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What is swine flu?

Swine flu or swine influenza is a very contagious respiratory disease. It is called swine flu because it regularly affects pigs. However, the virus that has caused the current outbreak, which is called H1N1, can also affect people. Usually, people affected by swine flu have been in direct contact with pigs. The reason why there is such concern about the current outbreak of swine flu is that it is now spreading from person to person. That’s why the World Health Organisation has raised a worldwide pandemic alert.

What are the symptoms of swine flu?

Swine flu has different effects in different people. Some people who catch the virus only have mild symptoms. But others can develop complications and in extreme cases swine flu can cause death.

The symptoms of swine flu are very similar to regular flu symptoms:
• fever
• tiredness
• cough
• headache
• muscles and joint pain.

Swine flu can also cause:
• acute abdominal pain
• diarrhoea
• vomiting

A fever caused by swine flu can be very high: if you have regular flu your fever is unlikely to go above 39 degrees C (102.2 degrees F). If you have swine flu it could reach 39 degrees C and higher.

As with all forms of flu, children under the age of five are more at risk. If your child has a high fever, is sleepy and doesn’t want to interact, doesn’t want to eat anything, and in severe cases, has trouble breathing, call your doctor for advice.

How does swine flu spread?

Swine flu spreads from person to person in the same way as other flu viruses: through coughing and sneezing of people who are infected. Swine flu is very contagious and spreads easily, particularly in enclosed spaces where there is close contact between infected people and healthy people.

Swine viruses are not spread from eating or preparing pork.

I’m pregnant. Am I more at risk of catching swine flu?

If you’re pregnant, your immunity to infection is slightly lowered to stop your body rejecting your unborn baby. So it’s particularly important that you take sensible precautions to protect yourself.

Could swine flu affect my developing baby?

We know that with regular seasonal flu, your baby is well protected against the virus within your womb. Swine flu is a new strain of flu so we don’t yet know everything about it, including whether or not it will cross the placenta.

What should I do if I or somebody in my family shows symptoms of swine flu?

Call your doctor immediately and explain what’s happening. Tell her that you are pregnant and whether you or anyone else in your house has any other health problems. Swine flu can be more severe in people with compromised immune systems. If you have recently been to Mexico or the USA, make sure you mention it. Because the virus is very contagious, your doctor will tell you whether you should go to the surgery or if you should stay at home.

You may be asked to go to hospital to have a sample taken from your respiratory system. This will be analysed in order to find out if your symptoms are caused by swine flu.

Is there any treatment for swine flu?

There is no cure for swine flu but antiviral drugs will relieve the symptoms and help you to recover faster. They will also reduce the likelihood of you developing complications. Currently, antiviral drugs can be prescribed for children over the age of one. Research has not yet proven that they are safe for younger babies, or for pregnant women, but it’s possible that your doctor will still prescribe them. “If a pandemic occurs it is highly likely that babies will receive antivirals as the benefit is likely to outweigh any risk,” says BabyCentre’s GP, Morag Martindale. “This will also probably be the case for pregnant women.”

What can I do to avoid swine flu?

Just as with regular flu, there are some things you can do to avoid infection and minimise the spread of the disease:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue when you cough and sneeze and throw it away after using it.

• If you don’t have a tissue to hand, cover your mouth with the inner part of your elbow when you cough or sneeze. This will avoid spreading the infection to your hand and will minimise spreading the disease.

• After coughing and sneezing, wash your hands with warm water and soap. Rub both sides of your soapy hands for at least for 15 seconds and rinse with lots of water. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitisers.

• Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth because the germs spread very quickly.

• Wash your hands frequently – the virus can live for up to two hours on surfaces like doorknobs and telephones.

• Eat a healthy diet including plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and wholegrain foods – a balance of these will give you minerals and antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin C, which help to fight infections.

How long will I be contagious if I have swine flu?

People who have the swine flu virus can be contagious for up to seven days after the onset of the illness. Children, especially younger ones, may be contagious for longer periods.

Is there a vaccine for swine flu?

Not at the moment. Researchers are working on an effective vaccine for swine flu but it will take several months to produce. The vaccine for other forms of flu will not protect you against swine flu.

extracted from babycentre.co.uk