Swine Flu.
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Symptoms
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal flu infection and include fever, fatigue, lack of appetite, coughing and sore throat. Some people with swine flu have also reported vomiting and diarrhoea.
Individuals returning from affected areas who become unwell within seven days of their return should be advised to stay at home and contact their GP or NHS Direct/NHS24 for further advice.
Treatment
In most of the previously reported swine flu cases, patients recovered fully from the disease without requiring medical attention and without antiviral medicines such as Tamiflu and Relenza
If patients have flu-like symptoms they should do the following:
Stay at home and rest
Take medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol to relieve the symptoms (following the instructions with the medicines). Children under 16 must not be given aspirin or ready-made flu remedies containing aspirin
Drink plenty of fluids
Telephone their GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647 (England and Wales) or NHS24 on 08454 242424 (Scotland) if they have recently travelled to Mexico or another affected area or if they develop complications such as shortness of breath
Before they call they can check their symptoms with this symptom checker at NHS direct or NHS24
Most of the patients previously reported to have swine flu recovered fully from the disease without requiring medical attention and without antiviral medicines.
Swine flu viruses are not transmitted by food. There is no risk of catching the illness from eating properly handled and cooked pork or pork products.
To reduce the risk of catching or spreading swine flu it is good practice to follow respiratory and hand hygiene advice, such as:
Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible
Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully
Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people
Cleaning hard surfaces (eg, door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product
Making sure children follow this advice
If you are issued with a prescription or a voucher you can collect your Tamiflu from your local chemist or Gohil chemist online
