3 min readSep 4, 2024 10:00 PM IST
First published on: Sep 4, 2024 at 01:54 PM IST
Currently, swine flu, caused by the H1N1 virus, is becoming rampant across the country with OPDs flooded and many landing in hospitals. The problem happens as this virus is able to penetrate the lungs to a deeper level and causes greater respiratory damage than other forms of flu, and could be more likely to cause pneumonia.
“This virus has been around since 2009 and every two to three years, depending on mutations in its strain, pushes up the numbers. Over the last couple of years, manifestation has been mild with very few patients in our ICU. But over the last two months, particularly in August, hospital admission has increased. Some patients are requiring ventilation,” says Dr Rajesh Chawla, senior consultant, pulmonology and critical care, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi.
What are the chances of a patient developing pneumonia?
In most cases, symptoms — which are no different from other flu symptoms of fever, chills, aches, nausea, cough and headache — may last for three to five days, with cough lasting for a slightly longer time. Only five per cent of patients can become serious, especially if they have comorbidities that compromise their condition.
The virus usually sticks to the upper part of your respiratory system. But trouble starts when they get down into your lungs. Then the air sacs in your lungs get infected and inflamed, and they fill up with fluid. There is a sudden fall in oxygen saturation and the patient has to be admitted to hospital for stabilisation.
Second, the virus lowers your immunity guard down to such an extent that a secondary bacterial infection can easily superimpose itself on a weakened lung, triggering pneumonia.
Who is at risk?
The elderly, those who have a chronic disease like asthma, diabetes or a heart condition, pregnant women and children. Rush the patient to hospital if they have trouble breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain, are not urinating and have worsening medical conditions.
What is the treatment protocol for H1N1?
Oseltamivir is an antiviral which has been there for quite a long time and taken in early phases, has halted the severity of infection. Control your fever with paracetamol.
Take adequate rest, diet and sleep well. Hydrate yourself. Drink plenty of fluids to help loosen secretions and bring up phlegm.
Quarantine yourself as you could infect other members in the family. Stay in for five days (so that the virus becomes non-contagious). Before resuming your regular hours at the office, make sure that you are up and about in your home environment. If moving around and doing light activities don’t stress you out, you can venture out.
What are preventive measures?
It’s the same as the Covid protocol. Practise social distancing and wear a mask so that you do not pick up other viruses as a concoction of them is floating around in the air.
Which vaccine do I take?
There is a quadrivalent vaccine available (in India it is sold as Influvac Tetra 2024/2025). Everybody above 60 and the immune-compromised should take this injection every September so that it can work well during the flu season. An annual vaccination is required because different strains of the flu virus emerge frequently and the vaccine is updated accordingly.
When people who have the flu, cough or sneeze, drops of virus are sprayed in the air, and that’s how the flu spreads. (Representational image/File) 
Share
