Winning the Swine Flu Battle – H1N1 vaccine and its
importance
Swine flu cases continue to be recorded from different parts of the country. Given this situation, basic prevention measures become essential.
Swine Flu or H1N1
influenza is a viral respiratory infection, which strikes like a ‘common-cold'
infection but is more severe in symptoms and the outcomes. The influenza virus
mutates extremely fast and is highly infectious. The typical symptoms of Swine
flu are a cough, sore throat, fever, headache chills and fatigue.
Speaking about this issue, Padma Shri Awardee Dr. A Marthanda Pillai –
National President and Padma Shri Awardee Dr. K K Aggarwal, Honorary Secretary
General and President HCFI in a joint statement said, Prevention
of Swine Flu mainly involves taking simple precautionary steps while coughing
and maintaining respiratory and hand hygiene. Respiratory hygiene involves
maintaining a distance of at least 3 feet from a person who is coughing and
sneezing. Proper cough etiquette demands that the infected person ensures that
he or she covers their mouth and nose with a tissue while coughing or sneezing
and then disposes of the tissue immediately to stop the disease from spreading
to others. In a case where a tissue may not be available, it is best to cough
and sneeze into one's upper sleeves and not in their hands or a handkerchief.
Sneezing and coughing into one's hands/ using a handkerchief are reasons why
the disease spreads at such a rapid pace. In addition to this, vaccination is
recommended specially in high risk individuals.”
The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) has recently released its recommendations that all persons
aged six months or older should receive H1N1 influenza vaccine. A priority list
of population groups for vaccine administration should be followed, if the
vaccine supply is limited. This includes pregnant women,
individuals from 6 months through 24 years of age, household contacts and caregivers of children younger than six months of age, individuals from 25 through 64 years of age with health conditions associated with increased risk of influenza complications and healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
individuals from 6 months through 24 years of age, household contacts and caregivers of children younger than six months of age, individuals from 25 through 64 years of age with health conditions associated with increased risk of influenza complications and healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
Drug therapy: Recommendations
Antiviral therapy should be promptly given to
·
Children, adolescents, or adults with suspected
or confirmed influenza infection and any of the following features
·
Illness requiring hospitalization
·
Progressive, severe, or complicated illness,
regardless of previous health status
·
Suspected or confirmed influenza infection who
were at high risk for complications including:
o
Children <5 years of age, particularly those
<2 years of age
o
Adults ≥65 years of age
o
Pregnant women and women up to two weeks
postpartum (including those who have had pregnancy loss)
o
Individuals with certain medical conditions
Antiviral therapy be started as
soon as possible in patients who are severely immunosuppressed such as those
receiving treatment for malignancies, hematopoietic or solid organ transplant
recipients and present with an acute respiratory illness
Patients with morbid obesity (BMI >40) and possibly those with obesity (BMI 30 to 39) with suspected or confirmed pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus infection should be carefully evaluated for the presence of conditions that confer an increased risk of influenza complications. If any such conditions were present, treatment is recommended.
Patients with morbid obesity (BMI >40) and possibly those with obesity (BMI 30 to 39) with suspected or confirmed pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus infection should be carefully evaluated for the presence of conditions that confer an increased risk of influenza complications. If any such conditions were present, treatment is recommended.
No comments:
Post a Comment