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Posts Tagged ‘Influenza’

It is very common for the majority of persons to suffer from the influenza at one point or another in the course of their lives. Those persons that come into contact with big groups of people either in the course of work or school are more liable to pick up not just one bout of influenza but are likely to endure the flu numerous times. This happens because of the sizable number and varieties of viruses that are ready and waiting to take aim at us.

They change, they mutate and they attack our systems several times before we are able to come up with helpful treatments.The majority of familiar influenza viruses are those ones that affect nearly all of the bird species as well as all mammals. It is the wild marine bird species that are infected time and again with the type A viruses. These viruses are transmittable as well. In the case of the avian influenza, the bug was passed from wild birds to domestic birds who subsequently passed the bug on to human beings. In the case of the swine flu outbreak that we are presently experiencing, the bug was passed between mammals.

Even though there are a lot of different varieties of the influenza bug, the symptoms are all pretty common. These are headaches and body aches, extreme tiredness, fever and chills, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes and flushed face. It is frequent as well to suffer from nausea and abdominal pain above all for those that have contracted the Type B virus. The symptoms of the Type B virus are a good deal more severe and come on awfully swiftly.

It is key to obtain treatment right away if these symptoms begin.
It is imperative that medications be provided to the sufferer right away. In a few cases you are able to mix allopathic and homeopathic medicines to acquire the greatest outcome nevertheless please only do this after consulting your family physician or pharmacist. Tests are able to be done as well to establish if vaccination would be effective for both treatment as well as prevention. All persons are different and so is their reaction to vaccine.

It is reasonably possible that a few persons might have developed a resistance to a particular vaccine. This is for the reason that there appears to be more drug resistance to the latter and the former is less lethal and seemingly more effective. Paracetamol helps to reduce pain and furthermore helps to diminish fever so this allopathic medicine should be given along with antiviral medications. In the case of homeopathic treatment, it is significant to get guidance from your family doctor regarding what medicines ought to be utilized to ease your individual symptoms. The amount of medicine given is directly correlated to the severity of the illness itself. Smaller doses of homeopathic medicines can be given in an attempt to avoid a bout with the influenza virus.

As you are in all probability already aware, it is imperative that you cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, wash your hands often and wash all contaminated surfaces with disinfectants in an attempt to stop the spread of the illness. It is effective also to eat correctly including plenty of fruits and vegetables, exercise and keep away from crowded places where the virus can be passed with no trouble from person to person.

21 AUGUST 2009 — World Health Organization has issued guidelines for the use of antivirals in the management of patients infected with the H1N1 pandemic virus.

The guidelines represent the consensus reached by an international panel of experts who reviewed all available studies on the safety and effectiveness of these drugs. Emphasis was placed on the use of oseltamivir and zanamivir to prevent severe illness and deaths, reduce the need for hospitalization, and reduce the duration of hospital stays.

The pandemic virus is currently susceptible to both of these drugs (known as neuraminidase inhibitors), but resistant to a second class of antivirals (the M2 inhibitors).

Worldwide, most patients infected with the pandemic virus continue to experience typical influenza symptoms and fully recover within a week, even without any form of medical treatment. Healthy patients with uncomplicated illness need not be treated with antivirals.

Evidence reviewed by the panel indicates that oseltamivir, when properly prescribed, can significantly reduce the risk of pneumonia (a leading cause of death for both pandemic and seasonal influenza) and the need for hospitalization.

For patients who initially present with severe illness or whose condition begins to deteriorate, WHO recommends treatment with oseltamivir as soon as possible. Studies show that early treatment, preferably within 48 hours after symptom onset, is strongly associated with better clinical outcome. For patients with severe or deteriorating illness, treatment should be provided even if started later. Where oseltamivir is unavailable or cannot be used for any reason, zanamivir may be given.

This recommendation applies to all patient groups, including pregnant women, and all age groups, including young children and infants.

For patients with underlying medical conditions that increase the risk of more severe disease, WHO recommends treatment with either oseltamivir or zanamivir. These patients should also receive treatment as soon as possible after symptom onset, without waiting for the results of laboratory tests.

As pregnant women are included among groups at increased risk, WHO recommends that pregnant women receive antiviral treatment as soon as possible after symptom onset.

At the same time, the presence of underlying medical conditions will not reliably predict all or even most cases of severe illness. Worldwide, around 40% of severe cases are now occurring in previously healthy children and adults, usually under the age of 50 years.

Some of these patients experience a sudden and very rapid deterioration in their clinical condition, usually on day 5 or 6 following the onset of symptoms.

Clinical deterioration is characterized by primary viral pneumonia, which destroys the lung tissue and does not respond to antibiotics, and the failure of multiple organs, including the heart, kidneys, and liver. These patients require management in intensive care units using therapies in addition to antivirals.

Clinicians, patients, and those providing home-based care need to be alert to warning signals that indicate progression to a more severe form of illness, and take urgent action, which should include treatment with oseltamivir.

In cases of severe or deteriorating illness, clinicians may consider using higher doses of oseltamivir, and for a longer duration, than is normally prescribed.
Antiviral use in children

Following the recent publication of two clinical reviews, [1,2] some questions have been raised about the advisability of administering antivirals to children.

The two clinical reviews used data that were considered by WHO and its expert panel when developing the current guidelines and are fully reflected in the recommendations.

WHO recommends prompt antiviral treatment for children with severe or deteriorating illness, and those at risk of more severe or complicated illness. This recommendation includes all children under the age of five years, as this age group is at increased risk of more severe illness.

Otherwise healthy children, older than 5 years, need not be given antiviral treatment unless their illness persists or worsens.
Danger signs in all patients

Clinicians, patients, and those providing home-based care need to be alert to danger signs that can signal progression to more severe disease. As progression can be very rapid, medical attention should be sought when any of the following danger signs appear in a person with confirmed or suspected H1N1 infection:

* shortness of breath, either during physical activity or while resting
* difficulty in breathing
* turning blue
* bloody or coloured sputum
* chest pain
* altered mental status
* high fever that persists beyond 3 days
* low blood pressure.

In children, danger signs include fast or difficult breathing, lack of alertness, difficulty in waking up, and little or no desire to play.

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.

Human infections with swine flu in the U.S.

In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. Other U.S. states have reported cases of swine flu infection in humans and cases have been reported internationally as well. An updated case count of confirmed swine flu infections in the United States is kept at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation.

Is the swine flu virus contagious?

Yes. The CDC has determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people.

How is the swine flu spread?

Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is most likely to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?

The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.