Symptoms of (h1n1) a influenza in people?

[sunkan]

What are signs and symptoms of (H1N1)A influenza in people?
The symptoms of (H1N1)A influenza in people are similar to the symptoms of regular seasonal flu like fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with (H1N1)A influenza. Like seasonal flu, (H1N1)A influenza may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

Is (H1N1)A influenza virus contagious?
US CDC has determined that the (H1N1)A virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. WHO has elevated the alert level to Phase 6 (highest level-Pandemic).

How does (H1N1)A influenza spread?
Spread of this (H1N1)A virus is thought to be happening in the same way as that of seasonal flu. Flu viruses spreads 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.

How can someone with the flu infect someone else?
Infected people may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to seven or more days after becoming sick. This means that, you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while/after you are sick.

What do I do if I am experiencing symptoms?
You should stay out of public areas and contact your physician as soon as possible. Before visiting your physician's office, you should call ahead to let the office know about your symptoms and your recent travel. You should also cover your mouth when you leave your house to seek medical care. It is important that you and your family members wash hands frequently with soap and water.

How can my family protect themselves if I have flu-like symptoms?
One of the most important things you can do to prevent transmission of the (H1N1)A influenza or any one of a number of communicable diseases is to practice good hand hygiene with frequent hand washing
* Before, during, and after you prepare food (especially if handling raw poultry)
* Before you eat, and after you use the bathroom
* After handling animals or animal waste
* When your hands are soiled, and
* When someone in your home or immediate work location is sick.


Do's
* Consult your doctor if you feel unwell especially when you run a fever.
* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
* Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
* If you get sick with influenza, stay at home and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Do not come to office.
* Maintain general awareness and vigilance of possible of Pandemic and (H1N1)A influenza outbreaks.

Donts
* Avoid hot-spots (Crowded areas, animal markets, meat shops, farms, malls & restaurants).
* Plan travel carefully - avoid sending teams to infected areas, take necessary precautions, visit the HP travel website before traveling to countries that have had documented outbreaks.
* If returning from an afflicted country, please discuss same with EHS before attending office. Do not come to office if you have flu symptoms.

If there is an ill person at home:
* Try to provide the ill person a separate section in the house. If this is not possible, keep the patient at least 1 meter in distance from others.
* Cover mouth and nose when caring for the ill person. Masks can be bought commercially or made using the readily available materials as long as they are disposed of or cleaned properly.
* Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly after each contact with the ill person.
* Try to improve the air flow in the area where the ill person stays. Use doors and windows to take advantage of breeze.
* Keep the environment clean with readily available household cleaning agents. using soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizers (60-95% alcohol), particularly:

[dr.jyoti gupta]

dear sundari,my daughter had fever and cough,sore throat last night.i have a habit of keeping some most essential medicines at hand,so i gave them.her fever was down,by\ut in afternoon she vomited twice.though i gave her ONDEM,as said by her doc before,i was worried for her.is that the swineflue or influenza?your post was a great help as i could see no other symptoms.i will take her to her doc tomorrow but thanks for minimising my worry.

[sunkan]

dear jyoti,
my very intention of posting this was to inform all about how to go about dear and am happy you were able to relax but still do take her to the doc to be safe
and keep her inside more..sundari

[dr.jyoti gupta]

dear sundari,i took her to the doc today,and it is common cold and cough.but now i will not send her to play school for another 10 days.thanks sundari.

[Neha]

Indeed very informative post Sunkan, Thanks for sharing this info. Till now 22 ppl has died in India due to this dreadful virus. All of my Punite frens are living in a fear...situation is very pathetic there.. We pray to God that soon this phase will be over.

Just to add on your post, I received below mail and found it informative so sharing with all of sakhis.. It contains some "Tips of Prevention from AIIMS Doctor"

"Friends,

Thanks to media hype about H1N1, several people who trust me have
either approached or called me to advise. The hype in media about the
utility of face masks and N95 respirators as a tool for general
protection against H1N1 can't be deplored enough. Yesterday, a friend
who listened wanted me to write down briefly what I advised so that he
could tell others in similar words. Hence this short email to friends
whom I have advised recently (and others whom I haven't yet). Please
realize that this is not an official advice, especially the one about
face masks or N95.


Most N95 respirators are designed to filter 95% particulates of 0.3µ,
while the size of H1N1 virus is about 0.1µ. Hence, dependence on N95
to protect against H1N1 is like protecting against rain with an
umbrella made of mosquito net.


Tamiflu does not kill but prevents H1N1 from further proliferation
till the virus limits itself in about 1-2 weeks (its natural cycle).
H1N1, like other Influenza A viruses, only infects the upper
respiratory tract and proliferates (only) there. The only portals of
entry are the nostrils and mouth/ throat. In a global epidemic of this
nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in
spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a
problem as proliferation is.


