Swine Flu

Flu virus

Flu, also known as Influenza, is an acute respiratory infection that is caused by influenza A or B viruses. Flu usually occurs in outbreaks. If the extent of flu outbreak is larger, health care organizations such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) may call it epidemic or pandemic.

Swine flu is caused by type A influenza virus that usually causes outbreaks in pigs. Nonetheless, there is recent evidence that swine flu transmits from person to person. However, you cannot catch swine flu by eating cooked pork.

Flu infection is transmitted through coughing, sneezing since large amounts of virus are present in respiratory secretions.

Flu outbreak usually occurs in winter. Prominent symptoms of flu are fever, muscle ache, headache, coughing, weakness.

Flu is usually self-limited, gradually improving over 2 to 5 days. Flu, however, may result in complications. Common complications of flu are pneumonia, and myositis that is associated with extreme tenderness of legs. Guillain-Barre syndrome, an acute inflammation of multiple nerves, is also suspected to be a complication of flu; but a definite causal relationship has not been established.

Doctors usually diagnose flu based on symptoms, signs, the existence of outbreaks. They may also order throat, nasal swabs, or Quick Vue A+B tests.

Doctors may prescribe Oseltamivir or Zanamivir to alleviate flu symptoms, to help you recover faster, or to prevent flu.

You may be able to find more information about swine flu at following CDC link.
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm