When a person has a common cold, it is not scary. It usually goes away within 3-5 days. But viral diseases such as influenza pose a serious threat to both health and life. Very often they cause various complications, and sometimes can lead to Swine, which we will describe in this article, is a life-threatening disease. There is no universal cure for it. The reader will be able to learn about what swine flu is. Symptoms in people, treatment and prevention are also described in our article.

Description of the disease

(swine flu) is infectious disease affecting the respiratory tract. Usually a person becomes infected with it by airborne droplets. A child can get swine flu after interacting with a sick person. Average duration incubation period equal to 3-4 days. How does swine flu manifest? Symptoms: severe fever, chills, weakness, and cough.

Today in medicine it is customary to distinguish several forms of this virus, but the most common are 3 subtypes, conventionally called A, B and C. The most dangerous subtype for humans is A.

Who can get infected

Both humans and animals can get sick. For example, pigs are the most susceptible to this flu, after which it is named. Half a century ago, this virus was transmitted from animals to people extremely rarely, but, mutating, H1N1 gradually became unsafe for humans. Similar changes occurred for the first time in 2009.

Medical history

As mentioned above, this flu infects not only people, but also pigs and birds. IN recent years quite often observed major epidemics in large livestock companies. For this reason, every year English farmers lose at least 60 million pounds sterling.

At the end of the last century, the swine flu virus began to interact with avian and human flu, which is why it mutated into a completely new subtype - H1N1.

First cases of infection

For the first time, signs of swine flu in humans have been reported on the North American continent. Then in February 2009, a Mexican child who was six months old became infected with the virus. Further across the continent a chain of infections stretched. By the way, the vast majority of those sick worked on farms. Today, this subtype is freely transmitted from one person to another. Immunity to this strain in human body no, and this greatly increases the risk of the virus spreading throughout the world.

Severity of the disease

As of May 2009, 500 people fell ill with swine flu, 13 of whom died. To today cases of infection have been reported in only 13 countries around the world. The most dangerous countries are considered to be North America, which was hit by the first swine flu epidemic. Statistics show that approximately 5% of those infected die from this disease. However, let us take into account that in the USA, medicine is well developed. If signs of swine flu begin to appear in Africa, the disease will bring much more negative consequences. On this continent, most people live in unsanitary conditions, and their income does not allow them to benefit from quality medical services.

How does swine flu manifest in children?

The symptoms are almost no different from the picture of the usual flu, which children get sick with seasonally. The first signs begin to appear in a child just a few days after contact with an infected person.

The main symptoms of swine flu in children:

• elevated temperature;
• chills, severe weakness;
• redness of the throat;
• aches.

There are often cases of damage gastrointestinal tract. They lead to vomiting and diarrhea. Naturally, diarrhea entails serious loss of moisture in the body. Therefore, you should give your baby plenty of water. Doctors recommend non-carbonated mineral water, juice and tea.

Symptoms of swine flu in children sometimes include difficulty breathing. With age, the course of the disease is more easily tolerated. This is why it is most difficult for children under 5 years of age, since their immune system has not yet fully formed. If you notice similar symptoms in your child, you should immediately contact your doctor.

How does swine flu manifest in adults?

Symptoms in adults are similar to those of seasonal flu. A few days after infection, muscle pain appears, extreme fatigue and chills, fever, cough, sore throat, diarrhea and vomiting. Another feature of swine flu is the risk of exacerbation of chronic diseases.

First steps when symptoms appear

If a sick person lives on a street where infections have already been registered or, at a minimum, he experiences: sore throat, cough, runny nose in combination with gastrointestinal disorders and fever, then he needs to urgently consult a physician. If the doctor finds nothing dangerous, then good. However, if it is still swine flu, then delay can cost a lot. It is important to reduce the number of contacts with people so as not to become a direct source of the disease.

Signs of swine flu in adults, in which you should immediately consult a doctor:

• bluish skin;
• frequent breathing, breathing disorders;
• reluctance to drink liquids;
• alternating improvement and deterioration of well-being;
• cough;
• increase in temperature;
• rash;
• fever.

This also applies to children. What other signs of swine flu could be:

• dyspnea;
• dizziness;
• vomit;
• pain in the abdomen and chest area.

