Swine Flu Symptoms Updated

Although the name of "swine flu" brings a lot of extra worry and fear, it is important to note that the swine flu virus is just one of the influenza A H1N1.

This means that it is a type of influenza virus, like our cause symptoms of normal seasonal influenza. The big difference is that the current swine influenza A (H1N1) virus has pig and the components of the influenza virus in birds, so humans have no immunity to it. That makes it more likely to become a pandemic virus (have the potential to cause a global outbreak) if it can spread easily from person to person.

To date, despite the fact that you see increasing cases of swine flu at this map of the swine flu, experts do not know if this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus becomes a pandemic strain of influenza. I could go or simply to see sporadic cases of a few weeks or months until it stops.

We know that symptoms of swine flu, as are the symptoms of seasonal influenza.
The symptoms of swine flu

According to the CDC, like seasonal influenza, the symptoms of swine flu infections may include:

* Fever, usually high, but unlike seasonal flu, sometimes absent
* Cough
* Runny or stuffy nose
* Sore throat
* Pain in the body
* Headache
* Chills
* Fatigue or tiredness, which could be extreme
* Diarrhea and vomiting, at times, but more commonly seen with seasonal influenza

The most serious signs of an infection of swine flu could include pneumonia and respiratory failure.

If your child has symptoms of swine flu, you should avoid other people and call your pediatrician, you could do a quick test to see if flu is an infection with influenza A. Further testing can be done to see if it is an infection of the swine flu. (Samples are sent to local and state health departments and the CDC for confirmation of the swine flu.)
Severe symptoms of swine flu

More serious symptoms that indicate that a child with swine flu in need of urgent medical attention are:

* Rapid or difficulty breathing
* Blue or gray skin color
* Not drinking enough fluids
* Severe or persistent vomiting
* Do not wake up or not interacting
* Being so irritable the child does not want to be held
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

The symptoms of swine flu versus a cold or sinus infection

It is important to note the majority of children with runny nose or cough will not swine flu and will not have to see your doctor for tests of swine flu.

At this time of year, many other conditions of childhood are common, including:

* Spring Allergies - runny nose, congestion, and cough
* Common Cold - runny nose, cough and low grade fever
* Infections of the sinuses - persistent rhinorrhea, cough, fever and
* Strep - sore throat, fever, and a positive strep test

What You Need to Know

* Swine flu likely spread by direct contact with respiratory secretions of a person who is ill with swine flu, as if they were coughing and sneezing around you.

* People with swine influenza is likely contagious for a day before and up to seven days after it began to get sick with symptoms of swine flu.

* Gotitas cough or sneeze can contaminate surfaces such as doors, glass, or cooking, although these bacteria will probably not survive more than a few hours.

* Anti-influenza drugs, including Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) are available for preventing and treating influenza swine.

* The latest news from the swine flu from the CDC includes the advice that students should stay home if they have symptoms of swine flu, but schools do not need to close unless they have large clusters of cases that are affecting the functioning of schools. That private schools on the basis of previous recommendations, as if they had one confirmed case or probable case is now likely to reopen.