Swine Flu Treatment Basics
- Call your doctor if you have been exposed to H1N1.
- Isolate the patient.
- Provide clear fluids.
- Use OTC medicines other than aspirin, to treat symptoms of patients older than 4.
- Take Tamiflu or Relenza if prescribed by your doctor.
Step 1: Call Your Doctor if You Think You Have Swine Flu
If you are experiencing flu symptoms, and believe you may have been exposed to swine flu, contact your doctor immediately. They can take a swab of mucous and send it to the appropriate state laboratory to determine if you actually have swine flu.CDC: Guidance for Clinicians & Public Health Professionals Guidance for Clinicians & Public Health Professionals While the treatment you receive will depend on the severity of your symptoms, an accurate diagnosis will help your doctor properly plan your course of treatment.
Step 2: Caring for Swine Flu at Home
As of April 28, 2009, most patients with swine flu in the United States have been successfully cared for at home. If someone in your household has swine flu, there are several things you should do.
- Take precautions to avoid spreading the disease to any one else.
- Keep the patient isolated from the rest of the householdCDC: Interim Guidance for Swine influenza A (H1N1)
- The patient should cover coughs and sneezes.CDC: Interim Guidance for Swine influenza A (H1N1)
- Everyone in the house should practice frequent hand washingCDC: Interim Guidance for Swine influenza A (H1N1)
- Patients should avoid contact with people outside the home for 7 days after the first symptoms appearCDC: Interim Guidance for Swine influenza A (H1N1)
- Make sure the sick person gets plenty of rest and clear fluids.CDC: Interim Guidance for Swine influenza A (H1N1)
- Although over the counter medications may be useful in alleviating flu symptoms, do not give medications containing aspirin to children or teenagers because of the danger of Reye's Syndrome.CDC: Interim Guidance for Swine influenza A (H1N1)
- Ask the doctor if the patient, as well as other family members, should be taking an antiviral drug.
Step 3: When an Antiviral Drug Should be Prescribed for Swine Flu
- Viruses can develop resistance to medications used to treat them. The H1N1 virus is resistant to two commonly prescribed antivirals, amantadine and rimantadine. As of April 2009, Tamiflu and Relenza were still effective in reducing the severity and duration of swine flu symptoms.The New York Times: Tracking Swine Flu (April 26, 2009)
- The CDC has issued guidelines for which patients who have confirmed, probable or suspected novel influenza should be treated with antivirals:
- All hospitalized patientsCDC: Antiviral Drugs and H1N1 Flu (April 29, 2009)
- Children under 5, and adults over 65CDC: Antiviral Drugs and H1N1 Flu (April 29, 2009)
- All nursing home residentsCDC: Antiviral Drugs and H1N1 Flu (April 29, 2009)
- Patients 18 and younger taking long term aspirin therapyCDC: Antiviral Drugs and H1N1 Flu (April 29, 2009)
- Patients who have chronic illnesses, such as chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), kidney, liver, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disordersCDC: Antiviral Drugs and H1N1 Flu (April 29, 2009)
- Immunosuppressed patientsCDC: Antiviral Drugs and H1N1 Flu (April 29, 2009)
- Pregnant womenCDC: Antiviral Drugs and H1N1 Flu (April 29, 2009)
- People in the high risk groups above, and their close contacts, may be prophylactically treated with Tamiflu or Relenza to prevent swine flu. Prophylactic treatment should be continue for 10 days after the last confirmed exposureCDC: Antiviral Drugs and H1N1 Flu (April 29, 2009)
Step 4: Signs that Immediate Medical Care is Needed for Swine Flu
- While most U.S. swine flu patients to date have been successfully cared for at home, there are symptoms that require immediate medical attention. These include:
- Difficulty breathingCDC: Interim Guidance for Swine influenza A (H1N1)
- Chest painCDC: Interim Guidance for Swine influenza A (H1N1)
- Purple or blue discoloration of the lipsCDC: Interim Guidance for Swine influenza A (H1N1)
- Persistent vomitingCDC: Interim Guidance for Swine influenza A (H1N1)
- Signs of dehydration
- SeizuresCDC: Interim Guidance for Swine influenza A (H1N1)
- Confusion or other signs of altered mental status, such as being less responsive than normalCDC: Interim Guidance for Swine influenza A (H1N1)
Aware from Others
Even if you received a flu shot, you are not protected against the hybrid strain of swine flu that emerged during the spring of 2009. The H1N1 virus contains genetic code from human influenza, avian flu, and a flu virus usually seen in pigs. It can be transmitted from human to human. If you suspect you have been exposed to the H1N1 virus, you may be interested in how to treat swine flu. The information on this page can help you learn how to get swine flu treatment.
