Swine flu

Swine flu, the dreaded disease virus that shook US, made its presence felt in India too. As the name suggests, the virus originated from swines. Swine flu usually doesn’t affect human but the present swine flu virus has traits from Eurasian swine, duck & human. This hybrid virus is the reason for the swine flu epidemic. It constantly changes its form and escapes the body’s protective anti-bodies which have been developed over years.

Swine flu symptoms are very much normal flu i.e., soar throat with fever, dysentery in some cases also difficulty in breathing. This is very confusing as normal fever can also be misinterpreted as swine flu and swine flu can also thought as normal fever.

Swine flu spreads through air. Also the virus is present in saliva droplets from the victim which are ejected from mouth when the victim coughs or sneezes. People in various parts of India are wearing masks in a bid to prevent swine flu. But many do have reservations against this measure as masks can effectively stop particles of diameter 0.3micrometer whereas H1N1 virus is 0.1micrometer. Thus solely depending on masks is of no use. Keeping hands away from mouth and face as much as possible is one way in preventing swine flu. Maintaining personal hygiene i.e., washing hands frequently with a medicated hand wash is also helpful. Apart from this, gargling with warm salt water twice a day is very effective. Though is sounds very simple, it is medically very effective. This doesn’t allow the virus to proliferate in throat. Having warm drinks frequently flushes the virus from throat to stomach, where it perishes in the digestive system. Cleaning the nose with cotton dipped in salt water doesn’t allow virus to multiply in nose.

Many doctors are of the opinion that detecting and curing swine flu in the early stages is easier. They are of the opinion simple care & hygiene at home along with tamiflu is far more effective than spending days in hospital. In the hospital the risk of exposure to the virus is more. Hence being quarantined at home for 10 days coupled with tamiflu tablets for 5 days & ample rest is the best cure. The victim should wear a mask so that other family members aren’t exposed to the virus. Also, small children shouldn’t be allowed to play near the victim.