Don't panic, just be alert!
The first thing I want to tell all is "Don't Panic!", before we talk about the Swine Flu virus and its probable treatment. There is a need to get alert.
What is Swine Flu infection?
Everyone knows about and may have suffered with influenza or flu infection. Flu is an infection caused by certain virus, which comes, stays for a few days and goes away. Similarly, Swine Flu is also a kind influenza virus. Here, the difference is that it can be more severe than regular flu infection.
Why is it called H1N1?
All virus have been named. H1N1 is a name given to the Swine flu virus. In the same group, there are some related virus-named as H1N2, H2N3, etc.
What are the symptoms of Swine flu?
Where do you get it from? Swine flu being a viral disease, it spreads from a person suffering with the same virus. It spreads through air, by sneezing and coughing, and touch of the affected patient. A sneeze or a cough of a patient can through millions of Swine flu virus in the air. Congested places such as closes room, classroom, office, train, bus, mall, etc are sources of infection, as one infected person could spread it to many healthy patients.
Who is at higher risk?
- Those who are already suffering with poor resistance.
- Children having tuberculosis
- Elderly people above 65 years
- Children below five years
- Patients with diabetes or other disease which lowers vitality
- Pregnant female
- HIV positive patients
- Patients with heart, lung, liver or kidney disease
- Patients who are on immunosuppressive medicines for other diseases
- People with tremendous physical or mental stress
- Patients on cortisone or chemotherapy
Why is so much of Panic about Swine flu?
Well, swine flu is now an pandemic, which means the entire world is at risk. Since the disease spread rapidly and it can have serious consequences, there is obviously threat to life. It is important to get alert and extremely careful about: Controlling the spread Timely treatment
What happens to Swine flu patient, finally? Swine flu infection, like most other viral infections, is likely to subside eventually; whether treated or not. However, some of the patients are at risk of turning into a serious medical condition called ARD (Acute Respiratory Distress syndrome), which may turn even fatal.
How to diagnose Swine flu? The diagnosis test is done using nose and throat swab at the laboratory. In India, as on today, only the government run hospitals are allowed to conduct the test.
Swine Flu Symptoms vs. a Cold or Sinus Infection
It is important to keep in mind most children with a runny nose or cough will not have swine flu and will not have to see their pediatrician for swine flu testing.
This time of year, many other childhood conditions are common, including:
Spring allergies - runny nose, congestion, and cough
Common cold - runny nose, cough, and low grade fever
Sinus infections - lingering runny nose, cough, and fever
Strep throat - sore throat, fever, and a positive strep test
Homeopathic treatment for Swine Flu
The doctors, conventional as well a the homeopathic, have limited experience so far about the treatment of Swine flu, as the infection is new to the humans. However, on the basis of the nature of the disease and its patho physiology, we can opine that homeopathic is likely to work well in the cases of Swine flu, since homeopathy has well established role in the treatment of many viral diseases.
We can recommend homeopathic medicines which are likely to help cases of Swine flu, which may work by enhancing the immune system. The medicines are also likely to work as preventive in some cases. However, such statements would always go with the disclaimer that no claims are being made for its cure or prevention.
What to Do for Avoiding Swine Flu:
- Always cover your mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing
- Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth frequently as there is always some virus on tabletops, telephones and computers
- Wash your hands frequently
- Alcohol-based gel or foam hand sanitizers
- Wear a well-fitted mask in public places
- Drink loads of water and get enough sleep
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people
- Stay away (3-feet distance) from people who have a respiratory infection
- Use disposable tissues
- Swine flu is not a food borne illness so there is no restriction on food and drinks.
Special Note:
Swine flu is most contagious in the initial five days. In the case of children, it can be contagious up to 10 days.
If you have already got it: Please confine yourself to a room. Wearing a mask is a must and Keep yourself away from social gathering, your work place and other public places, to avoid spreading the infection to others.