Swine Flu: Symptoms, Causes, & Preventive Measures to Take Swine flu is an Influenza Virus’s new strain that may cause symptoms which are quite similar to the usual flu. Swine Flu actually originated in pigs. However, it gradually got transmitted to people and it is now spreading from one person to another person. Swine Flu hit the headlines way back in 2009 when the first human was infected by the virus. Swine Flu is a pandemic now. Pandemics are supposed to be contagious diseases that are known to affect people across the world. The Diagnosis Involved Your doctor could be asking for relevant lab tests for identifying the flu virus or he may consider diagnosing you, depending on your swine flu-like symptoms. In case you had traveled recently to a place where there is an outbreak of Swine Flu, or in case, you had exposure to infected pigs, you must seek medical attention to be on the safe side. Often in the lab tests, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used for detecting swine influenza virus from nasal swab specifications either from infected pigs or infected persons. The specimen is typically collected for diagnosis of Swine Flu virus. If you are visiting your doctor, call his office, inform him, and seek an appointment well ahead of the time. This would allow some time for him to get adequately prepared so that you do not end up infecting the staff and other patients in the waiting room of your doctor’s office. You may visit https://www.mybiosource.com/ for the best testing procedures and solutions. How Does Swine Flu Spread? Swine Flu seems to be very contagious. It spreads through mucus particles and saliva. People are responsible for transmitting the virus through coughing, sneezing, touching some germ-infected surface and going on to touch their nose or their eyes with the same infected hands. Treatment for Swine Influenza In most cases, there is no need for medication unless some clinical complications arise. Just focus on preventing the virus from getting transmitted to others. Doctors recommend a couple of antiviral drugs Zanamivir (Relenza) or Oseltamivir (Tamiflu). Generally, these are recommended only in complicated cases. How to Manage Swine Flu Symptoms
- Get lots of rest for helping your immune system to combat the infection.
- Drink plenty of fluids and water for preventing dehydration.
- Take pain relievers for tackling sore throat and headache.
- Avoid coming into close contact with infected patients or those showing the symptoms.
- Always wash your hands vigorously with soap and water for at least 15 seconds at a time. If hand-washing isn’t a very convenient or accessible option, alcohol-based sanitizers are fine too.
- Go for the influenza immunization or the flu shot every year. While it doesn’t protect you against swine flu, it does do so against some influenza strains so that you don’t end up suffering from another strain if you are already infected with swine flu.