Flu And Swine Flu - Allvitalpoints Health and Fitness

flu symptoms

Flu is a very common disease caused by viruses different from those that cause the normal cold and its symptoms?is usually?more severe and?last for longer. A new strain of flu (influenza) is commonly referred to as swine flu, because it is thought to have originated in pigs

Influenza (flu) is a highly contagious infection spread by coughs and sneezes. Contrary to what some people may belief, influenza is not a seasonal flu. The infection can be caught at any time of the year. The reason it is called seasonal flu is because t is more pronounced during the cold or winter season.

Flu causes?a sudden rise in the body temperature, usually followed by headache?and general body aches and pains, feeling of tiredness and often accompanied by sore throat. In addition, some infected people lose their appetite, feel nauseous and have?a cough. In most cases, flu symptoms can make you feel so exhausted and unwell that most infected people would rather stay in bed.

Swine flu symptoms are very similar to?seasonal flu. These are fever or high temperature (over 38?C), aching muscles and sore throat. It may be accompanied by a dry cough. Most infected people will normally recover within a week, even without special treatment.

Flu Pandemic

Swine virus was first identified in Mexico in April 2009. It has since become a pandemic, which means it has spread around the globe. It has spread quickly because it is a new type of?flu virus that few, if any, people have full resistance to.

Flu pandemic is a natural event that occurs from time to time. There had been flu pandemics in 1918, 1957 and 1968 that killed millions of people across the world.?In most cases the virus has proved relatively mild. However, around the world?hundreds of?people have died and it is not yet clear how big a risk the virus is. For this reason, and because all viruses can mutate to become more potent (stronger), scientists are saying we need to be careful.

Most cases of the?swine flu reported so far across the globe have been mild. Only a small number death resulting from serious infections of swine flu has been reported. In any case, these deaths have?often been?in patients?with existing health problems that already weakened their immune systems, such as cancer.

Some people?have suggested that antiviral medication should?only be given to those who are most at risk of developing serious complications from swine flu. In other words, if people are otherwise healthy,?the virus should be treated with?with paracetamol and bed rest until the person is better,?as you would with normal flu. However, some scientists believe that there is still some doubt about the risks of the virus. For example, there are reports of some cases in Argentina where young, healthy adults have become extremely ill from swine flu. Whatever the case, because there is still this doubt, the some authorities offer the antiviral medicines, such as Tamiflu or Relenza, to everyone who is diagnosed with swine flu.

Flu high-risk groups

There are some people that have been identified as being more at risk of serious complications if they catch swine flu. Such group of people should start taking antiviral medication as soon as?it is?diagnosed?that they have?the infection. In other words, doctors should be free to recommend for some high-risk patients to take antiviral medications before they have symptoms, if someone close to them has swine flu.

The group of people already known?that are highly vulnerable to swine flu infection are those who have chronic diseases such as:

• lung disease,
• heart disease,
• kidney disease,
• liver disease,
• neurological disease, such as motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson?s disease,
• immunosuppression and
• diabetes mellitus.

In addition, the following people have been identified to be at risk:

• asthma patients who have had drug treatment in the previous three years,
• pregnant women,
• older people aged 65 and over, and
• children under 5 years.

Preventing swine virus

The most significant way to prevent swine flu is to have?good respiratory and hand hygiene. This requires the affected person or anyone to always?sneeze into?a disposable tissue, and get rid of it in a bin as soon as it is used. There are guidelines available on how to properly wash your hands using soap and water. Also, it is important to keep home and work surfaces clean regularly and thoroughly to kill the virus.

It is always important to bear in mind that flu or influenza is not the same as the normal cold. Also that anything that helps building up your immune system will go a long to helping you to fight of flu.

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