally clinical symptoms are similar to seasonal influenza but reported clinical presentation ranges broadly from asymptomatic infection to severe pneumonia resulting in death. Patients experience high fever, cough, and sore throat, symptoms similar to typical influenza, with some patients experiencing diarrhoea and vomiting. The cases can rapidly progress to severe and unusual pneumonia.




3 comments to "Swine flu H1N1 Symptoms and Precautions"

  • information is wealth. information needs to be extracted from mines of data and shaped properly.Its an art in itself. we can find a large range of info in this blog it shows the grip author has on various walks of life, getting data from different sources, compiling them to proper shape and posting in attractive way is a great work hope it will go on and on all the best

  • Medicine for H1N1 or swine flu is
    tamiflu or called as oseltamivir

    Refere this link for more information on Oseltamivir

  • The experts say swine flu was a false pandemic & a campaign of panic which used to create a huge vaccine market. It was false pandemic to sell vaccine. The major firms with world health organization have carried a false pandemic. This is latest new in news papers headline that swine a false pandemic.

Post a Comment

Whoever writes Inappropriate/Vulgar comments to context, generally want to be anonymous …So I hope U r not the one like that?
For lazy logs, u can at least use Name/URL option which doesn’t even require any sign-in, The good thing is that it can accept your lovely nick name also and the URL is not mandatory too.
Thanks for your patience
~Krishna(I love "Transparency")

Popular Posts

Enter your email address:

Buffs ...

Tags


Powered by WidgetsForFree