From Carolyn Mackay

Anyone would have had to been living in the far reaches of the Amazon if they have not been aware of the Novel H1N1 influenza (Swine flu) outbreak that we have been experiencing lately. Most everyone probably knows or has heard of someone who has had it. Individual reactions have varied widely. Back in May, I even found myself taking a wide detour in the grocery store when a young man down the aisle from me was coughing and sounded sick. So I thought it might be helpful to provide some education and practical information about the H1N1 flu, and also relate my personal experience with it.

So what is it? Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly is seen among pigs. The virus, like most viruses, changes and adapts itself constantly. It mixes and blends with other viruses to emerge in different forms. H1N1 is just one subtype that has been isolated. In the past, there have been times where the swine flu infected humans, but they have been very few. Suddenly this year we saw a change, and illnesses in humans that began to be reported in Mexico suddenly began to spread until cases were reported throughout the world. Because of this, World Health Organization leaders finally classified it as a pandemic.

A vaccine is not currently available for Swine flu, like vaccines for seasonal flu strains. But there are anti-viral medications that can be given to lessen the effects of the flu and help people recover faster. Unfortunately some deaths have also occurred from the H1N1 flu virus. This can be expected with any flu virus.

So what can you do? First educate yourself and your family about the flu. Then know what to do if you do get sick. Recognize the symptoms, know how to best care of yourself, and when to seek medical treatment, know how to prevent it from spreading to others, and plan ahead.

Symptoms are just like most flu: body or muscle aches, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, headache.

How is it spread? It is an airborne virus. A cough or a sneeze of a sick person carries the virus in droplets through the air to whatever it lands on. A healthy person then touches the door knob, the countertop, the handrail, etc. and it enters the body through their mouth or nose. So, the smart person knows that you need to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, but not with your hands. Cough or sneeze into your elbow, a shirt sleeve etc. Hands that are not washed can spread the virus easily. Avoid touching your face or nose, so you don’t assist this transfer to you.

How do you take care of yourself if you are exposed to someone with the Swine flu? First, realize you may not get this flu or become really sick. But you can do things to protect yourself.
• For high risk people--- older people, very young children, individuals with chronic medical conditions, or compromised immune systems,--- that get flu symptoms, you should see the doctor and get on medication as soon as you can. Most others can treat themselves at home unless your symptoms become worse after 3 days.
• If you develop difficulty breathing, have chest pain, or loss of consciousness get medical help immediately.
• Wash your hands often and use hand sanitizer. Always wash hands before and after meal preparation, snacks and meals, and after bathroom use. This helps prevent others from getting the flu, and also keeps you healthier.
• As mention above, cover your mouth with your elbow when you cough or sneeze.
• If you do get sick, the symptoms will come on very fast and be more severe than a common cold.
• DON’T GO TO WORK OR SCHOOL OR CHURCH! You are contagious as long as you are symptomatic. Most doctors recommend at least 7 days at home.
• Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprophen (Advil, Motrin) for body aches and fever. Do not take more than recommended dosages.
• Aspirin should not be given to anyone under age 20. (Can trigger a serious illness called Reye’s Syndrome.)
• Rest, drink fluids as much as you can.
• Treat stuffy nose with over the counter products (decongestants) that work for you.
• Sometimes a cool water vaporizer can help with coughs.

Right now, if you get sick and your doctor does a quick lab test to see if you have the flu, it may give a false positive or a false negative test. In other words, the testing is not reliable. If you are symptomatic, you probably have Swine flu. Treat it as such.

Don’t become upset if the doctor does not put you on medication. Right now it is only being used for individuals in hospitals with confirmed cases, or those people at higher risk for complications. Most normal healthy people, although very sick with flu, will be okay without it.

If you are caring for someone with flu, keep them isolated from others in the family. Have them wear a mask, if they have to leave their room. You wear a mask if you go into their room. Wash your hands when you leave the room. Try to keep food dishes and eating utinsels separate. Use a Clorox type spray cleaner to wipe down shared areas like the bathrooms or doorknobs often. Clorox will kill the virus and you can even make your own solution and put it in a spray bottle in a 1:10 solution (1 part Clorox to 10 parts water). Spray and leave it for at least 2-3 minutes before wiping it off, or let it air dry.

Lastly, call and talk to your doctor if you have any questions.

We had swine flu at our house 2 weeks ago. My nephew who was staying with us this summer came home from his parent’s house on a Sunday night not feeling well, He was achy, feverish, and with a sore throat. He went to bed. By Monday morning, he was really sick. He went to the Instacare to see the doctor and they did a rapid flu test on him, and they told him it was negative, and if he felt like it he could go to work that afternoon. He thought he could go to work, but couldn’t manage to get out of bed, and when I saw him that night, he informed me the doctor had told him, “he didn’t have the flu”. I questioned how he was feeling, --feverish, body aches, chills, bad bad cough, and I said, “you have the flu”. Knowing how the tests were often inaccurate, it took some convincing of my nephew that he really had the flu and it was most likely Swine flu.

Although he felt condemned, we kept him isolated in his bedroom. I took him meals there. He came out only to use the bathroom and shower. He took ibuprophen during the day, and cold/flu meds at night to help control the cough and help him sleep. He was down for 5 days, the first 3 days the worst. I wiped down door knobs and the bathroom counter, sink and faucets often. He wore a mask when needed.

What did I learn? I ran out of over- the-counter cold and flu medicine and when we went to get the particular kind we wanted, they were out of it at the store. Note to self: need to stock up. Also note to self: if everyone in the house was sick, or I couldn’t get to the store, would I have enough food and drinks that soothe colds and flu on hand? Need to prepare better. Could I be ready if we had a major community outbreak and people were asked to stay at home? I think so, but also need to assess that further. Found out there is probably more I need to do to prepare for such things.

Positive note: We kept everyone else in the family healthy. My nephew survived and went back to work the next Monday afternoon, still with an occasional cough, but once more feeling like he was among the living.