Swine Flu Information

Swine flu Symptoms • Symptoms are similar to the symptoms of regular flu. • Fever of over 100.4°F • Fatigue, lack of appetite, and cold • Sometimes there may be runny nose, sore throat, few cases present with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

How do you know if you have flu or just cold? • when you have the flu, you feel flu symptoms sooner than you would cold symptoms, and they come on with much greater intensity. • you may feel very weak and fatigued for up to 2 or 3 weeks.

• You'll have muscle aches and periods of chills and sweats as fever comes and goes. • You may also have a stuffy or runny nose, headache, and sore throat.

Can I compare flu symptoms with cold symptoms? Use this chart to learn the differences and similarities between flu and cold symptoms. Then, if you get flu symptoms, call your doctor and ask about an antiviral drug. Symptoms

Cold

Fever

Rare

Headache

Rare

Flu Characteristic, high 100-102 degrees F); lasts 34 days Prominent

General aches, Slight pains Fatigue, Weakness Quite mild

Usual; often severe Can last up to 2-3 weeks

Extreme Exhaustion Stuffy Nose

Never Common

Early and prominent Sometimes

Chest Discomfort,Cough

Mild to moderate; hacking cough

Common; can become severe

*NOTE: symptoms of swine flu are not always classical. Most of the time it mimics a common cold.

How and where can I test? • •

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You cannot confirm if you have swine flu just based on your symptoms. Testing for swine flu starts with a nose and throat swab tests which can be done at your State health departments.   From these tests, microbiologists will know whether the patient has one of the hundreds of strains of Influenza A, which is related to swine flu. If it is Influenza A, the sample is tested further to see if the virus originated in a human. Testing can take up to 12 hours.

• If the virus is nonhuman in origin, the sample is considered a probable case of swine flu and is flown by overnight courier to the state public health laboratory. Confirmation can take 48 hours.

How and where can I test? GOVERNMENT AUTHORIZED HOSPITALS FOR TREATMENT OF SWINE FLU City Chennai

Kolkata

Hospital

Address

Contact

king Institute of Preventive Medicine (24/7 Service)

Guindy, Chennai – 32

(044) 22501520, 22501521 & 22501522

Communicable Diseases Hospital

Thondiarpet, Chennai

(044) 25912686/87/ 88, 9444459543

Government General Hospital

Opp. Central Railway Station, Chennai – 03

(044) 25305000, 25305723, 25305721

ID Hospital

57,Beliaghata, Beliaghata Road, Kolkata - 10

(033) 23701252

How and where can I test City

Hospital

Address

Contact

Naidu Hospital

Nr Le'Meridian, Raja Bahadur Mill, GPO, Pune - 01

(020) 26058243

National Institute of Virology

20A Ambedkar Road, Pune - 11

(020) 26006290

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)

Ansari Nagar, Aurobindo Marg Ring Road, New Delhi - 29

(011) 26594404, 26861698  Prof. R C Deka 9868397464

National Institute for Communicable Diseases

22, Sham Nath Marg, New Delhi - 54

(011) 23971272/060/ 344/524/449/ 326

Kharak Singh Marg, New Delhi - 01

(011) 23741640, 23741649, 23741639 Dr. N K Chaturvedi – 9811101704

University Enclave, New Delhi- 07

(011) 27667102, 27667441, 27667667, 27666182

PUNE

Gurgaon & Delhi Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital

Vallabhai Patel Chest Institute

How and where can I test? City

Hospital

Address

Contact

Coimbatore

Government General Hospital

Near Railway Station, Trichy Road, Coimbatore - 18

(0422) 2301393, 2301394, 2301395, 2301396

Hyderabad

Govt. General and Chest Diseases Hospital,

Erragadda, Hyderabad

(040) 23814939

Victoria Hospital

K R Market, Kalasipalayam, Bangalore - 02

(080) 26703294  Dr. Gangadhar - 9448049863

SDS Tuberculosis & Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases

Hosur Road, (080) 26631923  Dr. Hombegowda Nagar, Shivaraj - 99801Bangalore - 29 48780

Bangalore

How and where can I test? City

Mumbai

Kochi

Hospital

Address

Contact

Kasturba Gandhi Hospital

Arthur Road, N M Joshi Marg, Jacob Circle, Mumbai - 11

(022) 23083901, 23092458, 23004512

Sir J J Hospital

J J Marg, Byculla, Mumbai 08

(022) 23735555, 23739031, 23760943, 23768400 / 23731144 / 5555 / 23701393 / 1366

Haffkine Institute

Acharya Donde Marg, Parel, Mumbai - 12

(022) 24160947, 24160961, 24160962

Government Medical College

Gandhi Nagar P O, Kottayam - 08

(0481) 2597311,2597312

Government Medical College

Vandanam P O, Allapuzha 05

(0477) 2282015

Taluk Hospital

Railway Station Road, Alwaye, Ernakulam

(0484) 2624040  Sathyajit 09847840051

Taluk Hospital

Perumbavoor PO, Ernakulam 542

(0484) 2523138  Vipin 09447305200

What is the treatment? • *In most cases treatment is symptomatic. • Tamiflu can be used to treat on doctors prescription to prevent infection with swine flu viruses. • The drugs used are: Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza) . • To be effective you need to take them within 48 hours of the symptoms beginning. After 48 hours it has limited efficacy. These flu drugs can decrease the duration of the flu by 1 to 2 days if used within this early time period. These antivirals are usually given for a period of about 5-7 days. • Is there a vaccine to treat swine flu virus? No, there isn’t a vaccine yet. But vaccines are being made in large quantities. Clinical tests will begin in September 2009. But still no one knows what is the dosage? No of doses? Time interval? Efficacy.

