Our Pharmacist's Advice: Protect yourself and your family - H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu).

Our pharmacist is committed to providing you answers and information about H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu). Below are the basic facts to help you better understand this disease. For more information, please visit the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care website. As always, your ADV-Care pharmacist is available to answer any questions you may have.

As of May 28, six Ontarians were in hospital who were confirmed to have the H1N1 virus.

What is H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)?

H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that can also infect humans. The current human H1N1 Flu outbreak continues to grow internationally.

Signs and symptoms:

The symptoms of H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) in humans are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with H1N1 Flu.

How is the virus spread?

Spread of the H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) virus is thought to occur in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. H1N1 Influenza cannot be contracted from eating pork or pork products.

People with H1N1 Influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious beginning 1 day before symptoms develop, as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

Steps for prevention:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people
• If you become ill with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them
• If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• 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 improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

Treatment:

The H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) viruses are resistant to the prescription drugs amantadine and rimantadine. We recommends the use of the prescription drugs Tamiflu® (oseltamivir) or Relenza® (zanamivir) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with H1N1 Influenza viruses. Both of these antiviral medications must be prescribed by a healthcare practitioner. If you feel you have symptoms, you should contact your healthcare practitioner. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started within 2 days of the appearance of symptoms.

Because the H1N1 Flu viruses are antigenically different from human viruses, the human seasonal influenza vaccine will not provide protection against the H1N1 Flu viruses.

If you have questions about the treatments or medications associated with H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu), please talk to our pharmacist, or click here to submit a question online.