Seasonal Flu
Seasonal
flu is the "ordinary" flu that comes every winter.
If you
are aged over 65,
or are pregnant, or if you have a serious illness such as heart disease, stroke,
lung disease (including COPD and asthma
that
requires continuous or repeated use of inhaled or systemic
steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital
admission), kidney disease,
diabetes, liver disease, diseases of the immune system or lowered immunity due to
steroid medication or cancer treatment, or live in a long-stay
residential care home or are a carer you may benefit from flu
vaccination each autumn.
We will be running several flu
vaccination clinics in October - you will be able to make
appointments from September onwards. The
seasonal flu vaccine will now protect you against swine flu, so
you will not need a separate vaccination for that too.
Like many
other illnesses seasonal flu is caused by a virus and cannot be treated
with antibiotics. You may feel very unwell, but Paracetamol will help with the temperature and
aches and pains. You will also need to take some
rest.
Swine Flu
What is swine flu?
Swine flu is a type of
flu (influenza). It usually affects pigs but it can also affect
humans. The virus can be transmitted from human-to-human. Before
spring 2009, the virus rarely passed from human-to-human.
A new strain of the swine
influenza virus called influenza H1N1v that spreads easily from
human-to-human emerged in Mexico in spring 2009. It has now spread
to affect people in other countries, including the UK. When a
strain of influenza spreads easily between humans and causes many
cases in several countries, this is called a pandemic.
What are the symptoms of
swine flu?
The symptoms are similar
to the symptoms of 'ordinary' flu. Typically, people with swine
flu have a high temperature (38 °C or greater). They also have at
least two of the following symptoms: cough, sore throat, headache,
runny nose, general aches and pains, vomiting or diarrhoea. These
symptoms usually last for a few days and then usually completely
go away. The incubation period (that is, the time between
contracting the virus and the development of symptoms) is thought
to be between two and five days, but may be up to seven days.
How is swine flu
diagnosed?
The diagnosis is made by
the typical symptoms. Because so many people now possibly have
swine flu, a swab test to confirm the diagnosis is now
impractical. Therefore, a 'probable' diagnosis is made by the
typical symptoms.
What should I do if I
think that I may have swine flu?
If you think you may be
developing swine flu then government policy is that you should not
visit your GP or hospital in the first instance. This is to reduce
the risk of passing on the virus to others. Your first 'port of
call' should be either by telephone or by using the internet:
You should contact the
National Pandemic Flu Service either:
You will be asked to
answer a series of questions to try to clarify if you are likely
to have swine flu. If you have swine flu symptoms then treatment
with antiviral medication will be discussed (see below in the
Treatment section).
Note: you should contact
your GP surgery directly rather than using the National Pandemic
Flu Service if:
- You have a serious
underlying illness.
- You are pregnant.
- You suspect your child
under one year old has swine flu.
- Your condition
suddenly gets much worse or you suspect a complication is
developing (see below).
- Your condition is
still getting worse after seven days (five for a child).
What are the possible
complications of swine flu?
So far, experience with
this virus suggests that most people fully recover. However,
complications occur in some people and they can be serious and
life-threatening. The most serious complication is pneumonia (lung
infection) which may develop and may be fatal. Consult a doctor if
you are concerned that a complication is developing. For example,
if symptoms become severe or if other serious symptoms develop
such as:
- Fast breathing or
shortness of breath.
- Chest pains.
- Coughing up blood.
- Drowsiness or
confusion.
What is the treatment of
swine flu?
If it is suspected that
you have swine flu then treatment with antiviral medication such
as Tamiflu® will be discussed. In particular, people considered at
higher risk of developing complications are recommended to take
antiviral medication. People at higher risk include:
- Children under five
years old.
- Adults over 65 years
old.
- Pregnant women.
- People of any age
with:
- A poor immune system
(for example, if you have HIV/AIDS, if you are receiving
chemotherapy or steroid treatment).
- Chronic (ongoing)
lung disease or asthma which has been medically treated within
the last three years.
- Heart disease.
- Diabetes or another
metabolic disorder.
- Chronic (ongoing)
liver disease.
- Cystic fibrosis.
- Neurological
conditions such as cerebral palsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis
or muscular dystrophy.
- Sickle cell disease.
- Renal (kidney)
disease.
If you are not at higher
risk of developing complications (most people who are normally
well), you may still be offered antiviral medication if you wish
to take active treatment.
Antiviral medication does
not kill the virus but interferes with the way the virus
multiplies. Therefore, antiviral medication does not cure swine
flu, or offer long term protection against swine flu. But, it may
reduce the severity and duration of symptoms and may prevent
complications. Usually, treatment is taken for five days.
