Swine Flu

Swine flu is a type of flu that is thought to originate in pigs, although this is not 100 per cent certain.

In this article:

What is swine flu?

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Effect on your life

Treatment

How Chemist Online can help

Advice & Support

What is swine flu?
The swine flu virus is passed from human-to-human and can feel like a ‘normal’ flu with symptoms such as headache, fever and shivers.

In 2009, a new strain of the swine flu virus (N1H1) created a pandemic worldwide. The origins of this have been traced to South America. Prior to this, swine flu was not a virus which was easily spread from pigs to humans, and then from human-to-human thereafter.

Symptoms
Symptoms of swine flu include:

High temperature

Headache

Cough

Sore throat

Runny nose

Sneezing

Fever

Upset stomach

Loss of appetite

Fatigue

Muscle aches and pains

Joint pain

Vomiting

Diarrhoea

It can take up to 7 days for your swine flu symptoms to become apparent.

Causes
Swine flu is contagious. It is thought to originate in pigs, but this has never been unequivocally proved. When a pandemic occurs, this means that there is global outbreak of the spreading of the virus.

Diagnosis
If you are suffering from the aforementioned symptoms and think that you may have the swine flu virus do not go to your doctor or local (nearest) hospital. Instead, stay at home and call your GP. You can also the National Flu Service on 0800 1 513 3100 or online at: www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu.

A diagnosis will be made based on your description of your symptoms.

Note: Do contact your GP directly (rather than the National Flu Service) if you are pregnant, think that your child may have the virus (and is under one year old), or have a serious underlying illness.

Effect on your life
The effect of swine flu will basically be the same as ‘normal’ flu. You are best to go to bed until your symptoms clear up. As swine flu is a contagious condition, avoid contact with others until you have fully recovered.

Treatment
As swine flu is a virus it is usually treated with a vaccine. A 5-day course of the antiviral medication Tamiflu® will generally be prescribed. Although this will not cure swine flu, it can be effective in controlling and reducing symptoms until your body recovers.

How Chemist Online can help
Through this website we have a range of treatments available to buy that can help relieve the symptoms and associated symptoms of swine flu, such as headache, fever and cough.



www.chemistonline.co.uk


Advice & Support
National Pandemic Flu Service
Tel. 0800 1 513 3100 or Text phone 0800 151 3200
Website: www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu


This information and advice is not intended to replace the advice of your GP or chemist. Chemist Online is also not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based upon the content of the Chemist Online website. Chemist Online is also not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites.





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