The H1N1 virus, better known as Swine Flu is still among us. As reported in the Winston Salem Journal, health officials recently stated that "anyone hit with flu-like symptoms this summer has likely had a case of the H1N1, or swine flu." Symptoms of the H1N1 are a mild fever, aches and pains, a runny nose and a headache. However, if you experience more severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain or chest pain, you should get medical attention.
With school coming up it's inevitable that the flu will spread more rapidly as people will be in closer proximity to one another. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended the following tips to limit transmission:
* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
* If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
* Put used tissues in the trash.
* Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. Wash with soap and water, or with alcohol-based hand cleaner.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Start practicing these tips with your children so they can be better prepared and protected when school begins.
The CDC also recommends that if you do get sick, "stay home from work or school, and limit your contact with others to keep from infecting them. Adults should not leave home until 7 days after symptoms begin; children should stay home 10 days after the onset of illness."
Read more about the H1N1 virus on the American Academy of Pediatrics website for further information including a list of frequently asked questions for parents and caregivers about the H1N1 virus.
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