While the world is worried over the increasing cases of Coronavirus across the globe, swine flu, another deadly virus that has killed 4634 people since 2016 is on prowl.
According to the official figures, as on February 2, at least 1132 people were infected with H1N1 and 18 people had succumbed to the virus in India. If we go by the record of three years, you would find that the swine flu has caused much more damage than we can imagine.
Since 2016 till now, more than a whopping 84,000 people were infected with swine flu across India out of which 4634 succumbed. In Jammu and Kashmir only, 667 people were infected with swine flu since 2016 and 67 people died of the disease.
While the precautions of swine flu are similar to that of Coronavirus, we have enlisted them below for patients:
An H1N1 infected patient should
Be informed about the illness.
Stay home for seven days, preferably isolate himself / herself in a well ventilated room.
Avoid common areas frequented by other family members of the family.
Wear mask all the time.
Disposable Triple layered mask should be used.
Avoid close contact with others.
Avoid having visitors.
Avoid hand shaking and wash hands frequently with soap and water.
Symptoms of Swine Flu
High grade fever not responding to antipyretics.
Difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness, Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting.
Symptoms of Swine Flu in children
Fast breathing or difficult breathing
Bluish skin/lips/nails colour
Inability to drink enough fluids/ refusal of feeds
Lethargy/somnolence
Irritability/persistent crying
High fever with rash/cold extremities
Seizures
These signs/ symptoms needs to be identified early for immediate start of treatment and hospitalization. Most of the adverse outcomes occur because of late reporting of the cases to hospital. In particular, patients with co-morbid condition (Diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, immune-compromised status, Obesity etc.) need to be observed for worsening of symptoms
