2 posts from August 2009

Swine Flu Symptoms. Its quite possible although you feel ill, you wont have swine flu at all

Swine flu how to protect your family in the event of a prolonged STAY HOME      The symptoms of swine flu are broadly the same as those of ordinary flu, but may be more severe and cause more serious complications.

The typical symptoms are:

sudden fever (a high body temperature of over 38C or 100.4F), and
sudden cough.
Other symptoms may include:

headache,
tiredness,
chills,
aching muscles,
limb or joint pain,
diarrhoea or stomach upset,
sore throat,
runny nose,
sneezing, and
loss of appetite.
Most people who have contracted swine flu recover within a week and do not suffer complications, even without being given antiviral medication.

However, experts point out that as this is a new virus, its behaviour cannot be predicted with certainty.

Swine flu is different from seasonal flu in that most serious illnesses have been in younger age groups.

A doctor faced with a symptomatic patient cannot yet predict with certainty the course of their illness and whether or not they will be in the small proportion who may become more seriously ill.

This is why antiviral medication is still being given to all those with swine flu in the UK, subject to their doctor’s discretion

Colds and flu advice

Colds and flu affect 15 million people each year in the UK. Often people make unnecessary trips to their GP when they should be resting at home.

However, flu can be a serious condition for some people, so it’s important to get a flu jab if you need it.

Swine flu is a current concern and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised the level of alert for swine flu to phase 6. This reflects the increasing number of localised cases in the UK and worldwide.

If you have cold or flu symptoms or are worried you might have caught swine flu check with your Doctor

Swine Flu: 8 Ways to Get Your Family Ready Protect your Family Take these steps HIN1 flu

How to survive pig flu

Pandemic flu plans aren’t just for governments: Families need them too, and a family doc in Boise, Idaho. And parents need to prepare now. Here are eight things families should do to get ready for swine flu, accordingly

Stockpile food and medical supplies. Two weeks of food, common cold medicines such as ibuprofen, and tissues would be a good place to start, The idea is to be self-sufficient if schools and businesses are closed or if you want to stay home and avoid the risk of being exposed to flu in public places. Here’s the pandemicflu.gov family pandemic planning checklist.
Plan for school closures. Decide what the family will do if schools or day-care centers are closed, as they are in several states. pig flu protect family pig flu epidemic

Wash hands often, and use alcohol hand sanitizers to reduce the spread of germs. Clean home surfaces with Lysol or another disinfectant to reduce transmission. pig flu piggy flu

Face masks should be worn by a sick family member or by someone taking care of a sick person. “There’s no evidence that they’re of value out in the community,” In other words, no need to wear a mask on the bus, as people are doing in Mexico.
Stockpiling antiviral medication won’t be necessary unless the pandemic gets a lot worse, Epperly says. Relenza, one antiviral that works against swine flu, isn’t approved for children under age 7, he says. That means Tamiflu, a prescription drug, is the only choice for young children. It doesn’t prevent flu, and it needs to be taken in the first 48 hours after symptoms start to be effective.

Stay home if you are sick. “People shouldn’t be going outside if they’ve got the flu,” This means a fever over 100 degrees, muscle aches, and in some cases, vomiting or diarrhea.
Sick family members should be cared for in a separate room with good ventilation–windows open if possible, They should get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. The CDC has new advice on caring for children with swine flu.
Most people are going to recover just fine from influenza, , even a swine flu. But with regular seasonal flu, too, more than 20,000 children under age 5 are hospitalized each year with complications. In last winter’s flu season, 86 children died of complications of the regular flu, according to the CDC. The uncertainty over what’s going to happen with this new virus has parents, doctors, and public-health officials justifiably worried.

Check LIST STOCK UP NOW
You can prepare for an influenza pandemic now. You should know both the magnitude of what can happen during a pandemic outbreak and what actions you can take to help lessen the impact of an influenza pandemic on you and your family. This checklist will help you gather the information and resources you may need in case of a flu pandemic.

To plan for a pandemic:

Store a two week supply of water and food. During a pandemic, if you cannot get to a store, or if stores are out of supplies, it will be important for you to have extra supplies on hand. This can be useful in other types of emergencies, such as power outages and disasters.
Periodically check your regular prescription drugs to ensure a continuous supply in your home.
Have any nonprescription drugs and other health supplies on hand, including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes, and vitamins.
Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick, or what will be needed to care for them in your home.
Volunteer with local groups to prepare and assist with emergency response.
Get involved in your community as it works to prepare for an influenza pandemic.
To limit the spread of germs and prevent infection:

Teach your children to wash hands frequently with soap and water, and model the correct behavior.
Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues, and be sure to model that behavior.
Teach your children to stay away from others as much as possible if they are sick. Stay home from work and school if sick.
Items to have on hand for an extended stay at home:

You can prepare for an influenza pandemic now. You should know both the magnitude of what can happen during a pandemic outbreak and what actions you can take to help lessen the impact of an influenza pandemic on you and your family. This checklist will help you gather the information and resources you may need in case of a flu pandemic.

To plan for a pandemic:

Store a two week supply of water and food. During a pandemic, if you cannot get to a store, or if stores are out of supplies, it will be important for you to have extra supplies on hand. This can be useful in other types of emergencies, such as power outages and disasters.
Periodically check your regular prescription drugs to ensure a continuous supply in your home.
Have any nonprescription drugs and other health supplies on hand, including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes, and vitamins.
Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick, or what will be needed to care for them in your home.
Volunteer with local groups to prepare and assist with emergency response.
Get involved in your community as it works to prepare for an influenza pandemic.