Treatment of swine flu

Treatment of this disease is extremely difficult, since even today no vaccine has been developed to reduce the risk of infection to zero. Standard medications also do not guarantee 100% effect. First of all, this can be explained by constant mutations of the virus. So how can you defeat swine flu and how to treat it? We invite you to familiarize yourself with the detailed list of tools that are used.

What treatments are used after a person is diagnosed with swine flu? Treatment usually includes the following:

"Arbidol" - Russian drug, has undergone a large number of tests and studies. As a result, its strong antioxidant and antiviral effect was proven. At the same time, "Arbidol" suppresses both human viruses and its animal varieties.

Can't study self-treatment. All these medical supplies should only be appointed by qualified medical worker. It is equally important that the infected person has his own utensils and personal hygiene products. To prevent the virus from spreading, the room must be regularly ventilated and wet cleaned. This will help avoid infecting people living with the patient, and will also prevent you from getting sick again.

Prevention

How can you protect yourself from swine flu? Firstly, you need to adhere to a daily routine, sleep for 6-8 hours, try to eat right, and, if possible, avoid overload and stress that weaken the body’s immunity. Secondly, prevention of swine flu includes the use of vitamins and immune boosters. As well as mandatory personal hygiene. We must not forget about correct processing food. So, pork must be thoroughly fried (eating meat with blood is unacceptable).

Over the past decade, the swine flu virus has been actively studied in order to create the most effective vaccine against H1N1. However, there are currently no significant changes in this direction. This is why prevention of swine flu is so important.

How to protect children from swine flu

The child's body is practically unfamiliar with such an infection. This seriously increases the child's risk of contracting swine flu. In order to prevent the disease, parents should take some preventive measures.

1. Wash your hands often, always with soap, especially before eating.
2. Don't let your child go to school or preschool until complete recovery respiratory infection.
3. If possible, avoid public places, in which there is a possibility of infection with a virus.
4. Vaccinate your baby, since vaccination is considered the most in an efficient way prevention.

What to do if your child shows the first symptoms

The baby can take a non-hot bath with the addition of powdered mustard, after which the feet are rubbed with warming ointments and warm woolen socks are put on. Scientists have proven that the H1N1 virus completely ceases to manifest itself and actively reproduce at temperatures above 50 degrees. Doctors often prescribe inhalations for babies at a temperature of about 70 degrees with the addition of mint, lemon and others. essential oils, which have a beneficial effect on the respiratory system. For example, to prepare eucalyptus inhalation, add 50 drops of tincture to boiling water. The procedures are carried out throughout the week. Children under 3 years of age are prohibited from breathing steam due to possible development bronchospasms.

This disease is not common in Russia. However, prevention should not be neglected. If you notice similar signs in yourself or your child, consult a doctor immediately. Perhaps this is a simple seasonal flu, which during weeks will pass without a trace. But maybe more serious illness. In this case, the sooner the virus is identified and started correct treatment, those faster man will become healthy and will not suffer any complications. There is no point in delaying contacting a doctor.

Today, when many citizens hear the word “pork”, in addition to their favorite gastronomic delights, another association arises - this is the dangerous and severe influenza A H1N1, which everyone is afraid of because of the threat of death. Despite the danger of contracting swine flu, pork occupies a dominant place on the table in many families. And this is not surprising! Pig meat is considered one of the most common sources of zinc and iron in the diet of residents of our country. Pork dishes can be consumed from a young age, it chemical composition prevents the occurrence cardiovascular diseases, effectively reduces blood cholesterol levels.

But in recent months, pork has also become main reason of most health discussions - according to some impressionable people, pork can become cause of swine flu in humans. Let us say right away that transmission of the virus from a living pig to a person is possible and leads to zoonotic swine flu. In the current epidemiological situation, citizens need to know where this disease came from, what ways one can become infected and how to resist a dangerous disease.

First reports of swine flu A H1N1

Opened back in 1930 in North America The H1N1 swine influenza A virus only affected pigs in Mexico and the United States. From time to time, the disease in a non-aggressive form was discovered by local veterinarians or employees of large farms and even then, more often only by the presence of antibodies to the H1N1 virus in the body. But doctors started talking about the serious danger much later.

In the world media, both on TV and in newspapers and online publications, 2009 was marked by the emergence of a new strain of the pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus. The first outbreaks of swine flu “delighted” Mexico and America, then the infection was discovered in residents of Japan, China, Russia and a number of other countries. Nearly one million people have suffered severe illness from swine flu, and more than a thousand people infected around the world have died.

