Simple ways to Save yourself from Swine Flu!!
Simple ways to save yourself from Swine Flu!! Is the current outbreak of Swine Flu in India a very major one? Till date, 700 people have died in India and 10,000 have been affected with swine flu in 2015. This certainly calls for a big concern to contain the outbreak of this disease and prevent an epidemic. The responsibility of containing the disease lies not just with the government, but all the citizens of India should be aware of ways and means of controlling this outbreak. There is an urgent need to avoid panic and increase awareness of this disease amongst general public. In the following short discussion on FAQ’s, I shall briefly outline the understanding of the facts and realities of H1N1 infection. What is Swine Flu and how is it caused? Is it a newvirus? Swine flu (swine influenza Type A) is a respiratory disease caused by viruses (influenza RNA viruses) that infect the respiratory tract, resulting in nasal secretions, a barking cough, decreased appetite, and listless behaviour. The current outbreak in India is caused by H1N1 strain infection. The H1N1 influenza virus is not a new virus. There was a pandemic in 1918, and then a epidemic in USA in 1976 and 1998. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6 for swine flu, which is the highest alert level. This alert level means that the swine flu had spread worldwide and there were cases of people with the virus in most countries. The pandemic level identifies the spread of the disease or virus and not necessarily the severity of the disease. Swine flu spread very rapidly worldwide due to its high human-to-human transmission rate and due to the frequency of air travel. How does swine flu spread in humans? Swine flu is transmitted from person to person by inhalation or ingestion of droplets containing virus from people sneezing or coughing; it is not transmitted by eating cooked pork products. Influenza spreads between humans when infected people cough or sneeze, then other people breathe in the virus or touch something with the virus on it and then touch their own face. “Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.” Swine flu cannot be spread by pork products, since the virus is not transmitted through food. The swine flu in humans is most contagious during the first five days of the illness, although some people, most commonly children, can remain contagious for up to ten days. Diagnosis can be made by sending a specimen, collected during the first five days, for analysis. Dr Sanjiv Haribhakti
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Simple ways to Save yourself from Swine Flu!!
Recommendations to prevent spread of the virus among humans include using standard infection control, which includes frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in public. Chance of transmission is also reduced by disinfecting household surfaces, which can be done effectively with a diluted chlorine bleach solution. Experts agree hand-washing can help prevent viral infections, including ordinary and the swine flu infections. Also, avoiding touching one’s eyes, nose or mouth with one’s hands helps to prevent the flu. Influenza can spread in coughs or sneezes, but an increasing body of evidence shows small droplets containing the virus can linger on tabletops, telephones and other surfaces and be transferred via the fingers to the eyes, nose or mouth. Alcohol-based gel or foam hand sanitizers work well to destroy viruses and bacteria. Anyone with flu-like symptoms, such as a sudden fever, cough or muscle aches, should stay away from work or public transportation, and should contact a doctor for advice. Social distancing, another tactic, is staying away from other people who might be infected, and can include avoiding large gatherings, spreading out a little at work, or perhaps staying home and lying low if an infection is spreading in a community. Public health and other responsible authorities have action plans which may request or require social distancing actions, depending on the severity of the outbreak. What are the symptoms and warning signs of Swine Flu? Symptoms of swine flu are similar to most influenza infections: fever (100 F or greater), cough, nasal secretions, fatigue, and headache, with fatigue being reported in most infected individuals. Some patients may also get a sore throat, rash, body aches, headaches, chills, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. The incubation period from exposure to first symptoms is about one to four days, with an average of two days. The symptoms last about one to two weeks and can last longer if the person has a severe infection. Some patients develop severe respiratory symptoms and need respiratory support (such as a ventilator to breathe for the patient). Patients can get pneumonia (bacterial secondary infection) if the viral infection persists, and some can develop seizures. Death often occurs from secondary bacterial infection of the lungs; appropriate antibiotics need to be used in these patients. Who needs testing for Swine Flu and how is it done? Everyone suspected of having H1N1 need not be tested, as many patients will have a self limiting disease with upper respiratory infection. Patients who have severe disease or complications need testing. Swine flu is definitively diagnosed by identifying the particular Dr Sanjiv Haribhakti
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Simple ways to Save yourself from Swine Flu!!
antigens (surface proteins) associated with the virus type. In general, this test is done in a specialized laboratory and is not done by many doctors’ offices or hospital laboratories. However, doctors’ offices are able to send specimens to specialized laboratories identified by the govenment if necessary. Most of these rapid tests are based on PCR technology. Who needs treatment for Swine Flu and where is it done? The use of Tamiflu or Relenza may help prevent the flu if taken before symptoms develop or reduce symptoms if taken within about 48 hours after symptoms develop. Some investigators say that administration of these drugs is still useful after 48 hours, especially in high-risk patient populations. However, taking these drugs is not routinely recommended for prevention for the healthy population because investigators suggest that as occurs with most drugs, flu strains will develop resistance to these medications. During the H1N1 pandemic, the CDC made further suggestions about the use of these antiviral medications and developed the interim guidelines for use of Tamiflu and Relenza as follows, and this has not changed for the 2014-2015 flu season: 1. Patients with high-risk factors should discuss flu symptoms and when to use antiviral medications; doctors should provide a prescription for the antiviral drug for the patient to use if the patient is exposed to flu or develops flu-like symptoms without having to go in to see the doctor. 2. “Watchful waiting” was added as a response to taking antiviral medications, with the emphasis on the fact that those people who develop fever and have a preexisting health condition should then begin the antiviral medication. 3. The antiviral medications are the first-line medicines for treatment of novel H1N1, H3N2, and H3N2v flu, and most cases are to date susceptible to Tamiflu and Relenza. How is Swine Flu treated? Many investigators suggest that people stay well hydrated, take vitamins, and get plenty of rest, but these precautions will not prevent H1N1 or other viral infections, although they may help reduce the effects of infection by strengthening the person’s immune system to fight infection. If a person becomes sick with swine flu, antiviral drugs can make the illness milder and make the patient feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within two days of symptoms). Beside antivirals, supportive care at home or in a hospital focuses on controlling fevers, relieving pain and maintaining fluid balance, as well as identifying and treating any secondary
Dr Sanjiv Haribhakti
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Simple ways to Save yourself from Swine Flu!!
