Swine Flu H1N1 Pig Influenza- Do I Have It?

Over the past 4 days or so I have been feeling rather ill. Those that follow me on my facebook and twitter know that I haven’t been feeling the best; my nose has been running, my throat uncomfortable and my head spinning with pains. My ear was hurting and my leg muscles have been sore for days. Is this just a normal season cold, or do I potentially have the media-spread pig flu?

To be honest, I’m not worried in the slightest about contracting the flu or having the flu. The chances are extremely minimal, and even though those in my own city of Adelaide, South Australia have contracted it; it is unlikely that I too have now come down with it.

I fall ill to a small extent (like now) often enough for it not to worry me. It has been cold and raining lately, and if the media hadn’t jumped on the hype of a new flu, I wouldn’t even think twice about being sick at the moment. With this in mind, I wouldn’t care even if I did have the swine flu as those living in respectable (or affordable) communities such as Adelaide, health care is readily accessable and the survival rate is over 99%.

BUT! What should you do if you think you have the swine flu? Well, first establish if you think you have the Swine Flu H1N1- Swine Flu Influenza! The following is a list of symptoms:

• Fever
• Lethargy,
• Lack of appetite
• Coughing
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Basically, the same as the season flu strains we find. I suppose you then need to identify if you are at risk. If you have been overseas, surrounded yourself with those that have then you are at a higher risk. You cannot catch swine flu from eating pork. Swine flu can spread from pig to person and person to pig (as they are so closely related ) and person to person. The ‘pandemic’ alert has gone up since the first person to person transmissions have been identified.

An incubation period of 24-48 hours occurs and then the person starts getting sick. Then, unless they aren’t healthy to begin with, they start getting better. Just like a normal flu.

Should you go see a doctor? Basically, if you are worried then yes, you should. If you feel ok and that it is just a normal amount of sickness, then don’t stress! You’ll get over it soon enough. We’re lucky in Australia where health care is readily there if we need it, but our living conditions support us to good enough health to defeat the virus by ourselves.

If you want to read up on the virus I suggest looking here:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/key_facts.htm

If you want to read up on a person who is recovering from the flu read here:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/26/2580849.htm

As for myself, I don’t think I will go to the doctor. I generally get over my colds easy enough. If I end up developing a hacking cough I might re think that, but for now I’ll keep warm, eat well and endure the ’swine flu’ remarks I get from my friends each time I mention I can’t come out as I’m sick.