Questions About Swine Flu

1. When Should I See My Doctor if I Think I Have Swine Flu -- or Any Flu?

   Question - For most people, the H1N1 flu (formerly known as swine flu) is like the seasonal flu: It causes a "self-limited" illness, which means you notice symptoms and feel sick but eventually get better on your own. Antibiotics don't work on flu, since it's caused by a virus, and antiviral medications aren't usually necessary to recover...
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2. What Should I Do if I Think I Have Swine Flu?

   Question - If you notice what you think are flu symptoms, don't panic. For the 2010-2011 flu season, experts do expect that the H1N1 virus (formerly called swine flu) will still be around. However, protection against this flu strain has now been incorporated into the seasonal flu vaccine. Every winter, thousands of people get the flu...
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3. What Are the Symptoms of H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) or of Seasonal Flu?

   Question - The symptoms of H1N1 flu, also called swine flu, are essentially the same as the symptoms of normal seasonal flu. The most common signs of flu are fever, cough, and sore throat. Symptoms can also include body aches, headache, chills, runny nose, and feeling especially tired.
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4. What's the Best Treatment for Swine Flu or for Seasonal Flu?

   Question - For most people, the H1N1 flu (formerly known as swine flu) is like the seasonal flu: It causes a "self-limited" illness, which means that one feels sick but eventually gets better on one's own. In these cases, antiviral medications are not usually given. The mainstay of treatment is to stay home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration...
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5. Am I in danger of contracting h1n1 (swine flu) after recent surgery?

   Question - Did your husband's doctor test him for swine flu? Are his symptoms severe? Hopefully, he will have a mild case and recover without any problems. Be sure that he gets plently of fluids so he does not get dehydrated.
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6. When's the Best Time to Get a Flu Shot?

   Question - As soon as the vaccines become available, which is usually by September or October of every year. For the fall of 2010, the usual seasonal flu vaccination will include protection against the H1N1 virus (formerly known as swine flu), which is still expected to be active during the 2010-2011 flu season...
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7. How Long Does It Take for a Flu Shot to Offer Protection?

   Question - According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), you should allow two weeks after getting a flu shot to develop protection against the flu. That's because after vaccination, the body has to work for a while to create the protective antibodies to the flu virus.
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8. Can a Flu Shot Give You the Flu?

   Question - No. Since the flu shot contains killed virus, it's not possible to get influenza from this vaccination. The less commonly used nasal vaccine (also known as FluMist) does use a live but very weak virus. Although it's theoretically possible that someone could get influenza from the nasal vaccine, this...
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9. What Are the Most Common Side Effects of a Flu Shot?

   Question - The possible side effects depend on which type of vaccination you get. There are two ways to be vaccinated against the seasonal flu: You can get the intramuscular injection (commonly called the flu shot) of inactivated influenza, which contains killed virus...
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10. How Can I Avoid Getting Swine Flu -- or Any Flu?

    Question - The best way to avoid getting the flu is to get vaccinated. Protection against the H1N1 flu (formerly known as swine flu) is included in the 2010-2011 seasonal flu vaccine, so there's no need to look for more than one type of flu vaccine this year.
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11. Can I travel while undergoing chemo?

    Question - Many people ask if they should limit activities or travel while receiving chemotherapy. The answer depends how well you are tolerating the therapy and how healthy you feel.
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