Prevention (4)
- Survival kit: Stock up on essentials for a disaster
- Disaster planning: Things you can do to stay healthy
- H1N1 flu (swine flu) vaccine Q & A
- see all in Prevention
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Mayo Clinic expert answers your questions on H1N1 flu (swine flu)
Should I get the swine flu vaccine?
If you fall into any of these categories, look into getting the vaccine.
- Pregnant women. The risk of swine flu complications is higher during pregnancy. Mothers can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated.
- Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age. Younger infants are at higher risk of flu complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination of those in close contact with infants less than 6 months old might reduce the infants' risk of exposure to the virus.
- Health care and emergency medical services personnel. Infections have been reported among health care workers, who can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in health care workers could reduce health care system capacity.
- Babies, children and teens, from 6 months through 18 years of age. Many cases of novel H1N1 influenza have occurred in children. Influenza viruses spread easily in school and child care, and children infected in these settings carry the infection to their families.
- Young adults, from 19 through 24 years of age. Immunization is important for young adults because they tend to live, work, and study in close proximity, and they move and travel often.
- People ages 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza. These conditions include heart disease, lung disease and some types of cancer.
Are there symptoms to watch out for?
Swine flu has the same potential symptoms as seasonal influenza or bird flu — fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. There's really no way to know the specific influenza type except by testing. If you're in good health and you develop a flu-like illness during flu season, though, the likelihood that you have the flu is so high that testing is usually unnecessary.
Should I receive treatment for the flu, just in case?
Novel H1N1 swine flu is sensitive to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), but because the virus could become treatment resistant if these drugs are overused, treatment is generally limited to people at high risk of complications. You're considered high risk if you:
- Are hospitalized
- Have shortness of breath along with other flu symptoms
- Are younger than 5 years of age
- Are 65 years and older
- Are pregnant
- Are younger than 19 years of age and are receiving long-term aspirin therapy, because of an increased risk for Reye syndrome
- Have certain chronic medical conditions, including asthma, emphysema, heart disease, diabetes, neuromuscular disease, and kidney, liver or blood disease
- Are immunosuppressed due to medications or HIV
What can I do to protect myself, my family and my coworkers?
Besides getting vaccinated if you're in a vaccine target group, you can:
- Wash your hands with soap and water frequently. Alcohol sanitizers also may be helpful.
- Avoid close contact with anyone who has cold or flu symptoms.
- Stay home if you're ill, and encourage others to do the same.
(2 of 2)
- Steckelberg JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 27, 2009.
- Swine influenza and you. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm. Accessed April 27, 2009.
- Swine influenza frequently asked questions. World Health Organization. http://www.wo.int/csr/disease/swineflu/faq/en/index.html. Accessed April 27, 2009.
- H1N1 flu: Questions and answers - Novel H1N1 influenza vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm. Accessed July 28, 2009.
- Interim guidance on antiviral recommendations for patients with confirmed or suspected swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and close contacts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/recommendations.htm. Accessed April 27, 2009.