While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1
infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms
and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps - not
fully highlighted in most official communications - can be practiced
(instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):


1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any
part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you
don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the
throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms.
Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt
water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on
an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and
powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day
with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra
Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the
nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds
dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral
population.

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C
(Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin
C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids
has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They
wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where
they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm."

[sunkan]

here are some more tips from the herbal world, take tulsi kashayam that is boil tulsi leaves in water and reduce it by boiling then take it with a little misri, but not much as it has the capacity to make a man impotent so only medicinal level should be taken that too when you find chest with cold...only releive phlem u can also add along parijatha leaves they are very good for the phlem removal process.... along with some rose buds and dry grapes and some omam, boil all these and make decoction and feed the kids, also check for constipation as that is the culprit for all diseases and keep them with plenty of fluids consume more water...one more herb is vishnu grandi it is a potent one to cure any fever, sorry i do not have the english name for that..if i come across i will post it here..

10 home remedies to avoid swine flu

Neeraj Saxena, TNN 13 August 2009,

Are the rising swine flu casualties giving you jitters? Not sure how you can avoid falling prey to the growing epidemic? First and foremost, there is absolutely no need to panic.

Watching television to keep tabs on the progress of H1N1, particularly in the badly affected areas like Pune, is all right. But don't let the hysterical anchors get under your skin and start wearing a mask each time you step out of the house, unless you are visiting a very crowded area. Then too, the mask will protect you only for a specified period.

Without giving in to the swine flu panic and creating a stockpile of Tamiflu and N-95 masks at home and enriching pharma companies, there are a number of other measures you can take to ensure that the virus is not able to get you, irrespective of which part of the world you are in.

It is essential to remember that all kinds of viruses and bacteria can attack you when your immune system is weak, or they can weaken it easily. Hence, building your own defences would be a better, more practical, long-lasting and much more economical idea.

Here are some easy steps you can take to tackle a flu virus of ANY KIND, including swine flu. It is not necessary to follow all the steps at once. You can pick and choose a combination of remedies that suit you best. However, if you are already suffering from flu, these measures can help only up to an extent. And, if you have been infected by H1N1, visiting a hospital and staying in solitary confinement is a must.

1. Have five duly washed leaves of Tulsi (known as Basil in English; medicinal name Ocimum sanctum) everyday in the morning. Tulsi has a large number of therapeutic properties. It keeps throat and lungs clear and helps in infections by way of strengthening your immunity.

2. Giloi (medicinal name Tinospora cordifolia) is a commonly available plant in many areas. Take a one-foot long branch of giloi, add five to six leaves of Tulsi and boil in water for 15-20 minutes or long enough to allow the water to extract its properties. Add black pepper and sendha (salt used during religious fasts), rock or black salt, or Misri (crystalised sugar like lumps to make it sweet) according to taste. Let it cool a bit and drink this kadha giloi plant is not available, get processed giloi powder from Hamdard or others, and concoct a similar drink once a day.

3. A small piece of camphor (kapoor) approximately the size of a tablet should be taken once or twice A MONTH. It can be swallowed with water by adults while children can take it along with mashed potatoes or banana because they will find it difficult to have it without any aides. Please remember camphor is not to be taken everyday, but only once each season, or once a month.

4. Those who can take garlic, must have two pods of raw garlic first thing in the morning. To be swallowed daily with lukewarm water. Garlic too strengthens immunity like the earlier measures mentioned.

5. Those not allergic to milk, must take a glass of hot or lukewarm milk every night with a small measure of haldi (turmeric).

6. Aloe vera (gwarpatha) too is a commonly available plant. Its thick and long, cactus-like leaves have an odourless gel. A teaspoon gel taken with water daily can work wonders for not only your skin and joint pains, but also boost immunity.

7. Take homeopathic medicines — Pyrogenium 200 and Inflenzium 200 in particular — five tablets three times a day, or two-three drops three times a day. While these are not specifically targeted at H1N1 either, these work well as preventive against common flu virus.

8. Do Pranayam daily (preferably under guidance if you are already not initiated into it) and go for morning jog/walk regularly to keep your throat and lungs in good condition and body in fine fettle. Even in small measures, it will work wonders for your body’s resistance against all such diseases which attack the nose, throat and lungs, besides keeping you fit.

9. Have citrus fruits, particularly Vitamin C rich Amla (Indian gooseberry) juice. Since fresh Amla is not yet available in the market (not for another three to four months), it is not a bad idea to buy packaged Amla juice which is commonly available nowadays.

10. Last but not the least, wash your hands frequently every day with soap and warm water for 15-20 seconds; especially before meals, or each time after touching a surface that you suspect could be contaminated with flu virus such as a door handle or a knob/handle, especially if you have returned from a public place or used public transport. Alcohol-based hand cleaners should be kept handy at all times and used until you can get soap and warm water.

(The author is an avid reader and follower of alternative therapies including spiritual healing, ayurveda, yoga and homeopathy)

some more information from the herbal world....sunkan