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Swine Flu Faq: Webmd Provides Answers To Your Questions About Swine Flu
Swine Flu Faq: Webmd Provides Answers To Your Questions About Swine Flu
Only lab tests can definitively show whether you've • Have fast breathing or trouble breathing
got swine flu. State health departments can do these
• Have bluish or gray skin color
tests. But given the large volume of samples coming
in to state labs, these tests are being reserved for • Are not drinking enough fluid
patients with severe flu symptoms. Currently, doctors • Are not waking up or not interacting
are reserving antiviral drugs for people with or at risk
of severe influenza. • Have severe or persistent vomiting
• Are so irritable that the child does not want to be
Who is at highest risk from H1N1 swine flu?
held
Most U.S. cases of H1N1 swine flu have been in older
children and young adults. It's not clear why, and it's • Have flu-like symptoms that improve but then
not clear whether this will change. return with fever and a worse cough
• Have fever with a rash
But certain groups are at particularly high risk of
severe disease or bad outcomes if they get the flu: Adults should seek urgent medical attention if they
have:
• Pregnant women
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen No. But the CDC and the World Health Organization
are already taking the first steps toward making such
• Sudden dizziness
a vaccine. That's a lengthy process that takes
• Confusion months. The process includes limited clinical tests to
• Severe or persistent vomiting see how well the vaccine elicits flu-neutralizing
antibodies and to evaluate vaccine safety. If
• Flu-like symptoms that improve, but then come everything goes perfectly -- and flu vaccine production
back with worsening fever or cough is very tricky -- there could be a U.S. swine flu vaccine
Keep in mind that your doctor will not be able to in October 2009. But that is an extremely optimistic
determine whether you have swine flu, but he or she prediction.
may take a sample from you and send it to a state
Even if officials decide to make a swine flu vaccine for
health department lab for testing to see if it's swine
this winter, many questions remain. It's not yet clear
flu. If your doctor suspects swine flu, he or she would
whether people will need one or two shots or whether
be able to write you a prescription for Tamiflu or
an immune-boosting substance called adjuvant will
Relenza. These antiviral medications aren't a question
have to be used. And, it's still not clear who should be
of life or death for the vast majority of people. Most
vaccinated first, and who should be at the end of the
U.S. swine flu patients have made a full recovery
line.
without antiviral drugs.
I had a flu vaccine this season. Am I protected
How does swine flu spread? Is it airborne?
against swine flu?
The new swine flu virus apparently spreads just like
No. This season's flu vaccine does not protect against
regular flu. You could pick up germs directly from
the new swine flu virus.
droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected
person, or by touching an object they recently Whether or not there's a swine flu vaccine this winter,
touched, and then touching your eyes, mouth, or there will be a new seasonal flu vaccine in the fall.
nose, delivering their germs for your own infection. This year, it will be more important than ever to get a
That's why you should make washing your hands a flu shot. It may not protect against swine flu -- but it
habit, even when you're not ill. Infected people can will keep you and others from getting the seasonal flu
start spreading flu germs up to a day before viruses that kill some 36,000 Americans each year.
symptoms start, and for up to seven days after getting
sick, according to the CDC. How can I prevent swine flu infection?
The CDC recommends taking these steps:
The swine flu virus can become airborne if you cough
or sneeze without covering your nose and mouth, • Wash your hands regularly with soap and water,
sending germs into the air. especially after coughing or sneezing. Or, use an
alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are
The U.S. residents infected with swine flu virus had not available.
no direct contact with pigs. The only way to get the
new swine flu is from another person. • Avoid close contact -- that is, being within six feet
-- with people who have flu-like symptoms.
How is swine flu treated?
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. That's
The new swine flu virus is sensitive to the antiviral not easy to do, so keep those hands clean.
drugs Tamiflu and Relenza. The CDC recommends
those drugs to prevent or treat swine flu; the drugs • If you have flu-like symptoms -- fever plus at least
are most effective when taken within 48 hours of the cough or sore throat or other flu symptoms -- stay
start of flu symptoms. But not everyone needs those home for seven days after symptoms egin or until
drugs. Most people who have come down with swine you've been symptom-free for 24 hours --
flu have recovered without treatment. The Department whichever is longer.
of Homeland Security has released 25% of its • The CDC does not recommend using a face
stockpile of Tamiflu and Relenza to states. Health mask or respirator in community or home
officials have asked people not to hoard Tamiflu or settings. However, the CDC says that people at
Relenza. increased risk of severe flu illness may consider
wearing a N-95 respirator or face mask in
Is there a vaccine against the new swine flu virus?
crowded settings in communities where swine flu
is circulating or when taking care of a person with but that's plenty of time for you to transfer it to your
flu-like illness. It's not known whether face masks mouth, nose, or eyes.
actually protect against flu transmission.