The name "swine flu" was given to the new virus due to its similarity molecular structure with falling disease affecting pigs. But things turned out to be even more complicated: when a pig gets sick with two types of flu at the same time, particles of the human virus penetrate into the particles of the swine variant of fever. As a result, a reassortment process occurs, after which the new virus infects the human body and turns out to be completely unfamiliar to the human immune system.

Routes of infection with H1N1 swine flu

The influenza virus can be transmitted both between people and from pigs to humans. By and large, the symptoms and course of the disease are practically no different from regular flu. But at the same time, complications approach so quickly that sometimes the sick person seeks medical help too late and doctors are powerless. This is the main insidiousness of H1N1 - unlike the 5-day development of the usual version of the virus, swine flu may end on the third day fatal .

The routes of infection for H1N1 swine flu are varied, so it is important to know that swine flu can be contracted in two ways:

1. By airborne droplets. Coughing and sneezing can transmit infection up to 1.5 meters away.
2. Contact-household way. If you share the same household and cutlery, household items, and products with infected people, you can become infected when particles from your hands get into the mucous membranes of your eyes or mouth.

Most susceptible to infection and rapid development severe forms of H1N1 influenza are considered to be pregnant women, children under 5 years of age, and elderly people over 65 years of age. The H1N1 A virus can become a great danger for people suffering from concomitant severe diseases in chronic form– oncology, liver and lung diseases, diabetes mellitus, infectious and immunodeficiency (HIV) diseases.

What are the symptoms of H1N1 swine flu?

The symptoms of swine flu are practically indistinguishable from the symptoms of regular flu, which we encounter from time to time during the annual flu epidemics in Russia and around the world. However, let's say and remember that the basic symptoms of swine flu include:

• headache;
• increase in temperature;
• pain and aches in the body;
• cough;
• chills;
• sore throat;
• runny nose;
• fatigue;
• difficulty breathing;
• nausea and diarrhea;
• stomach ache;
• lethargy.

One of the most difficult and dangerous species Experts consider segmental lung damage to be a complication. If detected early, pulmonary heart failure can be cured within 3 days, but the hypertoxic form ends in pulmonary edema and hemorrhagic pneumonia.

Swine flu treatment and prevention

If swine flu is possibly diagnosed, immediate hospitalization is required. After a laboratory confirmed diagnosis, specific therapy and a number of organizational and routine measures are prescribed. The period of fever and the 5-day period with normal temperature are carried out strictly in bed rest. The usual course of treatment can be 5-7 days, based on individual characteristics patient and degree of complications.

Considering that in 30% of cases of infection, the causative agents of the virus are maximally resistant to the effects of various modern medications, treatment is prescribed after full examination patient. At the same time, doctors try to act as quickly as possible, since pulmonary edema, respiratory arrest, and hypoxia can manifest themselves within 24 hours.

Please note that for the prevention of swine flu it is important to avoid or minimize contact with sick people, frequently wash your hands with alcohol-containing products, use prophylactic drugs. You should avoid traveling to countries that are hotbeds of recently identified swine flu. In the form specific prevention You can get the currently optional vaccination every year.

Remember, no self-medication! Delay in getting infected and showing symptoms of swine flu could cost you or your loved ones your life!

We are so frightened by stories about the flu that, when we feel unwell in the autumn-winter period, we begin to get nervous and think about the worst. We know that if it is the flu, then rapid and serious complications are sure to occur.

This is not to say that this information is not true: you can actually die from influenza complications. But few people know that complications of the “common” cold can also be fatal.

How to distinguish swine flu from a cold, and how important is this distinction when choosing treatment tactics and medications?

What is swine flu?

Swine flu is one of the modifications of the influenza virus. All influenzas are divided into three categories: A, B and C. Type A influenzas are the most dangerous, because are able to spread well in the human population. Category A includes most seasonal flu, as well as its varieties such as swine and bird flu.

Thus, for a person not involved in virology and microbiology, it is no different from other seasonal varieties.

All influenza manifests itself with two main symptoms:

• Fever;
• cough.

