Swine Flu Symptoms
Filed Under Diseases, Conditions and Treatments, contagious germs, influenza, is it contagious? | Comments Off
The Swine Flu – Can you catch it? Yes you can, which is why you need to know the signs and symptoms of Swine Flu. The Swine Flu virus spreads in the same way ordinary colds and influenza spreads – through the germs that come out of the nose and mouth when someone coughs or sneezes.
If someone coughs or sneezes into their hand(s) the droplets containing the germs transfer to any surface they touch – think about it – computer keyboards, door handles, phones, etc., and when you touch that surface, voila, you can become contaminated.
Most people are infectious soon after they start to develop symptoms, and they can carry (spread) the virus for up to five days. For this reason, if you feel that you may have the flu (swine flu or otherwise) you should stay home!
Here are some symptoms:
Fever, Chills
Unusual tiredness or exhaustion
Headache
Congestion
Runny Nose
Sore Throat
Cough
Shortness of Breath
Body Aches
Diarrhea
Vomiting
As you can see, the symptoms are similar to the seasonal colds, viruses and influenza often seen after school starts and in the fall and winter months. Treatment for swine flu is basically the same as the “regular flu” even though it is a different strain – bed rest, clear liquids, and pain reliever/fever reducers.
Antiviral drugs like Tamiflu aren’t usually recommended unless the patient falls into a certain high-risk category. The reason for this is because of the potential side effects and the possibility of the flu strain growing resistant.
The Center for Disease Control recommends the new H1N1 swine flu vaccine for at-risk people such as pregnant women, health and emergency workers with direct patient contact, people who care for infants under 6 months old and people 24 to 64 with chronic diseases.
