Swine flu advice for people with asthma

25% of people hospitalised with swine flu in the UK have asthma.  The Asthma Society of Ireland urges people with asthma to act now to protect themselves.

 

The Asthma Society offers the following advice to people with asthma.

People with asthma should be extra careful as colds and viral infections are very common asthma triggers. People with asthma are no more likely to catch swine flu than anyone else but if they do catch swine flu, it could add to breathing difficulties they may already have.

  • Make sure your asthma symptoms are under good control so that if you do contract swine flu your asthma does not get worse as a result.
  • We advise everyone with asthma to have an up to date Personal Asthma Action Plan. If you don't have one, asks your GP or asthma nurse to devise a Personal Asthma Action Plan with you. This will help control your asthma and include details of your medicine, how to tell your symptoms are getting worse and what to do in an asthma attack.
  • Symptoms of swine flu appear to be similar to those produced by standard seasonal flu. These include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue.
  • To help prevent the spread of swine flu you should remember to cover your nose and mouth with tissues when you cough and sneeze, throw the tissue away and wash your hands thoroughly.

Influenza AHIN I has many names. It's also called

  • Swine Flu
  • Human Flu
  • Swine Influenza HINI
  • Flu Virus HINI

Influenza AHINI (human swine flu) is a new kind of flu. It is caused by a contagious virus.

 This new kind of flu is worrying doctors and health professionals for several reasons;
  • It spreads easily and from person to person, across the world.
  • People's immune systems (natural defenses) are not good at fighting influenza  AHINI, because it's a new kind of flu.
  • The regular seasonal flu vaccine (flu shot) DOES NOT PROTECT AGAINST THIS NEW KIND OF FLU.
  • This flu has killed young healthy people, which is unusual normal seasonal flu kills thousands of people every year worldwide but it usually kills people who already have weak immune systems: older people, young children and people who are already sick with another condition.

The symptoms of influenza A HINI (swine flu) are similar to “regular” seasonal flu symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Tiredness
  • Muscle aches
  • Lack of appetite
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath

Other possible symptoms are:

  • runny nose
  • sore throat
  • headache
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea.

Swine flu symptoms usually come on rapidly.

How people are affected with influenza A HINI (swine flu) varies from having mild symptoms to severe and require hospitalisation and some people have died from it.

Influenza A HINI (swine flu) it is spread from the virus in sick person's saliva and in the mucus in their nose and throat. When a person with swine flu sneezes or coughs, they spray little droplets of saliva and mucus into the air. Other people can breathe in the droplets and get sick. Or the droplets can land on tables, keyboards, books and other things. When someone touches these things, then touches their face or eyes, they can catch the virus.

This is why it's so important to wash your hands properly, cover your coughs and sneezes, and avoid touching your face.

It's   hard to tell the difference between regular seasonal flu and swine flu just by looking at symptoms. Doctors find out what kind of flu someone has by taking a sample of their saliva and sending it to a lab to be tested. If you have flu symptoms, call your doctor. They can tell you what your symptoms mean and give you whatever advice, tests or treatment you need.

There is a greater chance that your case of flu could be influenza A HINI (swine flu) if:

  • You have recently visited an area where the flu is currently spreading
  • Or if you have been in very close contact with another person with a confirmed case of swine flu.

If you have common cold symptoms that come on slowly (a runny or stuffed-up nose, a sore throat, sneezing) treat them at home as you normally do. You don't need to see a doctor if you have a simple cold.  Just stay at home and rest until you feel better.

For people with mild cases of influenza A HINI (swine flu), doctors may not give any medicine. The treatment is just to stay home, stay away from other people, and rest. Mild influenza A HINI (swine flu) may go away on its own after a week or two.

If a person gets very sick with influenza A HINI (swine flu), doctors may give antiviral medicine, also called "antivirals." Two antivirals have been proven to work against swine flu: Oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu© ) and Zanamiivir (brand name Relenza©
These are prescription medicines. If a person with influenza A HINI (swine flu) takes one of these antivirals within two days of showing symptoms of influenza A HINI (swine flu), symptoms will be less severe and the person may get better more quickly.

For further information please contact The Asthma Society of Ireland's Helpline on 1850 44 54 64

For more information on Swine Flu go to www.hse.ie

Questions and Answers on the review of the recommendations on the use of the pandemic H1N1 vaccines from the European Medicines Agency;

http://www.emea.europa.eu/pdfs/human/pandemicinfluenza/66680909en.pdf    

For information on the development and medicines for use in the European Union during the pandemic go to http://www.emea.europa.eu/influenza/home.htm