INFLUENZA/

H1N1
Prepared by Ms. Carmelle Grace Cabaron
BSN IIIA
INFLUENZA
WHAT IS INFLUENZA?
Influenza, or flu, is a contagious
respiratory illness caused by influenza
viruses that infect the nose, throat,
and sometimes the lungs. It can cause
mild to severe illness, and at times
can lead to death.
You can also catch flu by touching an
infected person, for instance, shaking
hands. Adults are contagious 1-2 days
before getting symptoms and up to 7 days
after becoming ill. This means that you can
spread the influenza virus before you even
know you are infected.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF
INFLUENZA?

Three types of flu viruses exist –

 Influenza A

 Influenza B and;

 Influenza C

Types A and B viruses cause seasonal

epidemics that hit the United States and
Europe virtually every winter. The type C
influenza virus causes mild respiratory
illness and is not responsible for outbreaks.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
OF FLU?

People who have the flu often feel some or all of these
signs and symptoms that usually start suddenly, not
gradually: Fever* or feeling feverish/chills
 Cough
 Sore throat
 Runny or stuffy nose
 Muscle or body aches
 Headaches
 Fatigue (very tired)
 Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea,
though this is more common in young children than
in adults.
Normally, symptoms linger for about
1 week. However, the feeling of
tiredness and gloom can continue for
several weeks.
It’s important to note that
not everyone with flu will
have a fever.
ONSET OF SYMPTOMS
The time from when a person is
exposed to flu virus and infected to
when symptoms begin is about 1 to 4
days, with an average of about 2 days.
HOW DOES FLU SPREADS?
Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly
by tiny droplets made when people with flu cough,
sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the
mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less
often, a person might also get flu by touching a
surface or object that has flu virus on it and then
touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their
eyes.
PERIOD OF CONTAGIOUSNESS
You may be able to pass on the flu to someone else
before you know you are sick, as well as while you
are sick. Although people with the flu are most
contagious in the first 3-4 days after their illness
begins, some otherwise healthy adults may be able
to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms
develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.
Some people, especially young children and people
with weakened immune systems, might be able to
infect others with flu viruses for an even longer
time.
PEOPLE AT HIGH RISK FROM FLU
Anyone can get the flu (even healthy people), and
serious problems related to the flu can happen at any
age, but some people are at high risk of developing
serious flu-related complications if they get sick. This
includes people:
 65 years and older

 people of any age with certain chronic medical

conditions such as;
 asthma,
 diabetes, or heart disease
 pregnant women and
 young children.
TREATMENT
 As flu is caused by a virus, antibiotics cannot
help, unless the flu has led to another illness
caused by bacteria. Antivirals, such as
oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza),
may be prescribed in some circumstances.
 Painkillers can alleviate some of the symptoms,
such as headache and body pains.
 Some painkillers, such as aspirin, should not be
given to children under 12.
Individuals with flu should:

 stay at home
 avoid contact with other people where possible
 keep warm and rest
 consume plenty of liquids
 avoid alcohol
 stop smoking
 eat if possible

It is a good idea for people that live alone to tell

a relative, friend, or neighbor that they have flu
and make sure someone can check in on them.
PREVENTION
A flu epidemic - where a large number of people in
one country are infected - can last several weeks.
Health experts and government agencies
throughout the world say that the single best way
to protect oneself from catching flu is to get
vaccinated every year.
 There are two types of vaccinations, the flu shot
and the nasal-spray flu vaccine. The flu shot is
administered with a needle, usually in the arm -
it is approved for anyone older than 6 months,
including healthy people and those with chronic
medical conditions.
 The nasal-spray flu vaccine is a vaccine made
with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause
illness.
SEASONAL FLU SHOT
A flu vaccine will contain three influenza viruses:

 influenza (H3N2) virus

 influenza (H1N2) virus

 one B virus

As viruses adapt and change, so do those contained

within the vaccines - what is included in them is
based on international surveillance and scientists'
calculations about which virus types and strains
will circulate in a given year.
 Protectionbegins about 2 weeks after
receiving the vaccination.

 Seasonal flu vaccinations should start in

September or as soon as the vaccine is on
hand, and continue throughout the flu season,
into January, and beyond. This is because the
timing and duration of influenza seasons are
never the same. Flu outbreaks usually peak
at around January, but they can happen as
early as October.
SEASONAL FLU SHOTS ARE NOT
SUITABLE FOR SOME PEOPLE

Certain individuals should check with their doctor

before deciding to have the flu vaccine, including:
 Individuals with a severe allergy to chicken eggs.