Other symptoms that may be present:

• Pain in the throat;
• runny nose;
• headache;
• muscle pain;

What is a "cold"

What is called a “cold” in everyday language, in 80% of cases has viral nature. There are many cold viruses. Among them:

• Rhinoviruses;
• parainfluenza;
• adenoviruses;
• coronaviruses;
• respiratory syncytial virus;
• metapneumoviruses;
• bocaviruses;
• enteroviruses;
• herpes viruses;
• cytomegalovirus;
• Coxsackie virus, Epstein–Bar virus, etc.

In the remaining 20%, the culprits of acute respiratory infections are bacteria and fungi. But since the likelihood of a viral component is greater, it is generally accepted that acute respiratory infections, like the flu, are caused by a virus.

Depending on the virus and its specific strain in a certain place and during a certain period of time, the symptoms of acute respiratory infections vary. They may be:

• With gradual or abrupt onset;
• with fever, low-grade or normal temperature;
• with severe or mild catarrhal symptoms (cough, redness of the pharyngeal mucosa, inflammation of the tonsils, “loss” of voice, runny nose, sneezing, etc.);
• with or without headache, nausea and other symptoms.

As you can see, the two main symptoms of swine flu - and cough - are also signs.

Is it possible to distinguish swine flu from a cold?

The difference between swine flu and a cold in the simultaneous presence the following signs:

• A sharp deterioration in health;
• fever;
• cough;
• indigestion, nausea, vomiting.

But this is ideal. In most cases, influenza is difficult to differentiate from other respiratory infections. You are unlikely to be able to distinguish swine flu from a cold in the first 3-4 days of illness. Even doctors at the clinic don’t do this.


Remember, when you sought medical help with symptoms of ARVI, did you ever undergo a microbiological examination of a throat smear? Hardly. But it is necessary for precise definition pathogen.

The therapist at the clinic initially considers any cold to be a virus. If antiviral therapy does not help, then they will tell you to join bacterial infection(which may have been there from the very beginning) and will prescribe antibiotics accordingly.

This state of affairs is justified for the following reasons:

• During seasonal increases in the incidence of respiratory infections, 30% of patients are infected with more than one virus, but have a so-called mixed viral infection (i.e., two or more viruses at the same time);
• even during influenza epidemics, the share of influenza among all acute respiratory viral infections does not exceed 30%;
• in some cases, the flu begins sluggishly, without fever, with pronounced catarrhal symptoms, i.e. with typical “cold” symptoms;
• almost all are effective against most respiratory infections, including all types of influenza.

Thus, it is often not possible to distinguish swine flu from a cold. This is not required. For treatment, it doesn’t matter at all whether you have swine flu or a cold.

What should I do if I can't tell the difference between a common cold and swine flu?

The most important thing to do when cold symptoms appear is to stop guessing at the difference between a cold and swine flu. You must promptly, preferably within the first hours, begin antiviral therapy.

Here's what a respiratory virus will do if you don't get treatment:

1. The virus first enters the mucous membrane respiratory tract.
2. If the virus is recognized by the immune system, it is immediately attacked without having time to cause harm to the body. This reaction is called “acquired immunity,” which is formed after initial exposure to a specific type of virus. To do this, a person must either have had this virus previously, or be vaccinated with a vaccine containing this virus.
3. If the immune system does not recognize the virus, then it considers it harmless. Meanwhile, the virus, with its specific surface proteins, begins to inhibit immune system. You will feel a sore throat, a tickling in your nose, and you may start sneezing (just don’t confuse it with an allergy).

1. The virus then infects the cells of the respiratory tract and uses their redundant mechanism for its own replication. Within a few hours, the number of such cellular “factories” producing viruses grows exponentially.
2. The thermoregulatory system, “seeing” danger, raises body temperature. This allows the immune system to be stimulated." But, for example, in the case of influenza, this is not enough.
3. The virus spreads deeper into the respiratory tract. By affecting the cells of the bronchi and lungs, the viral infection causes complications:
   • Exacerbation;
   • exacerbation,

This name became most widespread in 2009 in the media mass media. A number of strains associated with swine flu have been found in influenza viruses serotype C and subtypes serotype A . The so-called “Swine Flu Virus” is the common name for all these strains.

This disease has a certain prevalence among domestic pigs in many countries of the world. However, the greatest danger is the fact that this virus can infect people, birds and some animals. In addition, during the life of the swine flu virus, it undergoes rapid mutation.

