H1N1, also known as the swine flu, first reared its ugly head in 2009. Similar to other flu strains, H1N1 is an infectious respiratory virus that can begin in your nose, throat, or lungs. It is highly contagious and can spread rapidly from person to person. When H1N1 first appeared, a global pandemic soon followed. As humans had little natural immunity to it, thousands across the globe became ill. The virus entered its post-pandemic phase in 2010, and is now one of several seasonal flu strains seen in Canada. Why is H1N1 so serious?
Unlike other flu strains that mostly cause illness among the elderly, H1N1 doesn’t discriminate based on age, and many people in younger demographics are susceptible to the virus.
Some people, however, are more likely to develop complications from H1N1, as is the case with other flu strains. This includes people with chronic health conditions, those who live in a nursing home or other chronic care facility, and people who are older than 65. Children younger than five are also more likely to develop complications. Complications from the H1N1 virus include pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections and ear infections. If people have long-term chronic diseases, the flu can make their disease symptoms worse.
What are the symptoms of H1N1?
The symptoms of H1N1 are similar to other strains of the flu. The most common symptoms are:
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Head aches
- Chills
- No appetite
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Runny nose
Gerald Predy, senior medical officer with Albert Health Services, says the hallmark of the virus, however, is just how quickly it strikes. “It comes on very suddenly,” he told CTV News Channel. “You feel fine in the morning then by noon you can’t move.”
What’s the best way to prevent H1N1?
The best way to protect you and your family from any flu strain is to get a flu shot. You can find a flu clinic near you by clicking this link, provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Beyond that, there are also other things you can do to limit your chances of getting the flu:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Wash them before and after eating, and after you have been in a public place, used a washroom, coughed or sneezed, and touched a common surface.
- Cough and sneeze into your arm, not your hand.
- Keep your hands away from your face, as in most cases the flu enters your body through the eyes, nose or mouth.
- Keep common surface such as door knobs, keyboards, light switches and phones clean and disinfected.
- If you think you have the flu, stay at home, as this will limit the chances of you passing the virus on to someone else.
- Eat healthy food and engage in physical activity in order keep your immune system strong.
H1N1 flu (swine flu)
This page talks about H1N1 flu (swine flu), symptoms, warning signs, and treatment. It tells what to do if you think you have H1N1 flu.
2010 Update: On August 10th, 2010 the World Health Organization declared the H1N1 pandemic over and we are moving into a post-pandemic period. The seasonal flu will always be with us and it is important to get your annual flu shoti.
What is H1N1 flu (swine flu)?
H1N1 flu is a new kind of flu in humans. It's caused by a contagious virus. H1N1 flu infects the breathing tubes in your nose, throat, and lungs.
H1N1 flu has many names: it's also called swine flu, human swine flu, and influenza A H1N1.
What are the symptoms of H1N1 flu (swine flu)?
H1N1 flu symptoms are similar to regular seasonal flu symptoms:
- fever
- cough
- sore throat
- body aches
- headache
- chills
- no appetite (don’t feel hungry)
- nausea, vomiting (throwing up) or diarrhea
- runny nose
These symptoms usually come on quickly.
Warning signs of severe flu in children – get emergency help if kids show one or more of these signs
- fast breathing or trouble breathing
- skin is bluish or gray
- blue or grey lips
- not drinking enough fluids, hasn't peed (passed urine) in many hours, or no tears when she cries
- lots of vomiting (throwing up)
- not waking up, not paying attention to anything
- cranky, doesn't want to be held
- seizures
- child’s flu symptoms improve but then come back; she has a fever and her cough is worse
Warning signs of severe flu in adults – get emergency help right away if you have one or more of these signs
- it's hard to breathe, you're short of breath
- blue or grey lips
- pain or pressure in your chest or stomach
- suddenly dizzy
- confused
- dehydrated, not peeing (no urine)
- lots of vomiting (throwing up)
- seizures
- your flu symptoms improve but then come back; your cough is worse and you have a fever.
What should I do if I think I have H1N1 flu (swine flu)?
If you have mild flu symptoms, take care of yourself at home as you normally would.Follow these steps to take care of yourself at home. Call your doctor or health-care provider if you're not better feeling better after 2 days. They'll decide if you can take care of yourself at home, or if you need to see a doctor or come to the hospital. If you have these severe flu symptoms go to the emergency department right away or call 911 or your local emergency number.
If you have asthma, COPD or another flu risk factor and you get flu symptoms, call your doctor right away. Don't wait. Your doctor will decide if you need to take flu medicine (an anti-viral called Tamiflu®). Read more advice on H1N1 flu for people with asthma, COPD, and other lung diseases.
What’s the treatment for mild or moderate H1N1 flu (swine flu)?
For people with mild cases of H1N1 flu, doctors probably won't give any prescription medicine. The treatment is just to stay home, stay away from other people, and take care of yourself. Mild H1N1 flu may go away on its own after a week or two.
If you have mild or moderate H1N1 flu (swine flu) symptoms, here's how to take care of yourself at home:
- Stay home. Don't leave your home unless you need emergency help. Stay home for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.
