H1N1 Flu: How You Can Help Protect Your Family
The new H1N1 influenza virus, called swine flu during the initial outbreak, has been in the news lately. What do you need to know, and what should you do? Here are some key facts to keep you and your family healthy.
What is H1N1 flu?
H1N1 flu is a new virus that causes illness in people. It was originally referred to as swine flu because many of its genes are similar to a virus that normally occurs in pigs.How does it spread?
The virus is thought to spread between humans in the same way that seasonal flu spreads — from person to person through coughing or sneezing.People who have H1N1 flu are contagious beginning one day before they show symptoms and for up to seven or more days after the illness starts.
What symptoms should I look for?
H1N1 symptoms are similar to regular human flu symptoms and may include:- Fever and chills
- Sore throat
- Headache and body aches
- Cough
- Fatigue
If you experience one or more of the following symptoms, seek emergency medical care right away:
- Difficulty breathing
- Pressure or pain in the stomach or chest
- Persistent or severe vomiting
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Flu symptoms that improve and later return with fever and worse cough
How can I protect myself and my family?
Keep your family safe by taking the following precautions:- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available for hand washing.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Put the tissue in the trash.
- Keep surfaces clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant.
- Try not to get close to sick people.
- Stay home when you’re sick.
How dangerous is this flu?
Like seasonal flu, H1N1 can range from mild to severe and can be deadly in some cases. It may also make some chronic medical conditions worse. Researchers believe these groups may be at highest risk for flu complications:- Young children
- Pregnant women
- People with weakened immune systems
- People with certain preexisting health conditions
- People younger than age 19 who receive long-term aspirin therapy
- Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities
What should I do if I get the flu?
Stay home from work or school and see a doctor immediately. At this time, the CDC recommends certain antiviral drugs for H1N1 patients who are hospitalized or face a high risk for complications.
Need Another Good
Reason to Get the
Flu Shot
Every year, complications from the flu,
such as pneumonia, hospitalize more
than 200,000 people and kill 36,000. So
getting a flu shot is a good idea for
almost everyone. Exceptions are those
who have egg allergies or had a bad
reaction to an earlier shot. If you’re an
expectant mother, getting a flu shot may
be especially important.
A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that pregnant moms who were vaccinated cut their newborn’s chances of getting the flu by 63 percent. That’s important because flu vaccines are recommended only for infants older than age 6 months. And babies younger than 6 months who catch the flu are likelier than older ones to need hospitalization.
A shot and nasal spray are available. The spray isn’t recommended for children younger than age 2, pregnant women or people older than age 50. Talk with your doctor about the immunization that’s right for you.
To learn more about the flu virus and complications such as pneumonia, visit halifaxhealth.org and click on “Research and Resources.”
