swine flu

Swine flu: description

Swine flu was first detected in April 2009. Doctors also speak of New Influenza A / H1N1 or New Influenza. Only a few years ago, the term “swine flu” caused worried reactions in the population, while now hardly talked about it. Many people are unaware that about one third of today’s influenza viruses are swine flu viruses.

The causative agent of swine flu is a type A / H1N1 influenza virus, which was unknown until 2009. Like the causative agent of ordinary seasonal flu, the new virus can skip from person to person. The swine flu first appeared massively in Mexico. On June 11, 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the highest level of pandemic 6. On 10 August 2010, the pandemic was declared over, as it no longer represented a health emergency.

However, this does not mean that the H1N1 virus has disappeared. Even years after the pandemic, the virus can continue to circulate and cause infections. Just as no pandemics can be predicted, one can not predict how a virus behaves after a pandemic. The WHO therefore prescribes a vaccine against the swine flu virus even after the pandemic.

Swine flu: parallels to the seasonal flu

Like the seasonal flu, swine flu is transmitted by droplet infection, ie coughing or sneezing. The symptoms are similar, but moreover, swine flu patients increasingly suffer from gastrointestinal problems.

In contrast to the seasonal flu, swine flu does not occur in the winter but in the summer months. It also affects unusually common young, healthy people. In addition, severe complications can develop into severe viral pneumonia. That’s why every swine flu disease needs to be taken seriously and treated.

Swine flu: incubation period and risk of infection

From the time of infection to the outbreak of swine flu (incubation period), it usually takes one to three days, sometimes four days. Swine flu viruses can be passed on during the incubation period, even if no symptoms of disease have yet emerged. After the onset of the first symptoms, swine influenza viruses are still excreted for three to five days, possibly even for up to seven days. In small children, experts believe that they excrete more viruses than adults, and even for a longer time.

An increased risk of swine flu infection have chronically ill and people who have a lot of professional contact with other people. These include, for example, medical staff, teachers and kindergarten teachers.

Swine flu: symptoms

You can read all about the typical signs of swine flu in the article Swine flu symptoms.

Swine flu: causes and risk factors

The trigger of the swine flu is a type A / H1N1 influenza virus. In 1930, the H1N1 virus was first detected in pigs. For animals, however, this pathogen was not dangerous, and an infection was not fatal. It sometimes happened that people who had contact with affected pigs became infected with this virus. However, a human-to-human transmission was not possible.

However, the pathogen has evolved and changed (mutated) over the years. He now has genes from influenza viruses from pig, bird and human. Such mixed viruses can arise when a host is infected with multiple influenza viruses simultaneously. Above all, pigs are considered classic “mixing vessels”, because they can be infected with both swine influenza viruses, as well as those of birds and humans. Therefore, the virus can now be transmitted from person to person.

The majority of swine flu and flu deaths during the pandemic were under 60 years old. Ever since the so-called “Spanish flu” in 1918, H1N1 virus variants have circulated. Some elderly patients have already become infected with this, the swine flu-like virus, and some immune protection. This explains why, in particular, many young people are suffering from swine flu – a clear difference from seasonal influenza, which affects mainly the elderly.

Swine flu: multiplication of the virus

A virus can only multiply with the aid of living cells, such as humans or animals (hosts). The swine flu virus infects the respiratory tract and settles in a cell. It forces the cell to produce countless new viruses that either seek new neighboring host cells or a new host such as human or animal. It is not the target of the virus, but a side effect of the infection that the immune system of the host is weakened by the virus.

Swine flu: risk factors

Like a common flu, A / H1N1 jumps by droplet infection, for example, by direct coughing and -siesen. But you can also be very likely to become infected with swine flu if you touch contaminated surfaces that contain virus-containing secretions (smear infection). The viruses reach the mouth, nose or eyes via the hand and from there into the body.

Swine flu: examinations and diagnosis

If you suspect swine flu, you should first call a family doctor and tell him already on the phone their suspicions. In practice, precautionary measures against the contagious swine flu virus can be taken in advance of your visit to protect other patients and staff. The swine flu is not an emergency situation, so a trip to the emergency room of the nearest hospital is not necessary.

Whether a swine flu is present, can be difficult to detect on the basis of clinical symptoms alone. Certainty provides the direct evidence of swine flu virus (influenza A / H1N1) in sample material from the respiratory tract of the patient:

The doctor must do as soon as possible after the onset of the disease a smear from the pharynx or nasal mucosa and send the sample for detailed examination in a laboratory. The viruses are grown in laboratory vessels (culture). As a rule, this may only be done in specialized laboratories. This also applies to the further tests that are necessary to determine the subgroup (subtype) of influenza viruses.

Swine flu: treatment

The swine flu is often mild. In most cases it is sufficient to treat the symptoms. The doctor will usually discharge you home unless there is a chronic illness or pregnancy. With confirmed swine flu, you must remain in quarantine, whether you are in the hospital or at home, because the disease is extremely contagious. It is important to avoid any contact with your partner, family and fellow human beings. Only after seven days, when the swine flu is treated, it is no longer contagious. To be on the safe side, protective measures should be taken even after the swine flu has survived.

