May 28, 2009

Update of Influenza A H1N1 aka swine flu in the Philippines

There were already six confirmed cases that have been infected with this flu in the Philippines. There are also patients that were taken in for observation in our nearby city. Honestly I’m worried about this illness because this can easily spread like the common flu. This flu is a new strain of virus which is a reassortment of viruses from pigs, birds and human. It can be fatal because this flu can cause pneumonia. It is transmissible from human to human through exposure to droplets from the cough and sneeze of infected persons. The virus can also spread by touching one’s mouth, nose or eyes after getting contact with contaminated object and infected person. Incubation period of the disease is two to seven days from time of exposure. Swine flu is treatable with the standard anti-flu drugs such as Tamiflu and Releza, however it should be taken with doctor’s prescription. As of now there was still no vaccine for this kind of flu.

In order to avoid contracting the disease we should avoid close contact with persons exhibiting flu-like symptoms. Flu viruses spread through the air, so cover coughs and sneezes with tissue and throw in the trash after use. Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and water after cough or sneeze. It is also recommended to use 60 – 70% solution rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizers for disinfection. Increase body resistance by sleeping atleast 8 hours regularly, manage stress, eat nutritious food and drink plenty of water.

If you have these symptoms it is recommended to see your doctor.
The following are the signs and symptoms which are flu-like:
Fever
Headache
Fatigue
Muscle of joint pains
Lack of appetite
Runny nose
Sore throat
Cough
Other reported symptoms are:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Nausea
Chills
Difficulty of breathing

No comments:

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Reminder to everyone:

English is my second language so bear with me if my grammar, as well as sentence and paragraph construction is faulty. I am not writing to impress but simply to express my thoughts.

The opinion written here is solely mine and I have no intention to impose it to anyone for that matter. So as the title goes this is just my perception