The swine flu virus can be transmitted from animals to humans relatively rarely. Accordingly, consume pork cooked taking into account all the rules heat treatment, you can without fear of contracting swine flu. Very often, when the virus is transmitted from an animal to a person, symptoms of swine flu do not appear in humans, and the disease is often detected only due to the presence of antibodies in human blood. When swine flu is transmitted to humans from an animal, the disease is called zoonotic swine flu. However, according to statistics, since the twenties of the twentieth century, approximately 50 cases of swine flu infection have been recorded among people who work directly with pigs.

A number of strains that cause symptoms of swine flu in humans have, over time, acquired the ability to transmit from person to person.

The first signs of swine flu in humans are similar to the symptoms that are characteristic of acute respiratory diseases and “regular” flu. Disease transmission occurs in a “standard” way by airborne droplets , as well as through direct contact with infected organisms. In order to accurately determine whether a person has this virus, a laboratory test is carried out - a swine flu test.

In 2009, a severe outbreak of a new strain of influenza virus was recorded in the world, which was later given the name “swine flu”. This outbreak was caused by a virus subtype H1N1 , which has maximum genetic similarity to the swine flu virus. To this day, the exact origin of this virus is not known. However, official information World Organization According to the Animal Health Agency, epidemic spread of this strain of virus has not been established among pigs.

This virus acts in the same way as other strains of influenza. The infection enters the human body through mucous membranes of the respiratory tract , in which replication and reproduction of the virus takes place. During the development of the disease, the cells of the trachea and bronchi are affected, a process of degeneration, necrosis and subsequent rejection of the cells that have been affected occurs.

Swine flu symptoms

Typically, the incubation period for swine flu can last up to three days. It should be borne in mind that the disease can occur in mild, severe and average shape gravity. A more complex course of the disease is observed in pregnant women, as well as in children and the elderly. Among representatives of these categories, slight variations in the duration of the incubation period of swine flu are possible. Swine flu is also more difficult for people who have long suffered from severe concomitant diseases.

Signs of swine flu in humans are manifested by viremia, which lasts about 10–14 days. Occurs in the human body toxic And toxic-allergic reactions in internal organs. The cardiovascular and nervous systems are most susceptible.

In the process of defeat vascular system vascular wall becomes more permeable and becomes brittle. Under the influence of the virus, the microcirculation of the vascular system is disrupted. Due to such changes, symptoms of swine flu are manifested by frequent nasal discharge, the appearance hemorrhages on the skin and mucous membranes. Also, as symptoms of swine flu in people, hemorrhages in internal organs and serious pathological changes in the lungs. Thus, edema of the lung tissue with hemorrhages in the alveoli is possible.

Due to a decrease in vascular tone, venous hyperemia skin and mucous membranes, microcirculation is disrupted, and blood stagnates in the internal organs. In more later The development of the disease manifests itself in capillaries and veins.

Due to such changes, hypersecretion of cerebrospinal fluid and circulatory disorders are observed, as a result of which cerebral edema and rises .

The first signs of swine flu appear similar to those of regular flu: a person complains of headache, his body temperature rises: generally the temperature rises to 38 degrees, but in some cases it can be higher - up to 41 degrees. A runny nose also appears, and signs may occur . A person suffers from dry barking cough, sometimes he is also bothered by pain in the chest. In addition, symptoms of swine flu may include vomiting, diarrhea, painful sensations in the stomach. The mucous membranes of the throat and nose are usually very dry. The patient complains of weakness and general fatigue, which indicates the manifestation of general intoxication of the body.

Diagnosis of swine flu

In the process of making a diagnosis, doctors take into account that the symptoms of swine flu are mostly similar to how the flu occurs, which is provoked by other strains of the virus.

The course of this type of influenza generally coincides with the course of the disease if a person is infected with other strains of the influenza virus. Therefore, diagnosing swine flu due to the similarity of swine flu symptoms to those of a number of diseases makes diagnosing the disease more difficult.

Swine flu does not cause symptoms specific to this disease. Consequently, swine flu syndromes are diagnosed by paying attention to the presence of two most clearly severe symptoms: strong overall body and the presence of damage to the upper respiratory tract.

It is very important in this case to carry out correctly differential diagnosis diseases. The basis for such a diagnosis is a detailed study and subsequent analysis of clinical and epidemiological data. This will either strengthen suspicions of the presence of swine flu syndromes, or refute such a diagnosis.

