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Swine Flu has suddenly appeared as a havoc for the whole world - which is spreading across the globe at a very fast pace. Thank God that though this virus spreads very fast (highly contagious) the infection is not that deadly/serious kind. For most people, swine flu is a mild illness. Majority of cases are still going unnoticed as common Flu. Only patients with severe symptoms or those who are not responding to regular Flu treatments reach the concerned Health Centers and get themselves tested.
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We appeal to all readers to be aware of any Influenza like illness (ILI) occurring to you or your family or friends. Patient must take proper and immediate antiviral treatment. Consult your GP/Family doctor, who would give you proper treatment and may get you tested for N1H1. If you are sick with Influenza like illness (ILI), you should stay home and keep away from others as much as possible. Avoid travelling, for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine). Adopt basic hygiene measures to prevent its spread and don’t go outside your house unless you are visiting your Doctor.
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The origin of Swine Flu
Pandemic!
Who is at risk?
What is the incubation period for Swine Flu?
When are people most infectious?
What are the Symptoms of Swine Flu?
What are the Complications of Swine Flu?
How do we know is it Swine Flu or Common Flu/Cold?
Is there any Vaccine for Swine Flu?
How is Swine Flu spread?
What can we do to stay healthy?
Can people catch swine flu by eating pork?
FAQ on Masks
What should you do if you doubt you have Swine Flu?
Is it safe to travel?
Pity the poor Pig!
Get latest updates of Swine Flu and view the affected places on Map
Treatment for Swine Flu
Homeopathic treatment
Homeopathic Preventive Medicine
Ask Your Query
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| The origin of Swine Flu: |
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Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. The 2009 flu outbreak in humans is due to a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1. It passes with ease from human to human, an ability attributed to an unidentified mutation. The strain in most cases causes only mild symptoms and the infected person makes a full recovery without requiring medical attention and without the use of antiviral medicines.
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| Pandemic |
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The virus N1H1 was first identified in Mexico in April 2009. It has since become a pandemic, which means it has spread around the globe. Flu pandemics are a natural event that occur from time to time. Last century there were flu pandemics in 1918, 1957 and 1968 when millions of people died across the world.
Swine Flu has caused severe illness for a minority of people. In many of these cases, other factors have been identified that are likely to have contributed to the severity of the illness. Worldwide just over 0.4% of the laboratory-confirmed cases reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) have died. This is a similar rate to ordinary flu. The true number of swine flu cases is likely to be significantly higher than that reported to WHO and therefore the figure of 0.4% is likely to be an overestimate of the death rate.
Its time we realized that panicking is no solution, we got to be calm and give positive contribution to society by spreading awareness about Swine Flu. Two things we can do are-
Controlling the spread – by isolating the patient and following the guidelines described in
‘What can I do to stay healthy?’
Timely treatment – Taking treatment at the onset/initial stage of any disease limits the advancement of the disease and makes way for speedy recovery.
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| Who is at risk? |
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Some groups of people are more at risk of serious illness if they catch swine flu. Health authorities are still learning about the swine flu virus, but the following people are known to be at higher risk:
People suffering from the following illnesses are also at increased risk:
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Chronic lung disease
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Chronic heart disease
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Chronic kidney disease
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Chronic liver disease
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Chronic neurological disease (like motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease)
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Immuno-suppression (whether caused by disease or treatment)
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Diabetes mellitus
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Patients who have had drug treatment for asthma within the past three years
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| What is the incubation period for Swine Flu? |
| The incubation period for swine flu (the time between infection and appearance of symptoms) can be up to seven days, but it is most likely to be between two and five days. But it is currently too early to be able to provide details on virus characteristics, including incubation period, with total certainty. |
| When are people most infectious? |
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People are most infectious soon after they develop symptoms. They can continue to shed (spread) the virus (for example, in coughs and sneezes) for up to five days (seven days in children). People become less infectious as their symptoms subside, and once their symptoms are gone they are no longer considered infectious to others.
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| The Symptoms of Swine Flu? |
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The typical symptoms are:
- Fever - High temp of 38°C/100.4°F or above
- Cough
Other symptoms may include:
- Headache
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea or stomach upset
- Chills
- Tiredness
- Aching muscles
- Limb or joint pain
- Loss of appetite
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| What are the Complications of Swine Flu? |
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Most common complications of any type of flu is a secondary bacterial chest infection, such as -
> Bronchitis
> Pneumonia
Other rare complications include:
> Tonsillitis
> Otitis media (infection of middle ear)
> Septic shock (infection of the blood that causes a severe drop in blood pressure)
> Meningitis (infection in the brain and spinal cord)
> Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
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| How do we know is it Swine Flu or Common Flu/Cold? |
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| Is there any Vaccine for Swine Flu? |
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A vaccine to protect against swine flu is being developed but it isn't available yet. It is in trial stage and it could take 4-6 months before it becomes available for general public. |
| How is Swine Flu spread? |
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Swine flu spreads like other flu like illnesses-
Coughing
Sneezing
Kissing
Touching infected objects
Touching nose, mouth and/or eyes with infected hands
Note: Swine flu does not spread by eating pork.
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| What can we do to stay healthy? |
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Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people (droplet infection).
Take everyday actions to stay healthy:
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Stay calm - Anxiety has been found to increase chances of catching diseases.
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Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
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Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
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Stay home if you get sick and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
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Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
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| Can people catch swine flu by eating pork? |
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No.
You cannot get Swine Flu from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F/70°C kills the H1N1 virus as it does with other bacteria and viruses.
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| FAQ on Masks: |
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Is face mask a good idea?
Only if you or someone you are caring for is suspected of having Swine Flu. There is no evidence to suggest it is worth wearing a face mask if you are healthy and are not looking after an infectious patient.
