Swine flu is caused as a result of infection in the respiratory tract, caused by influenza viruses. Originally, it was caused in pigs, but the viruses can mature and get transmitted to humans. In case you get the infection, it is recommended to go for a swine flu checkup. Under severe conditions, it may lead to death. This is caused by the transmission of H1N1 viruses in humans. The common swine flu symptoms are fever, nasal secretions, coughs, headache and fatigue. The disease has an incubation period of 1 to 4 days. It is a contagious disease and may spread to other people even one day before the symptoms show up. When you undergo a swine flu test, the disease is detected and the doctors provide the necessary treatment to get rid of the ailment.
How Long Does the Disease Last?
Under ordinary conditions, the disease may last for around three to seven days. However, it might extend up to nine or ten days under severe conditions. In order to prevent the disease, one might get the swine flu vaccine at the right time. It reduces the chances of getting the disease to a certain extent. Therefore, you should opt for the swine flu vaccine at the right time to cut down the possibilities of suffering from the disease.
In case the infection is detected within 48 hours of transmission of the virus, their effect can be remarkably reduced by antiviral agents. Under severe conditions, it might lead to pneumonia.
What are The Swine Flu Causes and How does it Get Transmitted?
Well, it is important to know the swine flu causes and take necessary measures to keep away from the disease. The most common process of transmission of swine flu virus is coughing or sneezing. The virus gets transmitted from an infected person to another. However, the virus is not transmitted if you eat pork or other recipes made from pig products.
The swine flu symptoms include dry cough, high fever and secretions through the nasal cavity. It might also cause tiredness or fatigue. Almost all the patients suffering from swine flu have reported fatigue. People suffering from swine flu experience severe headaches. You might also get a sore throat, which makes it difficult to consume food. At times, rashes and eruptions appear on the body. Certain people also experience nausea and vomiting. It is necessary to undergo a swine flu test when these symptoms are evident along with fever for more than two days. However, not all these symptoms may appear in every individual. Certain people may also suffer from diarrhea along with cough, cold, fever and vomiting. Swine flu also causes severe body and muscle aches. Based on the swine flu test results, the intensity of the infection is determined and the doctors prescribe the necessary medicines to get rid of it. However, failure to detect the disease may lead to death. People suffering from swine flu also experience short breath and requires external support for respiration. Most of the time, doctors recommend a ventilator to assist them in breathing. A secondary bacterial infection during swine flu can lead to pneumonia, leading to further complications in the body. Under severe conditions, a patient can develop- seizures. Infections in the lungs as a result of bacterial growth may lead to death at times. The physicians prescribe powerful antibiotics to prevent the growth of bacteria.
Confirming Swine Flu
The patients undergoing swine flu checkup are screened for the infection through routine blood tests and an X-ray of the chest. The swine flu test results determine whether the person has been infected by the virus. In case the results are positive, the patient needs to be hospitalized. Nose or throat swabs are also used to confirm whether the person has swine flu or not.
Vaccines for the disease has been developed after the massive outbreak of swine flu in many countries in recent years. Children between six months to four years need to take the vaccines to reduce the chances of being infected by the disease. It is necessary to go for a swine flu checkup if a person suffers from high fever along with the other symptoms of the disease for more than two days. This shortens the contagious period of the disease to a certain extent and ensures a quicker recovery.
Medically Reviewed By
Maanasi specializes in health topics including diet and nutrition. A mother of an untiring seven year old, she enjoys nurturing her love affair with English. She is often found nestled with a book, plopped against a dozen pillows, smiling away at the brink of finishing yet another book of the many dozens, that adorn the shelves of her Mini Library!