Self medication • Antibiotics are a No-No • Chances are that antibiotics will not help your flu symptoms. • That's because flu, colds, and most sore throats and bronchitis are caused by viruses. • In addition, taking antibiotics when you have a virus may do more harm than good. • Taking antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment. • Antibiotics only cure certain infections due to bacteria -- and if taken carelessly, you may get more serious health problems than you bargained for. 

People susceptible to Swine Flu are :

Those who are more at risk from becoming seriously ill with swine flu are people with: *INDIVIDUALS IN IMMUNOSUPPRESSED STATES. *HIV *Patients on long term steroids. • • • • • • • • •

chronic (long-term) lung disease, including people who have had drug treatment for their asthma within the past three years chronic heart disease chronic kidney disease chronic liver disease chronic neurological disease (neurological disorders include motor neurone disease, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis) diabetes pregnant women people aged 65 or older, and young children under five

How does it spread? •

The new swine flu virus is highly contagious, that is it spreads from person to person

•

The virus is spread through the droplets that come out of the nose or mouth when someone coughs or sneezes.

•

If someone coughs or sneezes and they do not cover it, those droplets can spread about one metre (3ft). If you are very nearby you might breathe them in. 

•

Or, if someone coughs or sneezes into their hand, those droplets and the virus within them are easily transferred to surfaces that the person touches, such as door handles, hand rails, telephones and keyboards

•

If you touch these surfaces and touch your face, the virus can enter your system, and you can become infected.

Can it be prevented? • Influenza antiviral drugs also can be used to prevent influenza when they are given to a person who is not ill, but who has been or may be near a person with swine influenza. • When used to prevent the flu, antiviral drugs are about 70% to 90% effective.

Follow these general procedure • Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, using a tissue • Throw the tissue away quickly • Clean hard surfaces (like door handles and remote controls) frequently with a normal cleaning product • Keep away from others as much as possible. This is to keep from making

Follow these general procedures :

• Two things - soap and water can reduce the chance of infection by 30 per cent. • All you need to do is keep washing your hand with soap and water frequently. Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand cleaner when soap and water are not available. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth  • Improve airflow in your living space by opening windows • Ayurvedic doctors suggest taking tulsi , about two leaves twice a day in the morning and evening. • Wear a facemask(preferrably N95 mask) –if you are caring for a sick and don’t wear mask unless if you are sick.  Incorrect usage will only increase risk in

•

Follow these general procedures Drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports

drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from being dehydrated • Eat healthy: Proteins are essential to help your body maintain and build strength. Lean meat, poultry, fish, legumes, dairy, eggs, and nuts and seeds are good sources of protein.  • The Food and Drug Administration recommends that adults eat 50 grams of protein per day. Pregnant and nursing women need more. By eating foods high in protein, we also get the benefit of other healing nutrients such as vitamins B6 and B12, both of which contribute to a healthy immune system.  • Vitamin B6 is widely available in foods, including protein foods such as turkey and beans as well as potatoes, spinach, and enriched cereal grains.

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•

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Follow these general procedures : Practice good habits –get adequate sleep, eat nutritious food and physically active. Minerals such as selenium and zinc work to keep the immune system strong. These minerals are found in protein rich foods such as beans, nuts, meat, and poultry.  Don’t take an antiviral (Tamiflu) unless the health care provider advises it Exercise: Regular exercise may help prevent the flu. According to recent findings, when moderate exercise is repeated on a near daily basis, there is a cumulative immune-enhancing effect. That is, your strong immune system can fight flu better. When you exercise, your white blood cells -- the blood cells that fight infections in the body -- travel through your body more quickly, fighting bacteria and viruses (such as flu) more efficiently. To maintain good health, experts recommend at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity such as walking, swimming, biking, or running each day.  Good peaceful sleep.

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Will it help to wear a mask? Place the marks carefully to

cover the mouth and nose and tie securely to minimize any gaps between face and masks • While in use avoid touching the mask • Whenever you touch a used mask ,for example when removing or washing, clean the hands by washing with soap and water or an alcohol based – rub • Replace the mask with new clean ,dry mask as soon as they become damp and humid • DoPatients not re-use a singlerelatives –use are advised to wear N95 mask to *Note: and patients’ masks after use and reduce the risk of each transmission. dispose them of immediately upon removal

What precautions should one take at schools? • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. • Do not go to work or school while ill Stay home for at least 24 hours after fever is gone, except to seek medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine). • Report such illness to school teachers or Principals and parents in any instance of children noticed with such suspicious

Is it safe to travel? • Avoid travelling unnecessarily. • However, if you must travel, check how the country you're going to handles swine flu. • Although, the WHO doesn't recommend travel restrictions, many countries have set up their own H1N1 policies, and some travelers have been screened or quarantined in other countries because of

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