Even during the diagnosis of swine flu during epidemics, when the disease is widespread, it is difficult, because even during this period, about a third of patients who complain of respiratory tract syndromes suffer from ailments that have a non-influenza etiology.

Today it is common to distinguish between two different types flu diagnostics - diagnostics clinical and diagnostics laboratory . In addition to careful clinical trial modern laboratory research. Thus, an analysis for swine flu is carried out to isolate the swine flu virus, as well as to subsequently determine the type of virus, its serosubtype or strain variant of the virus.

On at the moment The most informative way to diagnose swine flu is PCR (the so-called polymerase chain reaction ). For this purpose, a laboratory examination of smears from the mucous membranes of the nose and pharynx is carried out in order to identify RNA virus . This method diagnostics are quite accurate and performed in a relatively short time.

As virological methods The study involves cultivating the swine flu virus in a specific cell culture.

At serological diagnostics specific antibodies are detected in human serum. For this purpose, special reactions are used.

Treatment of swine flu

How to treat swine flu is necessary in mandatory consult a specialist. If you have the slightest suspicion of this infection, you should promptly consult a doctor.

Today, treatment of swine flu is carried out according to the same principles as the treatment of influenza, which is caused by other strains of the virus. If patients have very severe intoxication and violations acid-base balance in the body, then treatment of swine flu includes a complex detoxification And corrective therapy. How to treat swine flu is determined by a specialist individually in each individual case, but today it has been proven that the drug () has a particularly effective effect on the swine flu virus. If this remedy is absent, then the use of the drug is recommended for the treatment of swine flu ( ). If a test for swine flu confirms the presence of this disease, then the indicated medications for swine flu are mainly used. But it should still be borne in mind that the highest effectiveness of treatment will be if you start therapy with these drugs in the first forty-eight hours after the onset of signs of the disease.

If mild symptoms of swine flu appear in a person, then it is often used as a medicine for swine flu. , or others used in the treatment of seasonal influenza. The most pronounced effect from the use of arbidol will appear if therapy is started in the first five days after the onset of the disease. The duration of therapy should not be less than one week.

Patients diagnosed with moderate or severe influenza are prescribed a course of treatment, the purpose of which is to prevent the manifestation of the primary viral pneumonia. It is also important to take all measures aimed at preventing the manifestation of a secondary bacterial infection, which often leads to pneumonia .

Swine flu syndromes are also treated with drugs that have a symptomatic effect. So, in this case, drugs with antipyretic effects are relevant (mainly drugs that contain And ). Aspirin-containing drugs are not recommended as a cure for swine flu due to the risk of Reye's syndrome.

In addition, treatment of swine flu includes the prescription of multivitamins, and in some cases, drugs with antihistamine effect. If a secondary bacterial infection occurs, then in the treatment process they use wide range impact.

It is very important to understand why swine flu is dangerous. Anyone should seek emergency care immediately if they experience the following signs of swine flu: severe respiratory failure, problems in functioning cardiovascular system, signs of oppression brain activity, fainting, chest pain, decreased .

If the patient’s body temperature does not decrease within three days, then it is also necessary not to hesitate to consult a doctor.

Doctors

Medicines

Prevention of swine flu

Realizing how dangerous swine flu is, you should take all measures to prevent the occurrence of of this disease. Most effective method prevention is against swine flu. However, as a basic prevention of swine flu, it is worth following the basic rules of protection against viral infections. First of all, effective protection to prevent the spread of the virus there will be a gauze bandage, which is recommended to be worn during the epidemic. You need to wear such a bandage constantly when in contact with people, while changing it every few hours to a new one or one that has been previously washed and ironed.

If possible, during unfavorable periods, you should avoid places where there is large cluster people. The most unsafe places in terms of the risk of contracting swine flu are: public transport, shops, offices and other premises in which there are many people must be regularly ventilated. It is better not to contact people who have obvious signs of a respiratory infection or to be extremely careful during such contact.

During an epidemic, regular wet cleaning of premises is of significant importance as a preventive measure for swine flu. This cleaning needs to be done several times a day. During unfavorable periods, you should wash your hands very often, and always with soap.

Prevention of swine flu also includes ensuring rational healthy eating, good sleep, sufficient physical activity.