Can I still eat pork?
• People who have or are suspected of having
Yes. You can't get swine flu by eating pork, bacon, or
swine flu should wear a face mask, if available
other foods that come from pigs.
and tolerable, when sharing common spaces with
other household members, when outside the What else should I be doing?
home, or when breastfeeding. Keep informed of what's going on in your community.
Your state and local health departments may have
important information if swine flu develops in your
Should I wear a face mask or respirator? area. For instance, parents might want to consider
Every day, newspapers carry pictures of people what they would do if their child's school temporarily
wearing face masks to prevent swine flu transmission. closed because of flu. Don't panic, but a little planning
But very little is known about whether face masks wouldn't hurt.
actually protect against the flu.
Here's the advice from the U.S. government's
There's a difference between a face mask and a pandemicflu.gov web site:
respirator. A face mask does not seal tightly to the
To plan for a pandemic:
face. Face masks include masks labeled as surgical,
dental, medical procedure, isolation, or laser masks. • Store a two-week supply of water and food.
Respirators are N95 or higher filtering face pieces that During a pandemic, if you cannot get to a store,
fit snugly on the face. Respirators, when correctly or if stores are out of supplies, it will be
adjusted, filter out virus particles -- but it's hard to important for you to have extra supplies on
breathe through them for extended periods, and they hand. This can be useful in other types of
cannot be worn by children or people with facial hair. emergencies, such as power outages and
disasters.
People who have flu-like symptoms should carry
disposable tissues to cover their coughs and sneezes. • Periodically check your regular prescription
When going out in public, or when sharing common drugs to ensure a continuous supply in your
spaces around the home with family members, they home.
should put on a face mask -- if one is available and
• Have any nonprescription drugs and other
tolerable.
health supplies on hand, including pain
People not at risk of severe flu illness can best protect relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold
themselves from swine flu with frequent handwashing medicines, fluids with electrolytes, and vitamins.
and by staying at least six feet away from people with • Talk with family members and loved ones about
flu symptoms. But if swine flu is circulating in the how they would be cared for if they got sick, or
community, a face mask or respirator may be what will be needed to care for them in your
protective in crowded public places. home.
People at increased risk of severe flu illness -- • Volunteer with local groups to prepare and
pregnant women, for example -- may wish to consider assist with emergency response.
using a facemask under certain circumstances, such
• Get involved in your community as it works to
as when providing assistance to a person with flu-like
prepare for an influenza pandemic.
illness. But the CDC prefers such people follow more
tried-and-true methods of staying healthy, such as Items to have on hand for an extended stay at home:
handwashing and avoiding ill people.
Examples of food Examples of medical,
How long does the flu virus survive on surfaces? and non- health, and emergency
perishables supplies
Flu bugs can survive for hours on surfaces. One study
showed that flu viruses can live for up to 48 hours on • Ready-to-eat • Prescribed medical
hard, nonporous surfaces such as stainless steel and canned meats, fish, supplies such as glucose
for up to 12 hours on cloth and tissues. The virus fruits, vegetables, and blood-pressure
beans, and soups monitoring equipment
seems to survive for only minutes on your hands --
• Protein or fruit • Soap and water, or more information on preparedness planning, see the
bars alcohol-based (60-95%) U.S. government's pandemicflu.gov web site.
hand wash
Why has the swine flu infection been more severe
• Dry cereal or • Medicines for fever, in Mexico than in other countries?
granola such as acetaminophen or
ibuprofen That's not clear yet. Researchers around the world
are investigating the differences between the cases in
• Peanut butter • Thermometer Mexico and those elsewhere. The data so far
or nuts suggests that many more people in Mexico had mild
• Dried fruit • Anti-diarrheal swine flu infections than had originally been
medication appreciated.
• Canned or • Flashlight The swine flu that spread at Fort Dix was the H1N1
jarred baby food and strain. That's the same flu strain that caused the
formula disastrous flu pandemic of 1918-1919, resulting in
• Pet food • Batteries tens of millions of deaths worldwide.