Overview

Name: H1N1 (Swine) Flu Diagnosis

Description: Important basic information and Frequently Asked Questions

Creator: Arrowsmith

This casebook is published and has been read 587 times.

The author of this casebook has identified the following medical topics as being highly relevant to this casebook.

• Influenza -- acute viral infection involving the respiratory tract; marked by inflammation of the nasal mucosa, the pharynx, and conjunctiva, and by headache and severe, often generalized, myalgia.
  
  
• Swine influenza -- disease caused by strains of influenza A virus, causing influenza and pneumonia in domestic pigs.
  
  
• Influenza A virus -- A negative-strand linear single-strand RNA virus with an 8 segment genome. Virions are enveloped and usually spherical or pleomorphic, 80-120 nm in diameter. Subtyping is based on the antigenic properties of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins. Influenza type A viruses can infect people, birds, pigs, horses, and other animals, but wild birds are the natural hosts for these viruses.
  
  

Notes

What is 2009 H1N1 (swine) flu?
2009 H1N1 (sometimes called "swine flu") is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of 2009 H1N1 flu was underway.

Why is 2009 H1N1 virus sometimes called "swine flu"?
This virus was originally referred to as "swine flu" because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs (swine) in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and bird (avian) genes and human genes.

Why is 2009 H1N1 different from regular (seasonal) flu?
Seasonal flu viruses change from year to year but they are similar to each other. Because of this similarity, people who have had flu infections in the past usually have some immunity to seasonal flu virues (their bodies have built up some ability to fight off the next season's virus). The 2009 H1N1 flu is a new flu virus -- it if very different from seasonal flu viruses and so most people have little or no immunity.

How can I avoid getting the flu?
You can take simple, everyday actions to reduce your risk. In addition, you can also get vaccinated. Disease prevention steps and vaccines are fully covered in our companion Casebook H1N1 (Swine) Flu Prevention.

How do I know if I have the flu?
You may have the flu if you have some or all of these symptoms: Fever - cough - sore throat - runny or stuffy nose - body aches - headache - chills - fatigue

These symptoms can be caused by regular (seasonal) flu or H1N1 (swine) flu.  However, some people with swine flu also experience vomitting and diarrhea. Only a special Swine Influenza Test Kit can tell if you have H1N1 and it is primarily used so that public health officials could quickly identify cases and limit their spread.

What should I do if I get sick?
If you get sick with flu-like symptoms (see above), you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. Most people with 2009 H1N1 have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs and the same is true of seasonal flu. However, some people are more likely to get flu complications and they should talk to a health care provider about whether they need to be examined if they get flu symptoms this season. They are:

• Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
• People 65 and older
• Pregnant women
• People who have:
• Cancer
• Blood disorders (including sickle cell disease)
• Chronic lung disease [including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)]
• Diabetes 
• Heart disease 
• Kidney disorders
• Liver disorders
• Neurological disorders (including nervous system, brain or spinal cord)
• Neuromuscular disorders (including muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis) 
• Weakened immune systems (including people with AIDS) 

What are the emergency warning signs?

In children:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing 
• Bluish skin color 
• Not drinking enough fluids 
• Not waking up or not interacting 
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held 
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough 
• Fever with a rash

In adults:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath 
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen 
• Sudden dizziness 
• Confusion 
• Severe or persistent vomiting

Do I need to go to the emergency room if I am only a little sick?
No. The emergency room should be used for people who are very sick. You should not go to the emergency room if you are only mildly ill. If you have the
emergency warning signs of flu sickness, you should go to the emergency room. If you get sick with flu symptoms and are at high risk of flu complications or you are concerned about your illness, call your health care provider for advice. If you go to the emergency room and you are not sick with the flu, you may catch it from people who do have it.

Are there medications to treat 2009 H1N1 flu?
There are two prescription medications (Tamiflu and Relenza) that you can take to treat both H1N1 and seasonal flu. These medications are fully covered in our companion Casebook H1N1 (Swine) Flu Treatment. These drugs can make you better faster and may also prevent serious complications. This flu season, antiviral drugs are being used mainly to treat people who are very sick, such as people who need to be hospitalized, and to treat sick people who are more likely to get serious flu complications. Your health care provider will decide whether antiviral drugs are needed to treat your illness. Remember, most people with 2009 H1N1 have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs and the same is true of seasonal flu.

How long should I stay at home if I'm sick?
The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other things you have to do and no one else can do for you. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®.) You should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.

What should I do while I'm sick?
Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making them sick. If you must leave home, for example to get medical care, wear a facemask if you have one, or cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. And wash your hands often to keep from spreading flu to others.

 

 

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