Swine flu — it’s all over the media. What is it? What can I do? And how worried should I be? These are the questions I ask myself, especially as a mother. At some level, we all know that becoming riddled with fear doesn’t help. So let’s take action where we can. Be cautious where necessary and get the relevant information we need.
Let’s first define swine flu. The name itself is horrible — a visual image of filthy pigs wallowing in murky muck. And that image isn’t too far off from its origins. So maybe the swine aren’t bathing in muddy waters but this type of influenza is a contagious respiratory virus that affects pigs.
So why is it spreading to more humans now? In the past there have been limited instances where the virus has spread to people, but it had never gone beyond three people. As of right now, scientists aren’t sure how some cases have occurred without any contact to pigs.
What are the symptoms? They’re similar to flu-like symptoms: high fever and chills, lethargy, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, lack of appetite, coughing, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, and headaches.
How does it spread? The same way the flu does. A person is put at risk two ways: If an infected person coughs or sneezes on them, or if they touch something that has the flu virus on it and then they touch their mouth, nose or eyes. However, what makes it sometimes difficult to prevent is that an infected person can pass the virus along even before any symptoms develop. But there are precautions that we can take.
Swine Flu Symptoms
According to the CDC, like seasonal flu, symptoms of swine flu infections can include:
* fever, which is usually high, but unlike seasonal flu, is sometimes absent
* cough
* runny nose or stuffy nose
* sore throat
* body aches
* headache
* chills
* fatigue or tiredness, which can be extreme
* diarrhea and vomiting, sometimes, but more commonly seen than with seasonal flu
Signs of a more serious swine flu infection might include pneumonia and respiratory failure.
If your child has symptoms of swine flu, you should avoid other people and call your pediatrician who might do a rapid flu test to see if he has an influenza A infection. Further testing can then be done to see if it is a swine flu infection. (Samples are being sent to local and state health departments and the CDC for confirmation of swine flu.)
Serious Swine Flu Symptoms
More serious symptoms that would indicate that a child with swine flu would need urgent medical attention include:
* Fast breathing or trouble breathing
* Bluish or gray skin color
* Not drinking enough fluids
* Severe or persistent vomiting
* Not waking up or not interacting
* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
