Swine Flu Quiz

Swine flu (novel influenza A H1N1) causes many of the same symptoms as seasonal flu, as well as other infections of the throat, breathing tubes, and lungs. So it can be hard to tell if your symptoms are caused by swine flu or by another illness.

 Most young children will have fever, nasal congestion and cough. But some may not show these typical symptoms. They might have nausea and vomiting as the main symptoms.

 

Because they may be not be able to communicate how they feel, you need to observe young children for signs that might indicate a serious infection, such as

• Periods of not breathing for 5 seconds or more
• Unusually rapid breathing
• Lips, nails, or skin with a blue-purple hue
• Confusion
• Not responding normally
• Unusually irritable disposition

If your child has one or more of these symptoms, contact the doctor or seek medical care immediately.

Fever can be the only initial symptom for children. This can be true for adults as well, but usually the fever in adults is accompanied by body aches.

 

A body temperature of more than 104.0F (40C) should always prompt a call to your doctor.

The standard surgical face mask is not very effective. The virus is small and can penetrate the mask. If the local health department says there is a serious epidemic of H1N1 swine flu virus in your community, you and the person you live with or you are taking care of should wear a special mask (called an N95 respirator)  when the symptoms suggest swine flu.

Vomiting is not a usual symptom of any type of flu in teenagers and adults. Vomiting three times or more in a 24 hour period could indicate a serious situation. Other symptoms of concern are shortness of breath, especially if you are not exerting yourself and feeling confused (including someone telling you that you are confused). These symptoms require prompt medical attention.

(However, women should be aware that the effectiveness and safety of this new vaccine has not been fully tested).

Women who are pregnant are more likely to develop a more severe illness and complications if they contract influenza. This includes swine flu. The Centers of Disease Control (CDC) does recommend both the swine flu vaccine and seasonal flu vaccine for pregnant women.

In addition to obesity (a body mass index of 30 or more), other health conditions that predispose a person to developing complications include:

• Heart disease
• Chronic lung disease, including asthma
• Diabetes
• A weak immune system from a medical condition or a medication you take

People with the flu often have intense muscle aches. The eye muscles can ache just like other muscles. The most common symptoms in adults are fever, sore throat and cough. Other symptoms include:

• Very low energy
• Headache
• Sensitivity to bright light
• Chills