- Rest. Get lots of sleep.
- Stay away from other people in your home. If possible, stay in a seperate room by yourself, and use a seperate bathroom. Wash your hands, clean common areas, and take these other steps to avoid spreading your H1N1 flu germs.
- Drink lots of fluids:
- water
- broth
- for adults and teens: sport drinks (for example, Gatorade©)
- for kids: electrolyte drinks (for example, Pedialyte©)
- for babies: continue breastfeeding, and give electrolyte drinks (for example, Pedialyte©)
- For your headache, muscles aches, and fever, you can take over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol©) or ibuprofen (for example, Advil©). Children and teens should not take aspirin (ASA or acetylsalicylic acid). If you're not sure what to take, call a pharmacist.
- Follow your doctor's advice about antiviral medicines (antivirals). There are two prescription medicines that can treat H1N1 flu (swine flu): oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu©) and zanamivir (brand name Relenza©).(See footnote about Tamiflu©*)Doctors do not give antiviral medicine to everyone who has H1N1 flu (swine flu). Most people with flu H1N1 get better on their own, and don’t need antiviral medicine. Your doctor may give you an antiviral medicine if have severe symptoms, if you have risk factors for flu, or if you live with many other people (for example, in a nursing home). Your doctor will decide if antivirals are right for you. It's best to start antiviral medicines within the first two days of symptoms.
- Watch for warning signs of severe H1N1 flu. If you have these warning signs, get emergency help right away.
- Watch other people in your home carefully, and call the doctor or healthcare provider if they show symptoms of H1N1 flu.
- Call your doctor again if you are not improving after a few days.
Read detailed advice on how to take care of a person with flu H1N1 (swine flu) at home, from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What can I expect if I go to the hospital with H1N1 flu (swine flu) symptoms?
If you go to the emergency room with flu symptoms:
- You may be separated from other patients.
- You may be asked to wear a mask, so you don’t spread germs to others.
- The staff looking after you may wear masks.
- If you have asthma or COPD, tell the staff. This will help them choose the right treatment for you.
- Doctors may give you tests to understand what’s wrong with you (your diagnosis). They may:
- test your blood
- give you a chest x-ray
- swab your nose and throat. They can test the mucus in your nose and throat to see what kind of virus you might have.
- If you have severe H1N1 flu, doctors will give you this treatment:
What’s the treatment for severe H1N1 flu (swine flu)?
This is the treatment you may get if you’re in the hospital with severe H1N1 flu (swine flu):
- If you are dehydrated (your body is low on water), nurses will give you IV fluids. IV fluid (intravenous fluid) is a mixture of water and salts. The nurse will put a tube into a vein on your arm or hand. The IV fluid will go through the tube into your bloodstream.
- If your oxygen level is low, doctors will give you extra oxygen. You breathe the extra oxygen through a mask.
- If you have a fever, doctors will give you medicine to lower it.
- If you have a bacterial infection, doctors will give you antibiotics. Some people get a bacterial infection after they catch H1N1 flu.
- Doctors may give other treatments, depending on what you need.
Who is most at risk from H1N1 flu? Who is most likely to get H1N1 flu complications?
Most people who catch H1N1 flu can take care of themselves at home; they will get better on their own in about two weeks. But some people get so sick from HN1 flu that they need to be treated in hospital. Some die from H1N1 flu.
These groups of people are more at risk for getting seriously sick from H1N1 flu. They are more likely to get flu complications like pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections and ear infections. If they have long-term (chronic) diseases, the flu can make their disease symptoms worse:
- children younger than 5 (especially children younger than 2 years old)
- adults 65 years of age and older (Seniors are less likely to catch H1N1 flu, but if they do catch it, they are more likely to get complications)
- pregnant women
- people with long-term medical conditions, including:
- asthma
- COPD (chronic bronchitis and emphysema), cystic fibrosis, and other long-term lung diseases
- neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions (including epilepsy, cerebral palsy, stroke, intellectual disability, moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury).
- heart disease
- blood disorders (including sickle cell disease)
- diabetes and other endocrine disorders
- kidney disorders
- liver disorders
- metabolic disorders (including inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
- weakened immune system because of disease (including HIV, AIDS and cancer) or because of medication (for example, taking steroids pills for a long time)
There is some evidence that people who smoke and people who are obese are also more likely to get seriously sick from H1N1 flu.
Learn more about H1N1 flu from The Lung Association
- H1N1 flu shot and seasonal flu shot: who should get them, where to get them, FAQs
- Advice on H1N1 flu for people with asthma, COPD, and other lung diseases
- How to prevent H1N1 flu: all about hand washing, controlling germs, and preparing for a flu pandemic
Information on H1N1 flu from other sources
- More about H1N1 flu from the Public Health Agency of Canada
- The Public Health Agency of Canada's toll-free public information line for H1N1 flu questions: 1-800-454-8302.
- More about H1N1 flu from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including advice on respirators, how to care for swine flu at home, and advice for pregnant women, daycares and camps, and parents and caregivers.
- More about H1N1 flu from the World Health Organization, including regular updates and FAQs.
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