INFLUENZA ATTACK: PART THREE

In part three of the Influenza Attack series, let's look at how we as blogger and reader can do something to prevent, avoid or manage this crucial scenario.



As mentioned in Part One and Part Two, Swine Flu is beginning to spread in an unusually high across the borders of Mexico, thus prompting a pandemic outbreak may just beginning to threatening us. But, before you hit any panic button, please make sure you are ready when things like this happen.

SYMPTOMS OF SWINE FLU

Like any other common flu or Avian Flu in the past, the symptoms can be very similar and may varied from one to another. In general, these symptoms include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Body ache
• Lethargy (feeling tired or fatigue)
• Lack of appetite
• Diarrhea and vomiting also been reported increasingly in swine flu

TREATMENTS

The swine flu can be treated by using several influenza antiviral drugs that have been approved for use in United States by Center For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC). These drugs are:

• osletamivir (known as Tamiflu - approved to both treat and prevent influenza A and B virus infection in people one year of age and older)
• zanamivir (known as Relenza - approved to treat influenza A and B virus infection in people 7 years and older and to prevent influenza A and B virus infection in people 5 years and older)
• amantadine
• rimantadine

These drugs help to relieve the symptoms, making the illness become milder while in long term, help to prevent serious influenza complications such as pneumonia (infection of the lower respiratory track).

Besides that, do take special care and consult with physician if you are pregnant or have a health condition (diabetes, heart disease, asthma or emphysema). Ensure the people with swine flu (like any other flu) to stay home for 7 days after the symptoms arise and get plenty of rest. Symptomatic treatments like drinking clear fluids and medications like Panadol to curb fever are the best to provide relieve.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

The main way that influenza viruses are thought to spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. Here are several ways you can do to prevent the spread of swine flu:

• Always maintain a high standard of infection control - frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Get yourself a trivalent influenza vaccination although standard vaccination provides only minimal protection against H1N1 due to its new strain nature.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with paper tissue and throw it away into trash can.
• Avoid close contact with the others.
• Seek for immediate health care and stay home if you show symptoms of swine flu.
• Avoid touching your eye, nose or mouth because the disease can spread that way.

With the three part series on "Influenza Attack", I hope the readers will benefit the most. Be cautious when you are at outdoor, do not panic and remain calm! Although Swine Flu is spreading, as long as you take preventive measures and know what to do when emergency arrives, you will be okay!!