The author - Chuklin Olga, general practitioner, internist. Work experience since 2003.
Swine influenza is an acute contagious infectious disease that is caused by influenza virus type A (H1N1). The virus is different from seasonal flu viruses that people are more susceptible to it. Due to this, the swine flu virus leads to a rapid increase in the number of human cases, can be a pandemic.
Swine flu is different in most cases severe and there is a risk of fatal outcome.
The sick person is infectious already 24 hours before the first symptoms of the disease, infectivity persists for 7-10 days from the onset of the disease.
Infection occurs in two ways:
- airborne - isolation of virus particles by coughing and sneezing;
- contact-household - infection occurs through household items, the virus enters the body through the hands of a healthy person.
Important! The virus persists in household surfaces about two hours.
The most susceptible to the virus of swine flu:
- persons over 65 years of age;
- children under the age of 5 years;
- individuals with severe concomitant chronic diseases (diabetes, heart disease, lung, obesity);
- pregnant women.
High risk of infection are exposed to the following groups:
- representatives of professions related to the direct communication with people (salesmen, teachers);
- are particularly susceptible to health professionals.
Why is influenza A (H1N1) called swine
When a new flu strain was isolated in 2009, scientists recklessly compared it with a virus specific to pigs in North America. When it later became clear that the origins of the H1N1 virus is much more difficult, the name has become current.
The symptoms of swine flu
The incubation period (the period from infection to disease manifestation) at swine flu is usually less than 72 hours.
The first symptoms are similar to symptoms ordinary flu. Swine flu begins with intoxication syndrome, including the following symptoms:
- Body temperature rises sharply from 38.0 to 40-41 degrees;
- expressed general weakness;
- aching muscles and joints;
- Strong headache;
- lethargy, fatigue.
One-third of patients have a characteristic dyspeptic syndrome:
- frequent vomiting;
- pstoyannaya nausea;
- diarrhea.
symptoms characteristic of the respiratory tract lesions appear later:
- dry and sore throat;
- dry cough;
- dyspnea;
- chest pain when coughing.
Complications of influenza A (H1N1)
The most common complication of flu is pneumonia (pneumonia).
Pneumonia can be primary (from exposure to the virus H1N1) and secondary (accession bacterial inflammation).
In the second or third day may develop viral pneumonia or hemorrhagic disorders (nasal bleeding, bruising on mucous and skin).
For viral pneumonia is characterized by such symptoms:
- appearance at day 2-3;
- shortness of breath (respiratory rate quickens);
- strong dry cough;
- blueness of the distal limb segments (akrozianoz) and cyanosis of nasolabial triangle;
- the presence of moist rales on auscultation.
Manifestations secondary (bacterial) pneumonias are somewhat different from the manifestations of viral pneumonia:
- bacterial pneumonia appear 7-10 days of the disease;
- they are characterized by a gradual strengthening of cough;
- after a certain improvement in the general condition develops over the deterioration;
- a second wave of temperature rise;
- cough with expectoration greenish color;
- darkening lung fields on radiographs.
Less common are the following complications:
- Hemorrhagic syndrome - nasal bleeding, bruising to the skin and mucous membranes;
- Infectious-allergic myocarditis (heart muscle damage).
To diagnose swine influenza held smears from the nose, throat and mucous membranes (separation of RNA virus).
Also determine the presence of antibodies in blood by serological diagnostic methods.
Treatment
When the first swine flu symptoms need to seek immediate medical care (call the doctor at home). To prevent contamination of loved ones, wear disposable masks.
Treatment of mild forms of swine flu may be performed on an outpatient basis.
Hospitalization subject:
- children;
- persons over 65 years of age;
- persons with severe concomitant diseases;
- moderate and severe forms of swine flu;
- pregnant.
Important! If you experience symptoms of a viral or bacterial pneumonia, you must call the therapist at home, however, the sudden and rapid deterioration of recommended immediately call emergency assistance.
In the treatment of swine flu is mandatory appointment of antiviral drugs. Currently, antiviral activity against the virus of swine flu have only the following products:
- Oseltamivir (Tamiflu);
- Zanamivir (Relenza).
The remaining preparations did not possess a proven antiviral properties against swine influenza virus.
detoxification therapy (in a hospital) is carried out for removal of intoxication syndrome.
In treating mild home required compliance abundant drinking regimen (water, berry fruit drinks, tea with lemon).
It is also used and symptomatic therapy:
- cough treatment (ACC, ambrogeksal, Flyuditek);
- Removing temperature (Paracetamol, Ibuprofen; Ibuklin);
- vasoconstrictor nose drops (Rinonorm, vibration, Otrivin).
Duration of flow of mild flu is from 7 to 10 days. Severe forms may take up to 3-4 weeks.
Treatment of complications (pneumonia)
Treatment of pneumonia swine flu conducted strictly in a hospital environment.
Treatment of viral carried antiviral drugs, and bacterial pneumonia - antibiotics.
Antibiotics are appointed on the basis of sputum bacterial inoculation test (defined, what exactly are sensitive bacteria).
Before treatment begins bacterial inoculation test antibiotic macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin) tsefalosparinami (ceftriaxone), rare respiratory fluoroquinolones (Tavanik) - first the ineffectiveness two.
Sometimes it is connected directly 2 group, then you can add and penicillins (in severe pneumonia).
pneumonia treatment lasts from 14 days to 1 month.
Prevention of swine flu
Swine flu is easier to prevent than to deal with it.
For this there is the specific and non-specific methods of prevention.
For non-specific recommendations include the following:
- Not to visit places with high concentration of people in times of epidemics.
- Frequent hand washing with soap and water, hand washing with antiseptic if you can not wash them.
- Avoid contact with sick people.
- Avoid during epidemics handshakes, kisses.
- mucous nasal gel treatments Viferon before leaving the house and on arrival home (used as a non-specific prophylaxis, topical immune-stimulating action).
Important! Antiviral drugs are not completely protect from infection.
Vaccination against swine flu
If a person has been exposed to swine flu, the antiviral drugs (Tamiflu Relenza) can be used as prophylaxis in unit dosage in accordance with the instructions.
Specific prophylaxis is vaccination.
Vaccination should be carried out at least 1 month before the expected date of the epidemic. Usually vaccinated in October and November.
After vaccination, the immune system is formed by the swine flu virus, through which people either do not get sick or be sick in an easy manner without complications.
It all depends on the strength of existing immunity - if immunity is not strong enough, the disease may start as a result, but in a milder form. This fact is a source of controversy about the effectiveness of vaccination against swine flu. We emphasize once again, the vaccination does not provide 100% protection against the swine flu, but reduces the severity of the disease. The effectiveness of vaccination depends on the immunity of the individual.
Vaccination should be carried out annually.
