Diagnosis of Swine Flu

Diagnosis of Swine Flu

Swine flu A infection is diagnosed when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus i.e, within the first four to five days of illness (children may shed virus for ten days or longer) during this period respiratory specimens are collected and sent for diagnosis to the state labs.

This is diagnosed clinically by the patient’s history of association with people known to have contracted the disease and also based upon their symptoms.

Tests

             A quick test (for example, nasopharyngeal swab sample) is done to see if the patient is infected with influenza A or B virus. Most of the tests can distinguish between A and B types.

The test can be negative (no H1N1 infection) or positive for type A and B. If the test is positive for type B, the flu is not likely to be swine influenza (H1N1). If it is positive for type A, the person could have a conventional influenza strain or swine influenza (H1N1). H1N1 is mainly diagnosed by identifying the particular antigens associated with the virus type.

In general, this test is done in a specialized laboratory and is not done by many doctors clinics or hospital laboratories. However, doctors clinics are able to send specimens to specialized laboratories if necessary.

Is H1N1 a cause of an Epidemic or Pandemic in 2009?

            An epidemic is defined as an outbreak of a contagious disease that is rapid and widespread, that affects many individuals at the same time.

The H1N1 influenza A virus spread in Mexico comes under this category. Whereas pandemic is an epidemic that becomes so widespread that it affects a region, continent, or the whole world. As of April 2009,the H1N1 was not declared as pandemic. However,as of June 11, 2009, WHO officials determined that H1N1 2009 influenza A reached WHO level 6 criteria and is now declared as the first flu pandemic in 41 years. Until now, it has reached 74 different countries on every continent except Antarctica but still the severity of the disease has not increased.

 

Treatment, Measures and Preventions

Treatment
Antiviral Treatments for Suspected and Confirmed cases.

Suspected Cases.

1.Empiric antiviral treatment is recommended for any ill person suspected to have swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.

2. Antiviral treatment with either zanamivir alone or with a combination of oseltamivir and either amantadine or rimantadine should be initiated as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms.

3. Recommended duration of treatment is five days.

4. Antiviral doses and schedules recommended for treatment of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection are the same as those recommended for seasonal influenza.

Confirmed Cases

1. For antiviral treatment of a confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, either oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) may be administered.

2. Recommended duration of treatment is five days.

3. These same antivirals should be considered for treatment of cases that test positive for influenza A but test negative for seasonal influenza viruses H3 and H1 by PCR.

Measures and Preventions

1. Keeping hands clean is the most important step to avoid getting sick and spreading the H1N1 virus. Wash hands with clean water and hand soap. Rub hands together to form lather.

2. Warning! Do not give aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to children or teenagers who have the flu; this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome.

3. Check ingredient labels on over-the-counter cold and flu medications to see if they contain aspirin.

4. Children younger than 2 years of age should not be given over-the-counter cold medications without first speaking with a healthcare provider.

5. The safest care for flu symptoms in children younger than 2 years of age is using a cool-mist humidifier and a suction bulb to help clear away mucus.

6.Over-the-counter cold and flu medications used according to the package instructions may help lessen some symptoms such as cough and congestion. Importantly, these medications will not lessen how infectious a person is.

7. Check with your health care provider or pharmacist if you are taking other over-the-counter or prescription medications not related to the flu.

Infection Control

How Swine flu infection be controlled at home and public places?

Infection Control at home

Infection control for non-hospitalized patient

1. Separation from others in single room if available.

2. The ill person should wear a mask.

3.The ill person should be encouraged to wash hand frequently and follow respiratory hygiene practices.

4. Utensils used by the ill person should be thoroughly washed with soap and water before use by other persons.

Infection Control at public places

1. Cover you mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze

2. Throwing used tissues and towels into the garbage or laundry

3. Staying home if you are unfortunate to contract the Swine Flu Virus

4. Public areas need to be kept cleaned and virus free because these are the places that the public spends most of their day. Children are at school.

Steps to Lessen the Spread of Flu in the Home ?

When providing care to a household member who is sick with influenza, the most important ways to protect yourself and others who are not sick are to:

1. Keep the sick person away from other people as much as possible make them place in a separate room.

2. Remind the sick person to cover their coughs, and clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often, especially after coughing and/or sneezing.

3. Everyone in the household should clean their hands often, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub

4. Ask your healthcare provider if household contacts of the sick person, particularly those contacts that may have chronic health conditions, should take antiviral medications such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (Relenza®) to prevent the flu.

Placement of the sick person

a. Keep the sick person in a room separate from the common areas of the house. (For example, a spare bedroom with its own bathroom, if that’s possible.) Keep the sickroom door closed.

b. Unless necessary for medical care, persons with the flu should not leave the home when they have a fever or during the time that they are most likely to spread their infection to others (7 days after onset of symptoms in adults, and 10 days after onset of symptoms in children).

c. If persons with the flu need to leave the home (for example, for medical care), they should cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and wear a loose-fitting (surgical) mask if available.

d. Have the sick person wear a surgical mask if they need to be in a common area of the house near other persons.

e. If possible, sick persons should use a separate bathroom. This bathroom should be cleaned daily with household disinfectant.

Protect other persons in the home

a. The sick person should not have visitors other than caregivers. A phone call is safer than a visit.

b. If possible, have only one adult in the home take care of the sick person.

c. Avoid having pregnant women care for the sick person. (Pregnant women are at increased risk of influenza-related complications and immunity can be suppressed during pregnancy).

d. All persons in the household should clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub frequently, including after every contact with the sick person or the person’s room or bathroom.

e. Use paper towels for drying hands after hand washing or dedicate cloth towels to each person in the household. For example, have different colored towels for each person.

f. If possible, consideration should be given to maintaining good ventilation in shared household areas (e.g., keeping windows open in restrooms, kitchen, bathroom, etc.).

g. Antiviral can be used to prevent the flu, so check with your healthcare provider to see if some persons in the home should use antiviral medications.