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Does mask give effective protection from Swine Flu?
Information on the effectiveness of facemasks and respirators for decreasing the risk of influenza infection in community settings is extremely limited. So, it is difficult to assess their potential effectiveness in decreasing the risk of Swine Flu virus transmission in these settings.
However, a well-fitted, FDA-approved mask together with other preventive measures may reduce the risk of contracting the flu. Those who are sick or caring for someone who is ill should consider using a mask or respirator if leaving the house becomes necessary.
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Which masks work best?
Surgical masks are not designed to prevent virus particles being inhaled: they are used to stop germs being spread from doctors to patients. The two types of mask that can protect against viruses conform to a European standard called FFP3 and the US equivalent, N95. People often need to be trained to put these on properly.
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Conclusion:
Health officials say wearing a mask can give people a false sense of security. Only certain types are effective, and only when they are worn properly. Masks only work if changed regularly, but they can get damp from breathing, making them more likely to harbour viruses. There is some concern that people using a mask might neglect to wash their hands as regularly.
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Those who have travelled from the affected countries in the past ten days or have been to a Swine Flu affected area and show Swine Flu like symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat and difficulty in breathing should immediately contact on the telephone numbers given below or visit the nearby Government Hospital.
Important contact numbers:
Outbreak Monitoring Cell (Control Room, NICD): 011-23921401
Toll free number 2392 1401 at the National Institute of Communicable Disease
Websites:
www.mohfw.nic.in
www.nicd.nic.in
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| Is it safe to travel? |
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Yes.
WHO is not recommending travel restrictions related to the outbreak of the influenza A(H1N1) virus. Today, global travel is commonplace and large numbers of people move around the world for business and leisure. Limiting travel and imposing travel restrictions would have very little effect on stopping the virus from spreading, but would be highly disruptive to the global community.
Influenza A(H1N1) has already been confirmed in many parts of the world. The global response now focuses on minimizing the impact of the virus through the rapid identification of cases, and providing patients with appropriate medical care, rather than on stopping its spread internationally. Scientific research based on mathematical modeling shows that restricting travel would be of limited or no benefit in stopping the spread of disease. Historical records of previous influenza pandemics, as well as experience with SARS, validate this.
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PITY THE POOR PIG !!!
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Pig never had a very good reputation.
Reason being the mud, garbage, the snout, the oink. And now the Flu!
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Amazing Facts:
The Influenza A (N1H1) pandemic is a result of an accident of evolution wherein the Influenza virus of Pig became capable of transferring and affecting Humans.
Swine Flu is communicable disease which transmits between Pigs to People and People to People.
Swine Flu does not spread by eating Pork.
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Get latest updates of Swine Flu and view the affected places on Map:
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To get latest updates of Influenza A (N1H1) on the world map click on link below-
Flu Tracker Map
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| Treatment for Swine Flu: |
| Conventional treatment comprises of Antiviral drugs, for details please consult your GP. |
| Homeopathic Treatment: |
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Doctors have limited experience about the treatment of Swine flu, as the infection is new to the humans.
However, on the basis of the nature of the disease and its patho-physiology, homeopathy is likely to work well in the cases of Swine flu, since homeopathy has well established its role in the treatment of many viral diseases and pandemics in the past.
Homeopathic medicines are likely to be helpful in cases of Swine flu, which work by enhancing the immune system. They may be taken along with conventional medicine. Homeopathic medicine is selected on the basis of characteristic symptoms of the patients suffering from the disease.
Homeopathic Medicines capable of combating Swine Flu:
Depending on the individual symptoms of the patients, one or more of the medicines could be prescribed: Influenzinum, Gelsemium, Arsenic alb, Rhus tox, Eupatorium perf, Occilococcinum, etc are some of the commonly indicated medicines.
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| Homeopathic Preventive Medicine: |
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Homeopathy has preventive medicine for Swine Flu.
Preventive Medicine is decided by taking the aggregate of symptoms of patients of a place or area. The medicine which covers symptoms of majority of cases is called the Genus Epidemicus. It will provide immunity against the Epidemic and person would not catch the infection.
However effectiveness of Preventive medicine is affected by following factors:
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Person has already got the infection but does not have symptoms (i.e. during incubation period)
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Repeated exposure to virus N1H1
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Heavy exposure to Swine Flu virus, if person is a caretaker of infected person etc.
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Patients on immuno-suppressive drugs have lowered immunity and Homeopathic medicines do not work with such drugs.
In above cases if infection occurs, it would be mild because person has taken Homeopathic Preventive (except in immuno compromised cases).
Homeopathic Preventive Medicine for Swine Flu (Influenza A N1H1):
Occilococcinum
Influenzinum
Gelsemium
Arsenic alb
Rhus tox
Eupatorium perf
Please Note:
We do not guarantee to cure Swine Flu cases with Homeopathy nor can we be 100% sure of the effect of preventive for Swine Flu as the Genus Epidemicus is deduced on basis of symptom provided and these symptoms vary with region so in different places Genus Epidemicus for N1H1 Influenza may be different.
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| As a social initiative we are giving Free advice for Swine Flu Prevention with Homeopathy. |
| If you wish to take Homeopathic Preventive Medicine for Swine Flu, kindly consult your local homeopath or you may submit a query here and we would gladly help you get a Preventive Medicine for yourself and your near and dear ones. |
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Article Written by: Dr. Pranav Choudhary, BHMS, DHM (U.K.)
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Please Note:
This article has been written after thorough research on the subject using most authentic information available on net. Sole purpose of this endeavour is to increase the awareness amoung the netizens about Swine Flu and scope of Homeopathy as Preventive Medicine in most simple and concise manner. |
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