07.06.09
a little information
just want to share a few info i found about the most hot news worldwide;Influenza H1N1.kajaa!!(let go!)
an overview.
Influenza (commonly called the flu) is a highly contagious viral illness that can occur in children or adults of any age. It occurs most frequently in the winter months as individuals spend more time in close contact with one another. The virus is spread easily from person-to-person via infected respiratory secretions.
symptom.
Symptoms of seasonal flu can vary from person to person, but usually include a fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue; cough and sore throat may also be present. People with the flu usually have fevers for two to five days, in contrast to fevers in other upper respiratory viruses that usually resolve after 24 to 48 hours.
Some people experience cold-like symptoms while others have fever and muscle aches. Symptoms usually improve over two to five days, although the illness may last for a week or more. Weakness and fatigue may persist for several weeks
flu treatment
When to seek help — Most people with the flu recover within one to two weeks without treatment. However, serious complications of the flu can occur. If you develop any of the following, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Purple or blue discoloration of the lips
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Signs of dehydration, such as dizziness when standing, not passing urine, or, in infants, lack of tears when crying
- Confusion or less responsiveness than usual
- Seizures or convulsions
- Severe vomiting or unable to keep fluids down
Treat symptoms — Treating the symptoms of influenza can help you to feel better, but will not shorten the duration of the flu.
- Rest until the flu is fully resolved, especially if the illness has been severe
- Fluids — Drink enough fluids so that you do not become dehydrated.
- Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol® and other brands) to relieve fever, headache, and muscle aches. Aspirin, and medicines that include aspirin (eg, bismuth subsalicylate; PeptoBismol), should be avoided, particularly in children under 18, because it can lead to a serious disease called Reye syndrome.
- Cough suppressants are not usually helpful; cough usually resolves without treatment. We do not recommend cough or cold medicine for children under age six years. (See “Patient information: The common cold in children”).
Antiviral drugs—- Antiviral drugs may be recommended to treat or prevent influenza. When used as a treatment, the drug does not eliminate flu symptoms, although it can reduce the severity and duration of symptoms by two to three days. Not every person with influenza requires treatment with an antiviral medication; the decision is based upon your risk of developing complications of influenza.
Available antiviral medications include oseltamivir (Tamiflu®), zanamivir (Relenza®), rimantadine (Flumadine®), and amantadine (Symmetrel®). Antiviral treatment is most effective for seasonal influenza when it is taken within the first 48 hours of flu symptoms.
The best antiviral medication for the treatment or prevention of influenza depends upon the type of influenza virus, the likelihood of drug resistance, and some patient-related factors. This decision should be made by a healthcare provider. (See “Antiviral drugs for the prevention of influenza in adults” and see “Antiviral drugs for the treatment of influenza in adults” and see “Antiviral drugs for the prevention and treatment of influenza in children” and see “Treatment and prevention of swine H1N1 influenza”).
Side effects — Zanamivir and oseltamivir can cause mild side effects, including nausea and vomiting; zanamivir, which is inhaled, can cause difficulty breathing in some cases; most patients are able to continue the medication despite the side effects.
Antibiotics — Antibiotics are NOT useful for treating viral illnesses such as influenza. Antibiotics should only used if there is a bacterial complication of the flu such as bacterial pneumonia, ear infection, or sinusitis. Antibiotics can cause side effects and lead to development of antibiotic resistance.
Complementary and alternative treatments — There are a wide variety of herbal, homeopathic, and other complementary and alternative treatments that are marketed for influenza. Unfortunately, there have been few well designed studies to evaluate their efficacy and safety.
One homeopathic remedy, oscillococcinum, appears to be ineffective for prevention of influenza but may have a very modest benefit in reducing the duration of influenza symptoms (by an average of eight hours, with a range from one to twelve hours) [1]. Serious side-effects have not been reported but its safety has not been evaluated extensively.
prevention
One of the most effective ways to prevent infection with influenza is the influenza vaccine, which is given once per year, usually in the fall. The flu vaccine is discussed in a separate topic. (See “Patient information: Influenza prevention”).
Antiviral medications — Antiviral medications are sometimes given to people who have been exposed to influenza but are not yet ill. This treatment is discussed separately. (See “Patient information: Influenza prevention”).
Infection control — For people with the flu, it is important to use simple infection control measures to prevent the spread of infection. Infection control measures can help to prevent the spread of influenza.
- Frequent handwashing with soap and water can also help limit the spread of influenza. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be used when soap and water are not available. Whether you are infected with the flu or are caring for someone with the flu, you should wash your hands frequently.
- Because influenza is spread by contact with infected respiratory secretions, people with influenza should avoid face-to-face contact with anyone while sick.
- Cover the mouth and nose should while coughing or sneezing, and dispose of tissues immediately. Sneezing/coughing into the sleeve of one’s clothing (at the inner elbow) is another means of containing sprays of saliva and secretions and has the advantage of not contaminating the hands.
Swine H1N1 flu prevention — In addition to the precautions listed above, further precautions are recommend to prevent the spread of swine H1N1 flu virus. (See “Swine H1N1 Flu” above).
- If face-to-face contact is necessary, the infected person should wear a face mask.
- There are numerous options for face masks. N95 respirators are recommended for anyone caring for an infected person. An N95 respirator fits snugly on your face and can filter out small particles that can be inhaled around the edges of other types of face masks. However, it is harder to breathe through an N95 mask for long periods of time compared to a looser fitting mask.
- If possible, the infected person should stay in a room separate from common areas of the house, keep the door closed, and use a separate bathroom while ill. The bathroom should be cleaned daily with a disinfectant.
- Pregnant women should avoid caring for adults or children infected with the swine H1N1 flu.
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thats all for today.
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sedikit selingan.
oppa, life’s not so easy right?just be healthy and enjoy in wutever u do.just ignore wut other have critized u..people will never satisfy with others.
