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Definition
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Swine Flu is a viral respiratory infection that affects the nose, throat, trachea, and bronchi.
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You think you have Swine Flu because other close contacts (e.g., family members, friends) have it or because Swine Flu is very common currently in your community. Use this guideline only if you have symptoms that match Swine Flu (Novel H1N1 Virus).
Symptoms of Swine Flu include:
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There is usually a sudden onset of fever, chills, feeling sick, muscle aches, and headache.
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Respiratory symptoms are similar to a common cold: runny nose, sore throat, and a bad cough.
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Fever is usually present. The fever is usually higher (102 - 104° F; 38.9 - 40° C) with Swine Flu than with a cold. Headaches and muscle aches are also worse with Swine Flu.
General Information about Swine Flu (H1N1)
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Swine flu viruses normally do not infect humans. Cases of swine flu spread from pigs to humans in Mexico during March 2009. An outbreak of swine flu in humans occurred in the U.S. and Canada April 2009 and started spreading person-to-person.
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Incubation Period: After exposure, a person will come down with swine flu symptoms in 1 to 4 days. The longest incubation period is thought to be 7 days.
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Symptoms: The symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of regular human influenza. The main symptoms are runny nose, sore throat, cough, and fever. Other common symptoms are muscle pain, headache and fatigue. Some people also have vomiting and diarrhea.
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Prognosis and Symptom Severity: Symptoms of swine flu can be mild to severe, just as with regular human influenza. Thus far in the US and Canada, the symptoms have generally been mild; it is hoped that complications will be uncommon and death will be rare.
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Complications: The worst complications are pneumonia and respiratory distress or failure. Complications are more likely to occur in certain high risk patients (see list below)
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Expected Course: The expected course will probably be similar to regular human influenza: fever for 2-3 days, runny/congested nose for 7-14 days, and the cough for 2-3 weeks.
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Contagiousness: The swine flu virus is spread via airborne droplet, from sneezing and coughing, just like other influenza viruses. It also can be transmitted by hands contaminated with secretions. Swine flu is NOT transmitted by eating pork.
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Contagious Period: A person is contagious for 1 day prior to and for 7 days after the onset of symptoms (e.g., fever, cough).
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Treatment - Antiviral Medications: See below.
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Prevention - Vaccine: The best way to prevent Swine (H1N1) Flu is to get a yearly seasonal flu vaccine. This year, H1N1 is included in the regular flu vaccine and no separate flu shot is needed.
Some individuals are at higher risk for complications like pneumonia. Adults at HIGH RISK include:
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Persons 65 years and older
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Persons younger than 19 years old who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy (Reason: at risk for Reye syndrome)
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Pregnant women
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Asthma
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Neurological and neuro-developmental conditions [including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury].
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Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis)
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Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
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Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
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Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
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Kidney disorders
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Liver disorders
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Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
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Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids)
Anti-Viral Medications for Swine Flu
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Two medications licensed in the U.S. and Canada are believed to be effective against the swine influenza virus: zanamivir (Relenza), and oseltamivir (Tamiflu).
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Treatment
: Treatment is recommended for [a] patients with severe symptoms (e.g., require hospitalization) and [b] HIGH RISK patients with any flu symptoms. Treatment is not generally recommended for influenza-like illness in most healthy patients. [September 8, 2009 CDC Antiviral Recommendation]
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Post-Exposure (Prevention): These medications can also be taken prophylactically to prevent illness. Three groups that may especially benefit from prophylaxis are [a] pregnant women, [b] health care workers, and [c] patients at higher risk of complications who have had a close contact with someone with suspected or confirmed Swine Flu.
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Reference: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/recommendations.htm
Staying Home from Work and School
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If not, see these topics
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Swine Flu exposure (close contact) and you have no fever or respiratory symptoms, use SWINE FLU EXPOSURE
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COUGH and you have had no exposure (Close Contact), or your cough begins over 7 days after exposure
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COLD symptoms (e.g., runny nose, nasal congestion) and you have had no exposure (Close Contact), or your symptoms begin over 7 days after exposure
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SORE THROAT and you have had no exposure (Close Contact), or your sore throat begins over 7 days after exposure
First Aid:
N/A
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