How to distinguish swine flu from the usual?
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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According to the WHO and the National Academy of Medical Sciences on the incidence of influenza and ARVI, this year Ukraine is waiting for a more intense level of flu. Also, doctors do not rule out the possibility of circulation of a new strain of swine influenza A (H3N2), which belongs to the subtype H1N1.
The season of viral diseases has come, and we increasingly see people with a painful complexion and runny nose, hear coughing and hoarse voices. The danger of catching a viral infection haunts us everywhere.
What is swine flu?
In 2009, the whole world was panic-stricken by the emergence of a new strain of the influenza virus, which was given the conventional name "pig", the causative agent of which, in turn, is the virus of the subtype H1N1, which has the greatest genetic similarity to the swine flu virus.
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
In general, the symptoms of swine flu are not much different from seasonal: people also feel sick, headaches, sore throats, body aches, chills and fatigue. However, with swine flu, many patients complain of diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting, which are not typical for the usual seasonal disease.
How do you know the type of flu?
To find out if you are sick with swine flu or if you have a regular seasonal flu, the doctor should collect an anamnesis - information about the development of the disease, as well as take a baknalysis - a swab from the nasopharynx, which is sent for laboratory examination. Until the results of the analysis are known, the doctor prescribes the patient with immunosuppressive medications and prescribes treatment as with the usual flu.
Distribution of the swine flu virus
As in the case of seasonal influenza, the swine flu virus penetrates the epithelium of the mucous membranes of the human respiratory tract, as well as when touched by an infected patient or the subjects that he recently touched. Therefore, always wash your hands as often as possible and less touch the face.
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Dangers and consequences of swine flu
Many people do not even suspect that they are sick with this kind of flu and many normally suffer a disease that occurs without any complications. However, since the current H1N1 flu is completely new and no one has immunity to it.