CHEST FLU
CHEST FLU 
I thought it time to follow up on previous blog on June 18th 2009 titled ‘Chest Infection Symptoms’ as the Swine Flu infection statistics have increased dramatically. The number of worldwide cases have been confirmed by the World Health Organisation (WHO- 193 member States) have increased from 36,038 to 94,512 as of 6th July 2009, as massive daily increase of 3,248. Deaths have risen to 429 from 382. I have highlighted the worst confirmed cases as: USA- 33,902, Argentina- 2,485, Australia-5,298, Canada-7,983, Chile-7,376, Mexico-10,262, and UK-7447.
Should you start to develop cold symptoms which are more violent such as a persistent dry chesty cough and you are coughing up phlegm which is either green or yellow in color or both, or if you have a fever with a high temperature above 38c (100F), followed by a body chill and aching muscles you could have developed chest flu, which has similar symptoms to bronchitis.
If you experience the agony of chest flu, a distressing cold or a chronic cough, when you feel that your lungs are on fire, you’ll know that it can be a terrifying experience as you struggle to breathe, then you should be checked out by a qualified medical practitioner immediately, or even visit your nearest hospital where a swab will be taken to check for the A (H1N1) virus, as this could be the start of influenza in the form of Swine Flu, which is a respiratory disease caused by outbreaks of influenza amongst pigs, mostly occurring during late fall and winter. If you have any of these symptoms, your body will be dehydrated so it’s important then to start to drink plenty of fluids.
There are medical treatments which can be helpful to treat his type of condition but they need to be prescribed with 48 hours of the onset of the attack in order to reduce the severity of the attack. The virus cannot be contained simply by prescribing antibiotics, as normal antibiotics have no effect in the relief of this condition such as chest flu. The most common treatment for influenza swine flu is Tamiflu, which is taken orally, or Relenza which is a powder which is inhaled. The latter is not given to asthmatics or patients suffering with a lung complaint.
prevent swine flu
Chest Flu in Children
It is tempting to try to treat the initial onset of chest flu or a fever condition in children who have a viral infection with Aspirin. NEVER give children or a teenager with Aspirin as it has been linked to REY’S SYNDROME which is potentially is a fatal disease that dramatically affects the organs, chiefly the brain and liver. The medical condition is ENCEPHALOPATHY which causes swelling of the brain. Early diagnosis is paramount, otherwise brain damage can occur, and also the liver can be affected.
Note: This content is for information purposes only, and should not be a substitute for a consultation with your qualified medical practitioner.
Chest Infection Antibiotics
CHEST INFECTION ANTIBIOTICS
The public are now generally aware that antibiotics will only help with bacterial infections. Most chest infections of the upper respiratory system are caused by a virus of which there are over 150 strains.
Although antibiotics were used extensively in the past for a chest infection, they are not normally recommended as they can do more harm than good, as there is now increasing concerns with the side effects of chemical medicine. Studies have shown that antibiotics will not increase the recovery time of an illness in fact, it is known that they can have a detrimental effect on other medication which might have been prescribed, such as Warfarin the blood thinning drug or the contraceptive pill which can make the pill ineffective. Antibiotics are known to disturb the gut flora which affects the healthy populations of bacteria in the body.
The other reason that antibiotics are not now preferred is the knowledge that bacteria have the remarkable ability to mutate becoming resistant to other stronger and ever more sophisticated drugs developed to combat them.
The immune deficiency effect is the concern of modern medicine throughout the world. George Jacoby of the Harvard Medical School, quoted in Laurie Garret’s book, ‘The Coming Plague- Newly Emerging Diseases of the World out of Balance’, Penguin Books-“Bugs are always figuring ways to get around the antibiotics we throw at them, they adapt and come roaring back again”, no wonder, bacteria were around long before man inherited the earth and will always find around the antibiotic effect, and chest infections antibiotics in particular.
Chest infection antibiotics will normally only be considered if you are aged and have a temperature over 38 (100F), or any other condition such as Asthma or a long term condition of the lungs, you are a smoker with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and if your immune system is compromised as a result of Cancer treatment chemotherapy, or you have diabetes or pleurisy which is the inflammation of the lining of the lungs.
PNEUMONIA
The greatest benefit of antibiotics seemed to be for reducing the risk of pneumonia after a chest infection, particularly in the elderly. This conclusion was as a result of research by I. Peterson and colleagues of The Centre for Infectious Disease and Epidemiology, Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, University College, London. They found that the greatest benefit of administering antibiotics for pneumonia reduced the risk after a chest infection. The size of this risk increased with the age of the patients. In the over 65 groups, 403 patients per 1000 were at risk of pneumonia, if a chest infection was untreated .This was reduced to 146 per 1000 if treated with antibiotics. Just 39 patients over 65 years would need to be treated with antibiotics to prevent one case of pneumonia compared to 119 patients between the ages of 1 and 64 year.
Their studies taken from records between 1991 1nd 2001 concluded that antibiotics should only be prescribed in more serious cases of chest infections.
PREVENTION
Your immune system will be stronger and you will be better able to prevent viral and bacterial infections if you lead a healthier lifestyle.
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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