Swine Flu Symptoms Every Parent Should Know

Currently there are some 28,000 reported cases of Swine Flu in The United States and 127 reported deaths. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) warns that with 28,000 reported cases the actual number of infected Americans could be as high as 1,000,000 as many of those infected do not experience the most severe symptoms and assume they have a milder form of the annual flu.

If the CDC is correct in its' estimate many infected individuals continue to work, go to school, and have daily contact with an unsuspecting public. This is frightening as the Swine flu is highly contagious when infected individuals come in contact with others within a window that begins one day prior to the infected person having his or her first symptoms and continuing for the seven days after they get sick.

The flu is spread by direct contact with the respiratory secretions of someone infected with the Swine Flu. Someone coughing or sneezing while close to you may pass these secretions. Secretions from a cough or a sneeze may be deposited on surfaces such as doorknobs, hand rails, escalator rails, etc., where they remain active and communicable for from three to four hours.

It is important for parents to note that the CDC reports that the average age for Swine Flu infection in the Untied States is age twelve. This makes it vitally important that parents know and be vigilant of Swine Flu symptoms.

Many of the early symptoms of the Swine Flu resemble those of the more common Asian flu and as a result many parents assume that their child is experiencing a non-threatening flu strain. The CDC cautions that now that the normal flu season (December - April) has run its' course parents should not ignore any flu-like symptoms as the chances of typical Asian flu are unlikely this late (July) in the calendar year.

The symptoms to be alert for include:

Severe Coughing

Runny or stuffy nose

Sore Throat

Body aches

Headaches

Chills

Extreme fatigue or tiredness

Diarrhea and vomiting

If the child has more than one of these symptoms parents should see a doctor to ensure that these are not the result of Swine Flue infection.

While the above symptoms do have much in common with the Asian flu more advance stages of the Swine Flu have several even more dramatic symptoms that are not common to Asian flu. These include:

Fast Breathing

Bluish or gray skin color

Severe and persistent vomiting

Dehydration resulting from and lack of desire for liquid intake

Difficulty waking up even when prodded

Difficult or slow reactions

Extreme irritability

Doctors report that people experiencing several of the above symptoms will suddenly improve for a few hours or possibly a day, but that Flu will return and seem more severe than ever with those infected experiencing and high fever and severe cough. This is another indication of Swine Flu infection.

With the average age of Swine Flu infection being age twelve it is vitally important that parents know and react to any indication of the presence of Swine Flu. Treatment is available and is effective if the treatment is started early. Delay in diagnosis and treatment only increases the foothold of the virus and makes treatment more difficult.

Please understand and react to any and all symptoms.