What are the Symptoms of Swine Flu?
By Lori Hilliard
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has declared that there is a pandemic of swine flu in the United States, so knowing the symptoms of swine flu can help you get the care you need. Fortunately, the CDC has said that the current spread of swine flu isn’t resulting in a large number of patients who are being hospitalized. It seems that the majority of people who show symptoms of swine flu are recovering from the worst of the symptoms within a week or so if they stay home, rest properly and use an antiviral medication.
The symptoms of swine flu in humans are actually very similar to the symptoms found in pigs. It’s simply easier to recognize them in humans because we are aware of what those symptoms are and are monitoring our health more closely. It’s also important to understand that you can more easily catch swine flu from other humans than you can from exposure to pigs with the disease.
The early symptoms of swine flu are usually a feeling of being tired or run-down with a mild cold. As swine flu progresses, other symptoms will appear that signal a more serious illness. Many of these are the same as those found in more traditional strains of the influenza virus. Often the only way to know for sure that you are experiencing symptoms of swine flu instead of the regular flue is to get tested by a doctor. If you’ve been exposed to someone already diagnosed with swine flu or are living in an area where an outbreak has been reported, it is more likely to be swine flu.
The symptoms of swine flu in humans include:
- A sudden spike in temperature above 100˚ Fahrenheit, usually appearing in the first few days of being ill.
- A sudden cough that is particularly troublesome when lying down or trying to sleep. It may be more evident at night, but not always.
- A headache, achy muscles and general feeling of mild discomfort
- Chills, sometimes alternating with feeling overheated.
- Joint pain
- A sore or scratchy throat
- Sneezing and a runny nose
- Loss of appetite, often resulting in rapid weight loss
- Lethargy or a feeling of overwhelming exhaustion
It’s important to remember that you may not get all of the symptoms of swine flu. The most common are a high fever and a sudden, deep cough. If you have these or any of the other symptoms, you need to stay home, rest and take over the counter flu medications or an antiviral such as Tamaflu.
Should You See the Doctor if You Have Symptoms of Swine Flu?
Because the symptoms of swine flu are so similar to those for a variety of other strains of flu, don’t automatically assume you have the swine flu (also sometimes referred to as H1N1 Flu or H1N1 Virus). Call your doctor before going to his or her office. If you do have swine flu but are otherwise healthy, a visit may not be needed. Your doctor’s office staff can recommend proper self-care steps to take and advise whether a visit is warranted.
There are some individuals who should always see a doctor if they exhibit symptoms of swine flu. Because it is a respiratory infection, anyone with breathing problems such as asthma, chronic bronchitis or severe allergies should be evaluated by a doctor.
Others who should see a doctor if they have symptoms of swine flu include:
- Anyone with a compromised or suppressed immune system, including those with autoimmune diseases such as Lupus and anyone on immunosuppressive drugs
- Anyone with a chronic heart, lung, liver or kidney disease. These organs may become overburdened when you are fighting off the H1N1 virus.
- Individuals with neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease or Multiple Sclerosis
- Adults and children with diabetes should always get a doctor’s care when swine flu strikes, particularly since their eating habits may be impacted, putting blood sugar levels out of whack
- Pregnant women should always see a doctor if they suspect symptoms of swine flu
- Children younger than five and elderly individuals tend to develop more severe illnesses that can lead to complications such as pneumonia. If you recognize the early symptoms of swine flu in a toddler or an older relative, get them a doctor’s appointment as soon as possible so that they can be started in prescription antivirals if needed.
How Long do the Symptoms of Swine Flue Last?
Like most forms of influenza, swine flu generally lasts about a week. You should stay home from work and minimize your exposure to others for at least a week, although it can take two to three weeks to fully regain your strength. Staying away from others will help minimize the spread of the disease. You are capable of transmitting swine flu to others from the first day of symptoms for up to five days or, in younger children, for as long as ten days.
The symptoms of swine flu can be brought under control with plenty of bed rest, salt water gargles, a fever reducer such as Aleve or Motrin, over the counter flu medications and possibly antiviral medications. Your doctor can give you more detailed information on how to treat swine flu.
If you have swine flu and don’t feel better after seven days, or you begin to feel worse after five days, consult your doctor. This is extremely important if you have any other pre-existing health problems, if you are around children, or you work with the elderly. You should always contact your doctor if you suspect that an infant younger than one year has swine flu or any other kind of influenza.
If you still aren’t sure you have swine flu or would like more information on how to treat this illness, visit the Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov. You can also contact your local health agency for information on swine flu in your area.