The Many Faces of Influenza
With the recent Swine Flu scare and so much different information swirling about, many people have wondered about the difference between common types of flu and the dreaded swine flu (Influenza A H1N1 Virus.) Here is some information to help you distinguish between regular types of flu and the swine flu and determine how concerned you should be.
The common flu is caused by the influenza viruses A or B. However, the swine flu is a type of influenza A, which is the most dangerous. While all flu viruses are highly contagious, the swine flu is extremely aggressive as well. That is why it’s important to guard yourself against all types of flu, and particularly the swine flu.
All influenza viruses are serious and have the potential to be deadly if left uncured. In fact, seasonal influenza is responsible for 3-5 million cases of severe illness. Each year 250,000 to 500,000 people die worldwide from influenza, with about 36,000 of them being Americans.
Type A influenza is the virus responsible for the large flu epidemics, like swine flu and avian flu. As mentioned in a previous post, the type A influenza strain responsible for swine flu in people is actually a different strain than that found in animals. People have more severe reactions to this virus than animals.
Influenza B is only found in humans. Type B can be harmful but usually not as harmful as A.
How can I tell the difference?
What makes swine flu even more dangerous is that the symptoms are very similar to those of the regular flu, making it difficult to distinguish the two. All influenza strains produce these types of symptoms:
- Fever
- Weakness
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Dry cough
- Watery discharge from nose
- Aches in muscles and pain in joints
In addition to vomiting and diarrhea, swine flu victims also report excessive runny nose and sore throat. Sometimes with swine flu, it is possible within five days to have the onset of severe respiratory symptoms that progress to pneumonia or other life-threatening complications.
With the similarity of symptoms between swine flu and regular flu, you might wonder what the most effective and assured way to detect the presence of swine flu is?
To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness. This sample would then need to be sent to a laboratory for further testing. However, in the face of this flu pandemic, testing samples for swine flu are no longer recommended since the therapy for all of the flu viruses is the same…
How can I protect myself?
In addition to similar symptoms, regular flu and swine flu share another factor: method of transmission. When an outbreak occurs doctors say that people should not touch their mouths and noses, because that is how the virus enters the body. Therefore, people should protect themselves the same way for any type of influenza (see swine flu post for tips.) Influenza viruses are an infection of the respiratory system. Flu vaccines for typical strains of influenza have been around for years and come in traditional flu shots and a nasal mist.
Although traditional flu vaccines are a good idea for everyone, groups that are especially susceptible to flu are:
- Children six months to 18-years-old
- People 50 and over
- People with heart or lung conditions, asthma or weak immune systems
- Pregnant women
- People who live in nursing homes
- Anyone in close contact with someone in the high risk group
- Anyone working with infants under six months. Six month olds and younger cannot get the vaccine.
Also discussed in the swine flu post is that development of a swine flu vaccination is underway and could be available as soon as October 2009.
With fall and the start of school quickly approaching, remember to get your family as well as yourself vaccinated for regular flu before it is too late. And keep an eye out for the new swine flu vaccination in the next few months!