Swine Flu
Swine flu has arrived in West Sussex.
It is a new virus and as such we don’t have any immunity to it. Most of us will at some stage be exposed to the virus and many will have a clinical illness. This is unlikely to be a disaster. Thankfully so far most infected people have had a mild flu like illness, with a sore throat, headache, fever and loose bowels. This has lasted for a few days to a week then resolved. The presentation is much the same as seasonal flu, the type we have all lived with for years and not thought of as much more than a transient inconvenience. As with seasonal flu it is best not to spread the illness about. People who are elderly or have severe pre-existing illnesses are more likely to have complications of swine flu in the same way that they are more likely to have complications with any infection.
We know that every 20 years or so the influenza virus mutates so that it is invisible to our immune systems and a pandemic results. Britain has had time to prepare itself well, in advance of the present epidemic. Models of the disease spread, including the possibility of a very severe illness, have been discussed. Thankfully the worst case scenarios appear to be very far from the current situation and it is not helpful to have them widely sensationalized in the press. It does not help individuals to prepare themselves. It just raises the level of anxiety unnecessarily and makes fear and not flu the main problem.
Most people with Swine Flu will have a self-limiting, transient illness that can be treated at home without recourse to medical help. So if you have, or think you have flu:
- Take your self out of circulation to reduce the spread of the disease.
- Stay at home and rest in bed.
- Take plenty of fluids
- Control your fever/headache/malaise with paracetamol.
- Check your symptoms on the NHS direct website http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pandemic-flu/Pages/QA.aspx
- Wait and it will resolve.
If you have pre-existing severe medical conditions, are pregnant, have a deficient immune system, are under 5 years of age or over 65, you may experience a more severe illness. If anyone feels that that they are getting worse they should discuss their symptoms with NHS Direct, the National Flu Help-Line or GP.
Influenza
Influenza is a viral disease that usually strikes between October and May. It lasts from three to five days and can be followed by fatigue for two or three weeks. It usually causes aching muscles and joints, headaches, cough and fever with a temperature of between 38o and 40oC. Although it can become a much more severe illness, leading to pneumonia, nerve and brain damage and even death, such complications are rare. Because it is a viral infection it cannot be treated with antibiotics. The best remedy is rest while drinking plenty of fluids.
Every winter we offer flu vaccination to all our patients who meet the at risk criteria defined by the Department of Health. These are people who:
- Are aged over 65 years old
- Suffer from diabetes (both types 1 and 2)
- Suffer from a chronic respiratory disease including: some forms of asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, cystic fibrosis, interstital lung fibrosis, pneumonicosis and BPD
- Suffer from a chronic heart disease including: congenital heart disease, hypertension with cardiac complications, chronic heart failure, angina, previous heart attack or other forms of IHD
- Suffer from a chronic renal disease including: nephrotic syndrome, chronic renal failure and renal transplantation
- Suffer from chronic liver disease including: cirrhosis of the liver
- Suffer from immunosupression including: those undergoing long term immunosupressant therapy, asplenia, splenic dysfunction, HIV and ongoing chemotherapy
The rules laid down by the Department of Health state that if you do not fall in to an at risk group, we are not permitted to provide vaccination under the NHS. However, you can obtain a private vaccination and many businesses now provide this facility for their staff.
If you fall within an at risk group, we will write to you to invite you to come in for a flu vaccination. If invited, we strongly recommend that you attend.