Swine flu: rest, sleep and fluid

It is particularly important in swine flu to give the body a lot of rest and sleep. Any additional activity or exercise weakens the body unnecessarily. In addition, you should drink as much liquid as possible in the form of water or tea – by the swine flu symptoms sweating, diarrhea and vomiting much fluid and electrolytes are lost. Home remedies like calf wrap can help lower the fever.

Swine flu: medicines

A therapy with special flu remedies recommends the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) especially when patients are chronically ill, for example. For this case, two drugs are available, one with the active ingredient oseltamivir and one with the active ingredient zanamivir.

Both drugs belong to the group of so-called neuraminidase inhibitors. They block a specific enzyme on the surface of the virus, which, among other things, allows them to invade human mucosal cells. The multiplication is thus stopped. However, antiviral agents must be taken within 48 hours (maximum of 72 hours) after the first symptoms appear. Otherwise, the viruses have already proliferated too much in the body.

Because swine flu is a viral and non-bacterial infection, antibiotics do not help. However, if there is a bacterial infection, such as bacterial bronchitis, due to the viral disease, it makes sense to take antibiotics.

Swine flu: influenza drugs ineffective?

The two drugs that are used in the swine flu are controversial. Researchers from the Cochrane Collaboration and the British Medical Journal have shown that these medicines are actually unsuitable for controlling swine flu. Although the duration of the symptoms of flu can be reduced by about half a day, but the severe complications of influenza disease could not be prevented. Instead, the medication would trigger vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain. Other side effects can be psychiatric disorders. According to the leaflet, these can range from hallucinations, confusion and abnormal behavior to mysterious suicides.

Swine flu: disease course and prognosis

The pandemic in 2009 was less serious than initially feared. In some cases, however, the swine flu course was also very serious or even fatal. Approximately 203,000 people died worldwide from the swine flu pandemic 2009/2010. Up to 85 percent of those affected were younger than 65 years. Children under the age of four, pregnant women and people with chronic pre-existing conditions such as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, immunodeficiency and kidney and liver diseases are especially susceptible to severe or even fatal swine flu.

Recent studies have shown that 20 to 40 percent of the population have been infected with the H1N1 virus in the past and therefore now have some degree of immunity.

So far, the virus has not mutated into a more deadly form and has so far developed no drug resistance. The swine flu vaccine has been proven to be effective against viruses in circulation.

Swine flu: General protective measures

There are a few simple measures to protect against the swine flu or the seasonal flu. It’s all about preventing virus-laden secretions from entering your own respiratory tract and eyes:

• Wash hands frequently, especially after personal contact, before eating, or when in contact with items that may have been used by infected persons. This includes door handles in public spaces.
• Avoid direct contact with potentially ill persons.
• As rarely as possible, touch your eyes, nose, or mouth as they are the entry points for the pathogens.
• Avoid being coughed or sneezed.
• Avoid shaking hands.

In addition, there are some tips for patients:

• Ordinary paper masks provide little protection for healthy people. It is better for patients to wear them to prevent them from spreading large amounts of secretions and infecting others.
• Patients should use disposable handkerchiefs and dispose of them safely.
• Anyone who is already ill should stay at home for at least a week. This will prevent you from infecting others, but also to catch yourself from secondary infections as a result of the weakened immune system.

Swine flu: vaccination

The greatest protection against influenza of any type is offered by a flu shot. A swine flu vaccine has been available since October 2009 – primarily for vulnerable groups. These include, for example, people with pre-existing conditions, medical personnel, fire brigades, police, prison officers, pregnant women, people with a high risk of infection such as pupils, kindergarten children and their family members as well as teachers and kindergarten staff.

Since the first cases of swine flu occurred only in the spring of 2009, recommended the Robert Koch Institute in addition to the normal flu vaccine the season 2009/2010 also own swine flu vaccine. In August 2010, the Standing Vaccination Committee (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute withdrew the vaccination recommendation for a separate swine flu vaccine. Meanwhile, the annual “normal” flu vaccine offers protection against swine flu.

Swine flu vaccine: cause of sleeping sickness?

Some European studies suggest that the swine flu vaccine could in some cases have triggered sleeping sickness (narcolepsy). In Finland, 60 children between the ages of 4 and 19 were diagnosed with sleeping sickness during the swine flu pandemic. 52 of them had received the special swine flu vaccine used at that time. In the same year (2010), 29 cases with narcolepsy were diagnosed in Germany. The causal relationship is not yet clear. However, research has shown that a small portion of the vaccine resembles part of the neurotransmitter Hypocretin, which regulates sleep patterns in the brain. According to researchers, a lack of hypocretin can trigger narcolepsy. In humans with a corresponding genetic predisposition, the immune system hypocretin now seems to be in swine fluViruses in the vaccine to confuse and to attack the messenger also.