Step 1:

Call Your Doctor if You Think You Have Swine Flu

If you are experiencing flu symptoms, and believe you may have been exposed to swine flu, contact your doctor immediately. They can take a swab of mucous and send it to the appropriate state laboratory to determine if you actually have swine flu.1 While the treatment you receive will depend on the severity of your symptoms, an accurate diagnosis will help your doctor properly plan your course of treatment.

Step 2:

Caring for Swine Flu at Home

Take precautions to avoid spreading the disease to any one else.

Keep the patient isolated from the rest of the household

The patient should cover coughs and sneezes.

Everyone in the house should practice frequent hand washing

Patients should avoid contact with people outside the home for 7 days after the first symptoms appear

Make sure the sick person gets plenty of rest and clear fluids.

Although over the counter medications may be useful in alleviating flu symptoms, do not give medications containing aspirin to children or teenagers because of the danger of Reye's Syndrome.

Ask the doctor if the patient, as well as other family members, should be taking an antiviral drug.

Step 3:

When an Antiviral Drug Should be Prescribed for Swine Flu

Viruses can develop resistance to medications used to treat them. The H1N1 virus is resistant to two commonly prescribed antivirals, amantadine and rimantadine. As of April 2009, Tamiflu and Relenzawere still effective in reducing the severity and duration of swine flu symptoms.3

The CDC has issued guidelines for which patients who have confirmed, probable or suspected novel influenza should be treated with antivirals:

All hospitalized patients 4

Children under 5, and adults over 654

All nursing home residents

Patients 18 and younger taking long term aspirin therapy

Patients who have chronic illnesses, such as chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), kidney, liver, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders

Immunosuppressed patients

Pregnant women

People in the high risk groups above, and their close contacts, may be prophylactically treated with Tamiflu or Relenza to prevent swine flu. Prophylactic treatment should be continue for 10 days after the last confirmed exposure

Step 4:

Signs that Immediate Medical Care is Needed for Swine Flu

While most U.S. swine flu patients to date have been successfully cared for at home, there are symptoms that require immediate medical attention. These include:

Difficulty breathing

Chest pain

Purple or blue discoloration of the lips

Persistent vomiting

Signs of dehydration

Dizziness when standing

Reduced urine volume

In infants - lack of tears when crying, dry diapers

Seizures

Confusion or other signs of altered mental status, such as being less responsive than normal

Step 1: Call Your Doctor if You Think You Have Swine Flu

If you are experiencing flu symptoms, and believe you may have been exposed to swine flu, contact your doctor immediately. They can take a swab of mucous and send it to the appropriate state laboratory to determine if you actually have swine flu.1While the treatment you receive will depend on the severity of your symptoms, an accurate diagnosis will help your doctor properly plan your course of treatment.

Step 2: Caring for Swine Flu at Home

Take precautions to avoid spreading the disease to any one else.

Keep the patient isolated from the rest of the household

The patient should cover coughs and sneezes.

Everyone in the house should practice frequent hand washing

Patients should avoid contact with people outside the home for 7 days after the first symptoms appear

Make sure the sick person gets plenty of rest and clear fluids.

Although over the counter medications may be useful in alleviating flu symptoms, do not give medications containing aspirin to children or teenagers because of the danger of Reye's Syndrome.

Ask the doctor if the patient, as well as other family members, should be taking an antiviral drug.

Step 3: When an Antiviral Drug Should be Prescribed for Swine Flu

Viruses can develop resistance to medications used to treat them. The H1N1 virus is resistant to two commonly prescribed antivirals, amantadine and rimantadine. As of April 2009, Tamiflu and Relenzawere still effective in reducing the severity and duration of swine flu symptoms.3

The CDC has issued guidelines for which patients who have confirmed, probable or suspected novel influenza should be treated with antivirals:

All hospitalized patients 4

Children under 5, and adults over 654

All nursing home residents

Patients 18 and younger taking long term aspirin therapy

Patients who have chronic illnesses, such as chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), kidney, liver, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders

Immunosuppressed patients

Pregnant women

People in the high risk groups above, and their close contacts, may be prophylactically treated with Tamiflu or Relenza to prevent swine flu. Prophylactic treatment should be continue for 10 days after the last confirmed exposure

Step 4: Signs that Immediate Medical Care is Needed for Swine Flu

While most U.S. swine flu patients to date have been successfully cared for at home, there are symptoms that require immediate medical attention. These include:

Difficulty breathing

Chest pain

Purple or blue discoloration of the lips

Persistent vomiting

Signs of dehydration

Dizziness when standing

Reduced urine volume

In infants - lack of tears when crying, dry diapers

Seizures

Confusion or other signs of altered mental status, such as being less responsive than normal