How do I know if it’s swine flu? That’s the obvious question people around the country are asking themselves the moment they experience a cough, sniffle or body ache.
Even under the best of circumstances, it can be tough to know if you really have the flu. I’d always thought I knew what flu felt like until the day a few years ago that I really caught it. I was so sick, achy and bedridden that I realized all my other bouts with “flu” were really just bad colds or upper respiratory infections. The real flu knocks you for a loop.
Swine flu can only be confirmed by a lab test. But I spoke with infectious disease expert Dr. Dan Hinthorn, director of the division of infectious disease at the University of Kansas about what distinguishes the symptoms of swine flu from regular flu.
“We’d all like to know the exact answer,’’ he explained. “The symptoms are quite similar between regular flu and swine flu. Influenza ordinarily is a respiratory illness with fever, headache, sore throat, nasal stuffiness and cough. And body aches are real common. You go to bed and feel terrible. The difference may be that some of the people who have had swine flu have diarrhea or vomiting. That’s unusual except in children. Adults usually don’t have diarrhea with flu. It may well be that that could be a marker, but it’s not clear yet.’’
The good news for people in the United States is that every case so far has been mild. But at what point do you call your doctor? The very old and the very young should always see a doctor about flu. People with underlying medical conditions like cancer, diabetes or heart disease should also check with their doctor when they develop flu symptoms. But given the widespread fears about swine flu, even otherwise healthy people who develop symptoms should at least place a call to their doctor.
“Making the phone call to the doctor’s office is always in order,’’ Dr. Hinthorn said. “There may be something else going around in your community. They may say don’t come in, but it’s a good thing to touch base with your provider’s office.”
Remember, whether it’s swine flu or another type of flu doesn’t really matter. If you are getting worse instead of getting better, you need to go to the doctor.
“If you get a real high fever, if you just feel worse than you should, yes, go to the doctor,” Dr. Hinthorn said. “If you have an underlying disorder, go to the doctor. If the headache doesn’t seem to go away, if your neck is stiff, any rash, joints get swollen, that sort of thing. If the nightsweats seem like too much, call somebody.’’
Another good reason to check with a doctor is that he or she may prescribe drugs that shorten the severity and duration of your symptoms. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides regular updates on swine flu cases and other information on its Web site.The New York Department of Health Web site is also useful. And over at the Consults blog, reporter Pam Belluck has provided answers from experts to several reader questions.
And if you’re tired of fretting about swine flu, you can join the folks at Gawker who are complaining about the alarmist nature of the swine flu reporting. Check out their “Aporkalypse Now” video montage of swine flu television coverage.
1 comment:
:) i was about to be impressed...speaking to experts, and all!! :)
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