Signs and Symptoms of Swine Flu

Signs and Symptoms of Swine Flu

Swine flu is generally a respiratory disease of pigs caused by the type A influenza virus. The virus which is solely responsible for the outbreak of this disease is commonly known as Swine influenza virus (SIV) or swine-origin influenza virus (S-OIV), belongs to the Influenza family. SIV is endemic to pig that’s why this disease is a normal occurred in the pigs. This disease is also known by some other name such as swine influenza, pig flu, hog flu, pig influenza. SIV strains includes subtypes of Influenza A virus (H1N1,H2N2,H2N1,H3N1,H3N2,H2N3) and Influenza C virus. 

It is obtained by research that H1N1 virus is contagious, can spread from one human to other easily. It is thought that the H1N1 virus spreads in the same way like the other seasonal flu. It mainly spreads by the coughing and sneezing of affected persons. Human mostly living proximity to the pig population is often affected by this virus as it is endemic to pigs. Others may be affected by infected people in the beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick. Mortality rate by the infection of this virus is very low (1-4%). This disease may cause weight loss and growth check.

            

Like other diseases this disease has also some unique signs and symptoms which can be found in the body of the affected person. The symptom of this disease is quite similar to the symptoms of the seasonal influenza that’s why the symptoms are not too much specific. Many symptoms can also be found in the other diseases influenza virus. Some unique signs and symptoms are discussed in the following:

 

• Fever is the most common symptom of this disease as it is also caused by the influenza virus. At the preliminary stage of this disease the body temperature of the patient remains constant between the rangesfrom 100°F to 102°F.
• Cough and sore throat are next symptom appears in this disease followed by the fever. Due to this disease the body of the affected persons becomes quite weak.
• Watery eyes, body ache and head ache can also be the symptoms for this disease. Instead of ingestion of pain killers the body ache never get reduced.
• There are some symptoms like weight loss, abdominal, lack of appetite and fatigue which takes time to appear as symptoms in the body of the patients.
• Neurological problem may be appeared due to high fever as it affects the temperature regulatory section of brain a lot which finally may lead to death.
• Dehydration can be caused by excess vomiting and diarrhoea. If not treated as the early stage of the appearance of this symptom the patient’s life may fall at risk.
• This disease may cause severe unbalance in the proportion of electrolytes present in the body fluids of human which are responsible for major physiological processes.
• Sometimes this disease results into the kidney failure of the affected which finally leads to the death of the affected person.
• Pneumonia leading to sepsis can be a great cause for death of the person by H1N1 virus.
• Swine flu is commonly a respiratory disease. So, sometimes death occurs due to respiratory failure of the affected person.