H1N1 (Swine Flu) By SierraLynn Johnson

Description of H1N1  H1N1 (Swine Flu) is a respiratory illness found in pigs or an infection cause by a virus that pigs get.  People don’t normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. The virus is contagious and can spread from human to human.

Affected Parts of Respiratory System  The virus mainly affects the respiratory system. Affected people may suffer from fever, cold, cough, body ache, sore throat and fatigue.  Severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with H1N1 flu in people.

Causes of H1N1  Human-to-human transmission can occur through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus as well as talking to people with the virus.  People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

Treatments for H1N1  There are some drugs around that can effectively treat swine flu infection in humans - and many types of flu infections in humans.  There are two main types: adamantanes (amantadine and remantadine)  inhibitors of influenza neuraminidase (oseltamivir and zanamivir)  Most previous swine influenza human cases recovered completely without the need for medical attention.

Pharmacology  Vaccines  Pandemrix  ACAM-FLU-A  Fluzone  Influvac  FluMist  Optaflu  Treatment  Amantadine  Arbidol  Laninamivir  Oseltamivir  Peramivir  Rimantadine  Vitamin D  Zanamivir

Progression and Recovery of H1N1  Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.  People with H1N1 influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possibly for up to 7 days following illness onset.