To provide general strengthening immunity, experts recommend taking , as well as adaptogen drugs that can have a positive effect on the body's resistance. This is Rhodiola rosea tincture, alpha- (nasal ointment). Eating enough fruits and vegetables will also provide the body with required quantity vitamins

It is also important to take into account that the swine flu virus is killed by high temperatures. Consequently, heat treatment (at temperatures above 70 degrees) guarantees the death of the virus. However, it must be remembered that the swine flu virus can be transmitted by animals. That's why special attention It is worth paying attention to contact with animals and meat after their slaughter. Under no circumstances should you cut up the carcasses of sick animals.

Swine flu vaccine

Due to the fact that doctors around the world have long understood why swine flu is dangerous, today specialists are actively working to improve the vaccine against swine flu. Every year, the swine flu vaccine is improved to take into account mutations A/H1N1 virus .

It is important to understand that the swine flu vaccine given using the regular vaccine will not work. required action. On the contrary, it can significantly weaken a person’s immunity.

To date, specific vaccines have already been developed that are used to produce swine flu vaccinations. The most well-known vaccines used in our country are swine flu vaccines pandemrix (manufacturer - company Glaxosmithkline), fosetria (manufacturer - company Novartis), as well as swine flu vaccine monoinfluenza , created by domestic manufacturers. Vaccines are available in the form traditional vaccination and in shape nasal spray.

During an epidemic, the swine flu vaccine should first of all be administered to pregnant women, as well as to those who care for babies up to six months of age (both mothers and nannies). The swine flu vaccine is not given to children under six months of age. Vaccination is no less important for medical personnel, workers emergency care, people who suffer and, accordingly, have more high risk manifestations of complications after influenza.

Studies that have been conducted have proven that noticeable side effects Modern swine flu vaccines do not cause. There is often redness and some soreness at the site where the injection was given, in more cases in rare cases After vaccination, a person may experience a headache or fatigue, and even more rarely, a slight increase in body temperature.

Please note that the vaccine is produced using chicken eggs therefore, people with allergies to this product You can't drive her.

Complications of swine flu

Complications after swine flu occur depending on a number of factors. The severity of the infection, the patient’s age, the person’s immunity, as well as the timeliness and effectiveness of medical care are important. Swine flu It is more severe in elderly patients, as well as in children of primary school age.

With the right and timely treatment swine flu, the prognosis will be favorable. However, quite often this disease provokes a number of complications that can have negative impact on general condition human health. So, a common complication is an exacerbation of chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system. The latter is especially common in older people. Sometimes angina pain also appears, and in the first days of the illness the . Also in older people who suffer chronic diseases respiratory system, mixed cardiovascular and respiratory failure may occur.

One more severe complication swine flu sometimes becomes acute pneumonia. Majority acute pneumonia, which occur as a complication of swine flu, are of bacterial origin. Severe forms pneumonia is provoked by pathogenic staphylococci that are resistant to a large number commonly used antibiotics.

Swine flu (California flu, Mexican flu, North American flu, “Mexican flu”) is an acute viral respiratory disease caused by certain strains of the influenza virus.

The swine influenza virus was isolated in 1930 from domestic pigs in Mexico and North America. For many years the virus circulated in limited areas and caused disease only in animals. Since the 90s of the 20th century, isolated cases of swine flu have been reported among pig farmers and veterinarians.

Over time, mutations led to the emergence of a new strain of the swine flu virus, which acquired the ability to overcome the interspecies barrier and be transmitted from person to person. In the spring of 2009, this virus began to spread widely among people, causing a pandemic called California/2009. According to WHO, it covered 74 countries. The new virus was easily transmitted from person to person and sickened more than half a million people. Therefore, WHO has assigned this swine flu virus the highest high class danger (IV class).

The results of numerous scientific research proved high efficiency swine flu vaccine and its safety.

In 2016, infectious disease specialists predicted a new outbreak of swine flu and included the strain of the virus that caused it in the vaccine. This made it possible to create a fairly broad immune layer among the population of a number of countries where this vaccine was used. But despite this, the virus has spread significantly, in particular in Israel, Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine.

Source: arpeflu.ru

Causes and risk factors

Swine flu is caused by strains of influenza viruses serotype A (A/H1N1, A/H1N2, A/H3N1, A/H3N2 and A/H2N3) and serotype C. All of them are collectively called the “swine flu virus.”

