Swine flu questions answered

swine_flu_320x240Q: What is the incubation time for swine flu?

A: The incubation period appears to be seven days – it takes a week to develop the illness after first coming into contact with it. The virus is spread directly from person to person through infected air droplets and also indirectly, from touching contaminated objects.

Q: Are there other conditions that swine flu could be mistaken for?

A: Absolutely. This is a problem we are facing by diagnosing patients without examining them. Obviously lots of conditions include a temperature and one or more of the other symptoms, so it would be easy to miss a bacterial tonsillitis, a chest infection in children or even a urine infection.

There are also normal respiratory viruses circulating at the moment, including flu, but not necessarily swine flu, that would have the same symptoms. From my own experience, what seems to be consistent among those who have tested positive, is the rapidly rising fever. Over a few hours patients go from a normal temperature to a fever well over 38C.

Q: Should women really put off conception?

A: There is no evidence to suggest you should put off conception. Some pregnant women who catch H1N1 may develop complications, for example pneumonia, that could put their own or the baby’s life at risk.

The risks appear to be greatest after the first three months of pregnancy. However, the majority of pregnant women who catch the virus will make an uncomplicated recovery.

Q: Should I take Tamiflu on holiday with me?

A: This would not be advised. The stocks are limited to provide enough for those who have symptoms and in a large number of cases the disease is mild enough not to need Tamiflu in an otherwise healthy patient.

Q: Does Tamiflu clash with any other medication?

A: It is not known to clash with any other specific medicines. It should be used cautiously in breastfeeding mothers and those with poor kidney function.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1202111/Your-latest-swine-flu-questions-answered-expert-GP.html#ixzz0MV5OxpJI