Antiviral medication is
generally considered safe. However, as with any drug, there is a
small risk from side-effects or reactions. For example, a small
number of people who take Tamiflu® develop nausea, vomiting,
diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and headache. These are usually
temporary and usually soon go away. Serious side-effects such as
dangerous allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) have been reported, but
are rare. If you are prescribed an antiviral drug, read the
information that comes with the drug for a full list of possible
side-effects and cautions.
Unless you become very
ill you will be treated at home. This will reduce the risk of the
virus spreading to other people.
Pregnant women with swine
flu are usually given Relenza®, which is an alternative to Tamiflu®.
As this drug is inhaled it means that less of the drug is absorbed
into the blood stream so is safer to take in pregnancy. Treatment
with antiviral medication when you are pregnant will help to
reduce symptoms such as fever and this may benefit the developing
baby. If you are breast-feeding then you can still take an
antiviral drug.
Treatment with antiviral
medication should start as soon as possible, ideally within 12-48
hours of the onset of symptoms. If you are prescribed an antiviral
drug you will be given a unique access number and told where the
nearest antiviral collection point is. You should then ask a
friend or relative who doesn't have swine flu to go and pick up
the antiviral drug. The friend or relative must show their own ID
as well as that of the patient.
As with other flu-like
illnesses, paracetamol and/or ibuprofen will lower your
temperature, and also ease aches and pains.
Should those who have
been in contact with people with swine flu be treated as a
precaution?
Giving treatment to all
contacts is not currently recommended. The current recommendation
is that if you are in a high-risk group (detailed above) and have
been in prolonged contact with a person with swine flu, then
treatment with antiviral medication may be considered.
Examples of 'prolonged
contact' include that you are living and/or sleeping in the same
household, you are a pupil in the same dormitory, or you are a
boy/girlfriend of a person with swine flu. The only exception is
children under the age of one year, as there is less evidence to
support the use of antivirals for the prevention of flu in this
age group.
How can swine flu be
prevented?
People with symptoms of
flu should stay at home until they feel better. General hygiene is
important to reduce the spread of swine flu (and other diseases).
This includes:
- Covering your nose and
mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible.
- Disposing of tissues
promptly.
- Washing your hands
frequently with soap and water.
- Cleaning hard surfaces
(such as door handles and work surfaces) frequently.
- Ensuring children also
follow this advice.
It is thought that the
flu vaccine may offer some protection against swine flu. Further
tests are being done to confirm this. Development of a vaccine for
swine flu is underway.
Is wearing masks
effective to protect from swine flu?
There is no evidence that
wearing normal face masks provides any protection from swine flu
or other types of influenza. It is not recommended that you wear
them. There are some facts about wearing face masks that need to
be considered, including:
- Wearing a mask may
actually give you false reassurance that you are protected from
the flu. This may mean that you are less likely to carry out
good hand hygiene (washing your hands with soap and water).
- If face masks are
worn, then you need to change them regularly and also dispose of
them properly. You need to wash your hands after removing a
mask.
- When masks are worn,
even for a short period of time, the masks become saturated with
your exhaled breath so they become damp and even less effective.
- It has been
recommended that face masks be used by healthcare professionals
who are treating people with either suspected or confirmed swine
flu. The face masks for healthcare professionals to wear when
treating people with swine flu need to have a special filter.
These masks need to be fitted to the face and are uncomfortable.
Should I have a supply of
Tamiflu® just in case I develop flu?
This is not necessary and
is not recommended. Antiviral medication is only given to people
who have symptoms suggestive of swine flu. Using Tamiflu® when it
is not necessary may lead to the virus becoming resistant to this
medication. This may mean that Tamiflu® may not work when it is
needed to in people with proven swine flu.
The Health Protection
Agency does not advise the use of antiviral medication as a
precautionary measure when travelling to countries affected by
swine flu.
Further help and advice
National Pandemic Flu Service and Symptom Checker Web:
www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu Information - Tel: 0800 1 513 513
Treatment - Tel: 0800 1 513 100
If you have severe
symptoms which are not like flu, contact your GP or call: NHS
Direct in England - Tel: 0845 4647 Web: www.nhs.uk NHS 24 in
Scotland - Tel: 08454 24 24 24 Web: www.nhs24.com NHS Direct Wales
- Tel: 0845 4647 Web: www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk In Northern
Ireland - Tel: 0800 0514 142 Web: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk
If you are planning to
travel abroad Check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel
advice at: Web: www.fco.gov.uk/travel or call 0845 850 2829
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