The greatest danger in epidemiological terms is the A/H1N1 serotype. Its occurrence is the result of recombination (mixing) of several subtypes of the virus. It was this strain that caused the swine flu pandemic in 2009. The properties of the A/H1N1 virus are:

• the ability to infect birds, animals, humans;
• the ability to be transmitted from person to person;
• the ability to undergo rapid changes at the gene level (mutations);
• resistance to traditional antiviral drugs(remantadine, amantadine).

The swine flu virus has low resistance in the external environment. Ultraviolet rays, disinfectants quickly inactivate it. However, when low temperatures it remains virulent for a long time.

The source of infection for swine flu is patients or infected people and pigs. In the human population, the infection is mainly transmitted by airborne droplets. Significantly less common contact-household path transfers. Cases of infection associated with eating meat from infected pigs have not been described in the medical literature.

The patient becomes infectious to others with last days incubation period and releases viruses for another 10–14 days from the onset of the disease, even with specific therapy.

In most patients, swine flu occurs in mild form and ends full recovery within 10-14 days.

Susceptibility to swine flu caused by the A/H1N1 virus is high. Most often, the disease occurs in patients with a reduced immune status:

• young children;
• pregnant women;
• elderly people;
• those suffering from somatic diseases;

Replication and reproduction of the swine flu virus occurs in epithelial cells mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, which is accompanied by degeneration and necrosis. Viruses and toxic products of their vital activity enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. Viremia persists for 10–14 days and manifests itself as toxic damage to internal organs and, above all, to the cardiovascular and central nervous systems.

Damage to the cardiovascular system is accompanied by microcirculation disorders, increased fragility and permeability blood vessels. These changes, in turn, lead to the appearance of hemorrhagic rashes on the skin, nosebleeds (rhinorrhagia), hemorrhages in the internal organs. Microcirculation disorders contribute to the formation pathological processes in the lung tissue (edema, hemorrhages in the alveoli).

Against the background of viremia, there is a decrease vascular tone. Clinically, this process is manifested by the following symptoms:

• venous hyperemia of the mucous membranes and skin;
• congestive plethora of internal organs;
• diapedetic bleeding;
• thrombosis of capillaries and veins.

All the described changes in the blood vessels cause hypersecretion of cerebrospinal fluid and disruption of its circulation, which leads to and can cause cerebral edema.

Source: simptomer.ru

Swine flu symptoms

The incubation period for swine flu lasts from 1 to 7 days. Clinical manifestations infections are varied. In people with weakened immune systems, the disease is very severe and often ends in death. In some patients, on the contrary, it is asymptomatic and can only be detected when antibodies to the virus are detected in the blood serum (asymptomatic virus carriage).

Cases of infection associated with eating meat from infected pigs have not been described in the medical literature.

In most cases, the signs of swine flu are similar to those of seasonal flu or ARVI:

• intense headache;
• photophobia;
• increase in body temperature to 39-40 ° C;
• aches in muscles and joints;
• weakness, lethargy, feeling of weakness;
• eye pain;
• sore and sore throat;

In 40-45% of cases, swine flu is accompanied by the development abdominal syndrome(diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, cramping abdominal pain).

Diagnostics

Preliminary diagnosis of the disease presents many difficulties, since the symptoms of swine flu and regular seasonal flu are similar. The final diagnosis is made based on the results of laboratory tests, allowing identification of the pathogen:

• examination of a nasopharyngeal smear using PCR;
• virological examination of nasal discharge;
• serological tests (ELISA, RTGA, RSK).

Serological tests for suspected swine flu are carried out twice with an interval of 10–14 days (paired serum method). The diagnosis is considered confirmed if specific antibodies increase by 4 times or more.

Treatment of swine flu

Treatment of swine flu includes symptomatic and etiotropic drugs.

Etiotropic therapy is aimed at suppressing further replication of the virus. It is carried out with interferons (alpha-2b interferon, alpha interferon), kagocel, zanamivir, oseltamivir.

In people with weakened immune systems, the disease is very severe and often ends in death.

Symptomatic treatment of swine flu is carried out with antihistamines, antipyretics and vasoconstrictors. If indicated, detoxification therapy is carried out ( intravenous infusion glucose and electrolyte solutions).

Antibiotics are indicated only when a secondary bacterial infection occurs. In this case, macrolides, cephalosporins or penicillins are used.