Swine Flu Symptoms and When You Need Tamiflu & Septilin
Swine influenza (also known as H1N1) has gotten our attention. In my practice we are getting calls from patients asking about symptoms and Tamiflu or Septilin recipes to take home "just in case".
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| H1N1 Flu Virus Treatment |
Medicine For Swine Flu India 2015
In this post I want to explain the symptoms of swine flu and when it does not need Tamiflu (oseltamivir) - or other antiviral medication, Relenza (zanamivir). Also, I want to give a link to a good source of information about swine flu. There is a lot of hype out there and as this is a story that is still being written, so I want you to have reliable sources for the best information.
Symptoms of Swine Flu
- Fever
- Chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Body aches
- Headache
- And sometimes
Vomiting and diarrhea
Respiratory symptoms without a fever.
In short, the same symptoms as the regular flu!
Do You Need an Antiviral Med like Tamiflu?
Antiviral drugs are not as antibiotics that kill bacteria. Antiviral not kill the virus or cure of the disease. All they do is disrupt the ability of the virus to spread. They can shorten and lessen the severity of their symptoms, but that's all. Different antiviral work in different ways.
Which Antiviral Drugs Work and Which Don’t?
Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) work by blocking the release of newly created from an infected cell virus. This virus growth is reduced and that is why lessen the severity of symptoms. Most importantly, reduces the transmission of the virus to others. That is why the government has accumulated these drugs and why they are used in places like nursing homes, where the spread of the virus needs to be contained.
According to the World Health Organization, "The oseltamivir [Tamiflu] is administered orally and gives higher systemic level. Zanamivir [Relenza] is delivered by oral inhalation and has less systemic absorption. The oseltamivir [Tamiflu] is the recommended treatment complications to the lower respiratory tract (ie, pneumonia). "
Antiviral medicines do not cure the flu, just shorten and lessen your symptoms. They work best if started within 48 hours of onset of symptoms.
Who Should Get Tamiflu or Relenza?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "healthier people presenting with influenza-like illness, or people who appear to be recovering from the flu do not need antivirals for the treatment or prophylaxis. However, people who have signs of flu and more serious symptoms as evidence of [pneumonia] or clinical deterioration should receive empiric antiviral treatment immediately, regardless of previous health or age. "In other words, ride out unless you're getting worse. If your symptoms get worse and you think it is swine flu, consult a health care professional immediately.
The following people are in high risk groups and should be treated with Tamiflu (or Relenza):
Pregnant women
Patients with worsening lower respiratory infections or pneumonia
Children under 5 years of age.
Adults 65 years and older.
People with chronic lung disease (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), kidney, liver, blood (including sickle cell disease), neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes).
People who are immunosuppressed, either cancer chemotherapy or HIV or other
Persons under 19 years of age who are in therapy long-term aspirin.
Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities.
Why Should Treatment Be Given?
For two primary reasons:
To decrease the severity of illness in an individual.
To slow or stop the spread of the virus through a community.
Swine Flu Ka Ilaj
If you get sick with swine flu, it is important to be diagnosed and identified correctly. At this time the swine flu is a major threat to the community than it is at the individual level.
You are a health professional and can not take the medicine for a virus for which it will not be effective. Or you can start the medication too early or too late to be of maximum efficiency. You need to be examined and diagnosed before receiving a prescription unless you are in a community where there is an outbreak of swine flu known.
Used incorrectly drugs that are now effective in slowing the spread of this virus may become ineffective because the virus can mutate and become resistant to them.
If everyone arsenals of these drugs are to be used in a chaotic rather than an organized way. This will undermine their ability to slow or stop the spread of swine flu among groups (ie, schools or nursing homes) or the community in general. It can also result in the use of the limited supply of these drugs so there will be none available to stop outbreaks that occur.
How You Can Protect Yourself from Swine Flu?
- Hand washing, hand washing, hand washing.
- Get enough rest.
- See a health professional if you get sick.
- Stay home from work or school if you get sick and don’t go back until you have been without a fever for 24 hours.
See this post (also on this blog): Down with the Swine Flu – Some Tips for You
