Pregnancy and Flu
Filed under: Chest infection symptoms, Home Remedies Colds, Immune System Herbs, Swine Flu Symptoms, Uncategorized, contagious flu, flu symptoms, immune system, pregnancy and flu, prevent swine flu
Pregnancy and Flu
Flu is a more common condition in the winter months because the air is dryer and the flu virus tends to linger longer in the mucous membranes on the nose. Central heating in the winter also tends to increase this risk.
There is now a pandemic of swine flu (level 6 now as advised by the Word Health Organisation (WHO) currently 55,807 cases worldwide. Don’t panic, as here are several symptoms if you are pregnant and suspect a chest infection or flu.
Chest Infection Symptoms for Pregnancy and Flu
Loss of appetite
Headache
Aching muscles
A persistent dry chesty cough
A fever indicated by a temperature higher than 38c (100f)
If you are coughing up phlegm which is either green or yellow.
Feeling cold (a body chill)
If you have been traveling to any Country where flu or swine flu is prevalent then you are strongly advised to check in to at your local hospital where a swab will be taken. If you have these symptoms it is important to drink plenty of fluids, as your fever will cause a fluid loss due to dehydration.
colds and flu
Pregnant Women and Flu
During the second or third month of the pregnancy you may be more at risk of complications setting in, particularly if you still working and traveling by public transport or you are in close contact with infectious persons.
The current strain of flu may become more widespread in the winter and may even mutate to a different strain, so what can you do to minimise the risk. Always, it is essential to carry wipes with you particularly if you have been in public places and to disinfect your hands. Be aware of the common danger areas where the virus can linger. Such as door handles, toilet areas, elevator controls, store trolleys, TV remote, and pay particular attention to your car steering wheel which usually is forgotten, and your car controls.
If you handle cash, make sure you observe the disinfect behaviour even at ATM machines, which could be a common infectious area.
These obvious precautions are worthwhile observing to protect yourself and your baby. Just a thought, do keep a good supply of wipes at home as stores might run out quickly if flu is rife in your area.
Do use tissues and trash them after use, and follow a good hand washing procedure to reduce the spread of the virus, as it can live on hard surfaces for up to 24 hours, and it has been known to linger on banknotes for up to 14 days.
Pregnancy and Flu Drugs
Your physician or doctor will advise you on the type antiviral he will use. For simple flu antibiotics are not effective, so he might advise a simple analgesic or equivalent. If a chest infection is indicated then an antibiotic will be prescribed.
In the case of swine flu in pregnancy, your medical advisor will prescribe one of two antiviral drugs, Tamiflu which is injected or Relenza. The latter is the most favored one during pregnancy as this particular antiviral is inhaled and treats the flu without reaching the developing fetus.
Pregnancy and Flu and Breastfeeding
When breastfeeding you will be advised to continue whilst receiving antiviral treatment with Relenza. If mother is ill with the flu then she will be advised to continue feeding but at greater frequency. Mothers milk will contain only a small amount of the antiviral which we are told will not affect the child.
Prevent Swine Flu
PREVENT SWINE FLU
The A (H1N1) virus Swine flu virus infection has now climbed steadily over the week-end to 21,940 cases according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), who are monitoring the situation, with Mexico, USA, and Canada as the worst affected countries. Saudi Arabia having their first case of Swine flu, bringing the total number of Countries to 69.
The WHO scale of infection through 1-6, has reached 5, one short of a full scale pandemic.
What are the effects of this particular flu and how does it manifest itself, and how do we prevent swine flu?
This strain of flu is the same strain as the Spanish Flu in 1918 which killed between 50-100 million people with mortality rates up to 90%. With the significant increase in worldwide population since this time, and global interaction, this would equate to over 300 million at today’s figures!
Strangely, it infected young children, men and women aged between 25 and 35 in the prime of their life and those with a pre-existing medical condition, the old and infirm.
So, why is it so deadly, and what can we learn from past events. This strain of flu, similar to the Spanish Flu has the ability to turn a person’s immune system inside-out. Breathing becomes impossible as it eats up the victims lungs, causing acute respiratory distress syndrome known as Cytokine Storm.
Normally most of the population has some immunity to flu strains and recognise them as such. But, with a new strain, the body has no idea how to cope with it, and goes into overdrive to try to shut it down as
quickly as possible, hence the storm, an overreaction really.
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
The ‘Storm’ really is reference to the severity of the condition as in chaotic weather events, where the fury of nature is released uncontrollably, so the word ‘storm’ has no medical connotation. The Cytokine does…. and it’s alarming. So what does Cytokine mean, in layman’s terms, and simply, what effect does it have in our bodies?
They are important let’s say elements of the immune system that act as messengers or couriers if you like between cells. The immune system latches on to a virus that it has not seen before or does not recognise is in the case of H1N1 and all hell breaks loose releasing a cascade of biochemical’s, such as interferon, and interleukin, really overacting, causing respiratory distress similar to Asthma but much worse. Consequently, the lungs self ingest, suffocating the victim as a result of the body’s reaction.
I have seen some references to it as the Purple Death which signals the lack of oxygen in the body.
So how we can help ourselves to prevent swine flu?
What we have to remember is that viruses can survive for up to three days, so they can hang about where you least expect them.
As we all know now coughs and sneezes spreads diseases, so my mother used to drill into me, and how true today with a pandemic imminent. There are some basic hygiene rules to follow to prevent swine flu.
• Cover each Cough and Sneeze with a tissue, bin it then wash ones hands as soon as possible. The virus can linger on door handles, elevator buttons, toilet flush handles,
• The virus can linger on door handles, elevator buttons, toilet flush handles, store trolley handles, even on your car steering wheel. Computer keyboards and TV remote control stations.
• In our Gym there are antiseptic wipe dispensers for first aid and personal use, mainly though to wipe down a machine after use. So why not keep a box in your car to wipe down your steering wheel (recommended), and all items of equipment manually controlled. Researchers have found that it is more beneficial to wipe one small area at a time and then throw the wipe away, used on multi surfaces can spread viruses very effectively.
For more information on how to prevent swine flu and optimise your immune system, follow me in my next blog.
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