The portion which cause the Body by Swine Flu (Symptoms)
Anti Tablet for Swine Flu
Pharma giant Cipla already has stocks of its Tamiflu equivalent Antiflu and can easily make more available if the demand grows
If you have been concerned about hospitals running out of Tamiflu, the H1N1 cure, breathe easy.
The pharmaceutical giant Cipla has said they already have a healthy stock of Oseltamivir, which they call Antiflu, and can produce a million more units in six weeks.
Speaking to MiD DAY on the sidelines of a conference on swine flu, Cipla medical director Dr Jaideep Gogtay said they were upping production of the drug and were in a position to provide the promised units if the government asked for it.
Alternative for tamiflu? Cipla says its Oseltamivir or Antiflu can be used to treat the H1N1 virus
Other Option
Gogtay added that Cipla was also upping the production of Zanamivir, the other recommended drug for treatment of H1N1.
Zanamivir, which is marketed as Virenza, has been found effective in cases where a patient has not responded to Oseltamivir.
He, however, assure that there was no reason to worry. "There are only three or four cases reported globally where patients with the novel H1N1 virus were resistant to Tamiflu.
In India, we are yet to see any such cases."
At present, BMC is using Tamiflu, made by the US company Roche Pharmaceuticals, to treat H1N1 patients in the city.
Kids More Susceptible
Though experts have hailed the idea of shutting down schools, they have also cautioned adults who feel that children are more at risk than them.
According to the results of a study conducted by the Centre of Disease Control in Atlanta, even though the majority of those hospitalised due to swine flu may be between the age group of 15 or under, mortality rates are highest in the age group of 25 to 50.
Children do pass the infection on to others more easily, but that is no reason for adults not to be on their guard," said epidemiologist and Haffkine ex-director Dr S M Sapatnekar.
1,462 People around the world died from the swine flu virus since it first emerged in April. So far, India has witnessed 18 deaths
0.4% The mortality rate because of swine flu, according to World Health Organisation
If you have been concerned about hospitals running out of Tamiflu, the H1N1 cure, breathe easy.
The pharmaceutical giant Cipla has said they already have a healthy stock of Oseltamivir, which they call Antiflu, and can produce a million more units in six weeks.
Speaking to MiD DAY on the sidelines of a conference on swine flu, Cipla medical director Dr Jaideep Gogtay said they were upping production of the drug and were in a position to provide the promised units if the government asked for it.
Alternative for tamiflu? Cipla says its Oseltamivir or Antiflu can be used to treat the H1N1 virus
Other Option
Gogtay added that Cipla was also upping the production of Zanamivir, the other recommended drug for treatment of H1N1.
Zanamivir, which is marketed as Virenza, has been found effective in cases where a patient has not responded to Oseltamivir.
He, however, assure that there was no reason to worry. "There are only three or four cases reported globally where patients with the novel H1N1 virus were resistant to Tamiflu.
In India, we are yet to see any such cases."
At present, BMC is using Tamiflu, made by the US company Roche Pharmaceuticals, to treat H1N1 patients in the city.
Kids More Susceptible
Though experts have hailed the idea of shutting down schools, they have also cautioned adults who feel that children are more at risk than them.
According to the results of a study conducted by the Centre of Disease Control in Atlanta, even though the majority of those hospitalised due to swine flu may be between the age group of 15 or under, mortality rates are highest in the age group of 25 to 50.
Children do pass the infection on to others more easily, but that is no reason for adults not to be on their guard," said epidemiologist and Haffkine ex-director Dr S M Sapatnekar.
1,462 People around the world died from the swine flu virus since it first emerged in April. So far, India has witnessed 18 deaths
0.4% The mortality rate because of swine flu, according to World Health Organisation