 Individuals who have had a severe reaction to a flu

vaccination in the past.
 Individuals who developed Guillain-Barré
Syndrome within 6 weeks of receiving a flu
vaccine.
 Children under 6 months old.

 Individuals experiencing a fever with a moderate-to-

severe illness should wait until they recover before
being vaccinated.
WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR?
A doctor only needs to be informed if:
 the individual is frail or elderly

 their temperature remains high after 4-5 days

 symptoms worsen

 the individual feels seriously ill

 they become short of breath and/or develop chest

pain
H1N1 FLU VIRUS (SWINE
FLU)
WHAT IS H1N1 FLU VIRUS (SWINE
FLU)?
H1N1 flu is also known as swine flu. It's called
swine flu because in the past, the people who
caught it had direct contact with pigs. That
changed several years ago, when a new virus
emerged that spread among people who hadn't
been near pigs.
HOW DO YOU CATCH IT?
The same way as the seasonal flu. When people
who have it cough or sneeze, they spray tiny drops
of the virus into the air. If you come in contact with
these drops, touch a surface (like a doorknob or
sink) where the drops landed, or touch something
an infected person has recently touched, you can
catch H1N1 swine flu.
People who have it can spread it one day
before they have any symptoms and as
many as 7 days after they get sick. Kids can
be contagious for as long as 10 days.

Despite the name, you can't catch swine

flu from eating bacon, ham, or any other
pork product.
SWINE FLU SYMPTOMS
These, too, are pretty much the same as
seasonal flu. They can include:
 Cough

 Fever

 Sore throat

 Stuffy or runny nose

 Body aches

 Headache

 Chills

 Fatigue
Like the regular flu, swine flu can lead to more
serious problems including pneumonia,
a lung infection, and other breathing problems. And
it can make an illness
like diabetes or asthma worse. If you have
symptoms like:

 shortness of breath
 severe vomiting

 pain in your belly or sides

 dizziness or confusion

call your doctor right away.

ARE THERE TESTS FOR SWINE FLU?
Yes. Without one it's hard to tell whether you have
swine flu or seasonal flu, because most symptoms
are the same. If you have swine flu, you may be
more likely to feel sick and your stomach and throw
up than with regular flu. But a lab test is the only
way to know. Even a rapid flu test you can get in
your doctor's office won't tell you for sure
To test for swine flu, your doctor runs a swab up the inside of your
nose around the back of your throat. But the test isn’t as common
or widespread as those for regular flu. So the only people who
really need to be tested are those in the hospital or those at high
risk for life-threatening problems from swine flu, such as:
 Children under 5 years old
 People 65 or older
 Children and teens (under age 18) who are getting long-
term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for Reye's
syndrome after being infected with swine flu. Reye's
syndrome is a life-threatening illness linked to aspirin use in
children.
 Pregnant women
 Adults and children with chronic
lung, heart, liver, blood, nervous system, neuromuscular, or
metabolic problems
 Adults and children who have weakened immune systems
(including those who take medications to suppress their
immune systems or who have HIV)
 People in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
HOW IS IT TREATED?
 Some of the same antiviral drugs that are used to
treat seasonal flu also work against H1N1 swine
flu. Oseltamivir (Tamiflu), peramivir (Rapivab),
and zanamivir (Relenza) seem to work best,
although some kinds of swine flu don’t respond to
oseltamivir.
 These drugs can help you get well faster. They
can also make you feel better. They work best
when you take them within 48 hours of the
first flu symptoms, but they can help even if you
get them later on.
 Antibiotics won't do anything for you. That’s
because flu is caused by a virus, not bacteria.
 Over-the-counter pain remedies and cold and
flu medications can help relieve aches, pains, and
fever. Don't give aspirin to children under
age 18 because of the risk of Reye’s
syndrome. Make sure that over-the-counter cold
medications do not have aspirin before giving
them to children.
IS THERE A VACCINE FOR SWINE FLU?
 The same flu vaccine that protects against
seasonal flu also protects against the H1N1
swine flu strain. You can get it as a shot or as a
nasal spray. Either way, it "teaches" your
immune system to attack the real virus.
Besides a flu shot, there are other things you can do to
stay healthy:
 Wash your hands throughout the day with soap and
water. Sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice to
make sure you've washed long enough. Or use an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
 Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.

 Avoid people who are sick.

END. THANK YOU 