Swine Flu
Who are those considered to be in high risk groups and needing treatment?
Patients with: chronic lung, heart, kidney, liver, or neurological disease; immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or treatment); diabetes mellitus; people aged 65 years and older; children <5 years (children <2 years are at higher risk severe complications); people on medication for asthma, severely obese people (BMI =40), pregnant women and people with haemoglobinopathies.
Will any contacts of cases require preventative anti-viral therapy?
In general preventative therapy is not recommended for contacts. However, under exceptional circumstances doctors may decide to prescribe preventative anti-viral therapy.
What are the symptoms of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection in people?
The symptoms are like those of regular seasonal flu and include: fever of sudden onset, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache and muscle aches. Some people have vomiting and diarrhoea. In severe cases, pneumonia and respiratory failure may develop and occasionally death can occur. Most cases, however, are mild and patients recover without hospitalisation.
What are the differences between Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza and the common cold?
It can be difficult at times to distinguish between the common cold and influenza. The main difference is that the symptoms of influenza come on rapidly and are typically accompanied by muscle aches and a fever. The common cold has a more gradual onset and is associated with a runny nose and sneezing. An important additional feature of influenza Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 is that diarrhoea and vomiting occur occasionally. For a full list of differences between Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and the common cold, please see table below.
| Symptoms | Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 | Common Cold |
| Onset | Sudden | Slow |
| Fever | Characteristically High (=38oC or 100oF) | Rare |
| Headache | Prominent | Rare |
| General aches and pains | Usual, often severe | Rare |
| Fatigue, weakness | Can be prolonged for a number of weeks | Quite mild |
| Extreme exhaustion | Early and prominent | Never |
| Runny nose | Common | Common |
| Sneezing | Common | Usual |
| Sore throat | Common | Common |
| Cough | Common, can be severe | Mild to moderate, hacking cough |
| Diarrhoea, vomiting | Sometimes | Not associated with the common cold in adults |
What should I do if I get sick?
If you get sick with a flu-like illness phone the Flu Information Line on Freephone 1800 94 11 00, available 24 hrs a day. Listen to the symptoms of flu and the advice on home care. Most people with flu will be able to recover at home within a few days without needing anti-viral medicine or medical care.
If you have severe symptoms, or are in a high risk group, contact your GP/family doctor by telephone. They will decide if you need testing or treatment. If you do need to be tested or treated the GP may arrange for you to be seen at their surgery or may arrange a home visit. You should stay at home for 7 days while ill unless needing further care.
What steps should I take if I become ill with Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza?
Stay at home for seven days – avoid spreading infection to others
Cover your nose and mouth with disposable tissues when sneezing, coughing, wiping and blowing your nose. Dispose of used tissues in the nearest waste bin. Wash your hands often with soap and water, and especially after coughing and sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Take simple anti-fever medication such as paracetamol or aspirin (NB aspirin should NOT be given to children under 16 years of age) and drink plenty of fluids.
It is important to ensure that all household surfaces that are touched by hands are kept clean, especially bedside tables, surfaces in bathrooms and kitchens and children’s toys. Such surfaces should be wiped regularly with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.
How will I know that I need medical care?
If you are an adult:
If you have taken the basic care steps outlined above and you start to feel worse, or if after a few days you are not feeling better, you may need further advice from your doctor.
Contact your doctor by phone or the Flu Information Line (Free phone 1800 941100) if you notice:
? Shortness of breath at rest or while doing very little
? Painful or difficult breathing
? Coughing up bloody sputum
? Drowsiness, disorientation or confusion
? Fever for 4-5 days and not starting to get better (or getting worse)
? Starting to feel better then developing high fever and feeling unwell again
If you are caring for a child
You should contact your doctor by phone or the Flu Information Line (Freephone 1800 941100) if you have taken the steps above and are still concerned that the child shows any of the following symptoms:
? Fast breathing or trouble breathing
? Bluish skin colour
? Not drinking enough fluids
? Not waking up or poorly responsive
? Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
? Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
? Fever with a rash
I have been in contact with or have been looking after someone with Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Influenza. If I have no symptoms, is it safe for me to go to work?
Yes, if you have been in contact with a case of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza the only steps you need to take care to monitor yourself for symptoms. If you develop symptoms suggestive of influenza you should contact the Flu Information Line on Freephone 1800 9411 00, available 24 hrs a day (see above for symptoms of influenza). If you have severe symptoms, or are in a high risk group, then you should contact your GP/family doctor by telephone.
How do people get infected?
Flu viruses may spread when a person’s hands touch respiratory droplets on another person or an object and they then touch their own mouth or nose (or someone else’s mouth or nose) before washing their hands. This is why covering your mouth and nose while sneezing and washing your hands regularly, (especially after sneezing) is such an important part of preventing the spread of influenza. This virus is not transmitted by eating pork or pork products.
How can I protect myself from catching influenza?
- Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly and frequently. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective if washing facilities are not available.
- Avoid unnecessary close contact with people who have influenza or have symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, fever or shivering.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
Make sure children and others in your care follow this advice
There is no need to use masks except when caring for someone who may have flu
Can alcohol hand gel/cleaners be used in cases of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection?
Yes, alcohol based hand cleaning gels are effective against Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus. They are a useful method of hand cleaning in the absence of hand washing facilities. An alcohol based product should only be used on visibly clean hands and should not be used in the presence of physical dirt. Hands that are visibly dirty should always be washed with soap and water. Alcohol based hand cleaning gels should contain at least 60% alcohol. Read manufacturer’s instructions for use on the label. McCabes Pharmacies are stocking a wide range of products for use against Swine flu.
Where can I go to get more information?
The HSE have a good website http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/ which provides more information.
SWINE FLU OR A COMMON COLD???
| Symptoms | Swine Flu | Common Cold |
| Onset | Sudden | Slow |
| Fever | Characteristically high (=38°C) | Rare |
| Headache | Prominent | Rare |
| General aches & Pains | Usual, often severe | Rare |
| Fatigue, weakness | Can be prolonged for a number of weeks | Quite mild |
| Extreme Exhaustion | Early and prominent | Never |
| Runny Nose | Common | Common |
| Sneezing | Common | Usual |
| Sore throat | Common | Common |
| Cough | Common, can be severe | Mild to moderate, hacking cough |
| Diarrhoea, vomiting | Sometimes | Not associated with the common cold in adults |
Ask your McCabe’s pharmacist for any further advice
