By now almost everyone has heard of, or been effected by, the Swine Flu (H1N1) Virus.  While this flu strain is more contagious and longer lasting than the seasonal flu, much of the symptoms are the same and include fever above 100°, cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.  Diarrhea and vomiting have also been reported with the H1N1 flu.  If you should catch the flu, expect to be ill for up to a week or more.  You should stay home and keep away from others as much as possible for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.  Fever-reducing medicines such as Tylenol or Advil can mask a fever so be sure you have no fever without being medicated.  While medical experts expect most people will recover without needing additional medical care, persons who are pregnant or have an underlying medical condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, emphysema, or are immunosuppressed should contact their Health Care Provider if they have any flu-like symptoms.

If you or someone you know becomes ill and experiences any of the following warning signs, you should seek emergency medical care immediately.

 The warning signs for Children are:  Fast breathing or trouble breathing, bluish or gray skin color, severe or persistent vomiting, not drinking enough fluids, not waking up or not Interacting, being so irritable that the child does not want to be held, flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and a worse cough.

The warning signs for Adults are:  Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, severe or persistent vomiting,  flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and a worse cough.

Additional information can be obtained at the Center for Disease Control’s web site.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/general_info.htm 

http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/downloader/download.mp3?af=a&f=11441

http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/downloader/download.mp4?af=v&f=13958