What you can do to keep your family safe from swine flu

The virus that causes swine flu is rapidly spreading all over the world and there is a serious cause for concern because it could attain epidemic proportions. Read on to know how to recognize some of the symptoms of this deadly disease in order to protect your loved ones.

What causes swine flu?
Commonly known as swine flu, the H1N1 type A influenza is a human disease that you can contract from other people. However, the disease was nicknamed so because the virus that causes it, was originally passed on to humans from pigs. This virus consists of a combination of genes from the bird, swine and human flu viruses. In the past, this disease usually affected people who came in direct contact with these animals. But the current outbreak of swine flu is being caused by a new breed of the swine flu virus and has been occurring among people who haven’t had any kind of contact, direct or indirect, with pigs. Most people have some amount of immunity to the H1N1 virus if they have been vaccinated against or been infected with this virus.

What are the common symptoms of swine flu?
Some of the common symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of the regular influenza and include cough, fever, runny nose, sore throat, headache, body ache, fatigue and chills. Many people suffering from swine flu also experience symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Everyone who has flu, experiences at least two of these common symptoms. However, the above mentioned symptoms can also be caused by other conditions. This means that your doctor will be unable to diagnose the disease on the basis of your symptoms alone. Many healthcare professionals offer a quick swine flu test, but a negative result does not necessarily mean that you haven’t got it. The accuracy of this test generally depends on the method of sample collection, the quality of the test, as well as the amount of the viral sample being tested.

How your family can avoid getting infected?
The most important thing is to stay at home if you are sick. Avoid your workplace and other crowded places.

Don’t send your child to school if there are any signs of coughing, sneezing, difficulty in breathing or fever.

Even if the symptoms disappear stay at home for a couple of days to make sure that you do not pass on the virus to anyone else.

Another important tip is to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough and wash your hands frequently and make sure your family does that too.

See your doctor immediately if you experience breathing difficulties. Request a mask at the doctor’s waiting room.

Avoid travelling to places where there is a serious outbreak of swine flu cases. Prevention, after all, is better than cure.

Influenza treatment
Consisting of the active ingredient oseltamivir phosphate, Tamiflu is a prescription drug used in the treatment of the swine flu virus. Tamiflu attacks the virus and prevents it from spreading inside your body. Unlike other influenza medications that only address the symptoms of the disease, Tamiflu addresses the underlying causes of the disease by attacking the virus that causes it. Tamiflu can successfully treat adolescents as well as adults, if taken as soon as the symptoms first appear. It can also reduce the risk of infection in people who have been exposed to an infected individual and thereby prevent an outbreak of swine flu.