infections or other medical problems. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir(Relenza) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses; however, the majority of people infected with the virus make a full recovery without requiring medical attention or antiviral drugs. How effective is Vaccine to prevent Swine Flu? Should I have the vaccine? The best way to prevent novel H1N1 swine flu is vaccination. The 2014 CDC recommendations that apply to H1N1, H3N2, and other flu viruses are almost identical to those above-mentioned recommendations for patients at risk when vaccine doses are limited and are as follows: • • • • • •
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Are aged 6 months through 4 years (59 months) Are aged 50 years and older Have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus) Are immunosuppressed (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus) Are or will be pregnant during the influenza season Are aged 6 months through 18 years and receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who therefore might be at risk for experiencing Reye’s syndrome after influenza virus infection Are residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities Are American Indians/Alaska Natives Are morbidly obese (body-mass index is 40 or greater) Are health-care personnel Are household contacts and caregivers of children aged younger than 5 years and adults aged 50 years and older, with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children aged younger than 6 months Are household contacts and caregivers of people with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza
How can I help contain Swine Flu? The CDC says that a good way to prevent any flu disease is to avoid exposure to the virus; this is done by frequent hand washing, not touching your hands to your face (especially the nose and mouth), and avoiding any close proximity to or touching any person who may have flu symptoms. Since the virus can remain viable and infectious for about 48 hours on many surfaces, good hygiene and cleaning with soap and water or alcohol-based hand disinfectants are also recommended. Some physicians say face masks may help prevent getting airborne flu Dr Sanjiv Haribhakti
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Simple ways to Save yourself from Swine Flu!!
viruses (for example, from a cough or sneeze), but others think the better use for masks would be on those people who have symptoms and sneeze or cough. Yet there are still some other methods available to individuals. Perhaps the best way for individuals to try to prevent flu virus infection is a combination of methods that are aimed at fulfilling the very basic principle that if the virus doesn’t reach an individual’s mucus membrane cells, infection will be prevented. The 6 methods are as follows: 1. Kill or inactivate the virus before it reaches a human cell by using soap and water to clean your hands; washing clothing and taking a shower will do the same for the rest of your body. 2. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available, and use sanitizers on objects that many people may touch (for example, doorknobs, computer keyboards, handrails, phones), although some researchers suggest that such sanitizers are generally ineffective. 3. Do not touch your mouth, eyes, nose, unless you first do items 1 or 2 above. 4. Avoid crowds, parties, and especially people who are coughing and sneezing (most virus-containing droplets do not travel more than 4 feet, so experts suggest 6 feet away is a good distance to stay). If you cannot avoid crowds (or parties), try to remain aware of people around you and use the 6-foot rule with anyone coughing or sneezing. Do not reach for or eat snacks out of canisters or other containers at parties. 5. Avoid touching anything within about 6 feet of an uncovered cough/sneeze, because the droplets that contain virus fall and land on anything usually within that range. 6. Studies show that individuals who wear surgical or N95 particle masks may prevent inhalation of some H1N1 virus, but the masks may prevent only about 50% of airborne exposures and offer no protection against surface droplets. However, masks on H1N1 infected people can markedly reduce the spread of infected droplets. What are the complications and prognosis of Swine Flu? In general, the majority (about 90%-95%) of people who get the disease feel terrible (see symptoms) but recover with no problems. People with suppressed immune systems historically have worse outcomes than uncompromised individuals; investigators suspect that as swine flu spreads, the mortality rates may rise and be high in this population. Current data suggest that pregnant individuals, children under 2 years of age, young adults, and individuals with any immune compromise or debilitation are likely to have a worse prognosis Pneumonia (viral and secondary bacterial pneumonia), is the most serious complication of the flu as it can cause death. Other complications include sinus and ear infections, asthma exacerbations, and/or bronchitis.
Dr Sanjiv Haribhakti
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Simple ways to Save yourself from Swine Flu!!
Summary and TIPS: 1. Current outbreak of H1N1 Swine Flu in India 2015 is a big concern. It is a collective responsibility of not just the government, but all the citizens of India to contain the disease. 2. There is an urgent need to increase awareness of this disease amongst general public. Swine flu is transmitted from person to person by inhalation or ingestion of droplets containing virus from people sneezing or coughing. Influenza spreads between humans when infected people cough or sneeze, then other people breathe in the virus or touch something with the virus on it and then touch their own face. 3. Frequent hand-washing with soap water or with sanitizers can help prevent viral infections such as H1N1. 4. Patients at high risk of disease should be tested for H1N1 and treated with TamiFlu. 5. Vacccination is the best way to prevent H1N1 and is recommended for selected high risk groups. 6. In general, H1N1 is a self-limiting disease. However affection of lower respiratory tracts and pneumonia can be life threatening and needs urgent isolation and treatment. DISCLAIMER: PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR FOR ANY SYMPTOMS OR NEED FOR ANY TESTS. IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO SELF DIAGNOSE OR SELF TREAT BASED ON THIS INFORMATION.
Dr Sanjiv Haribhakti
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