1. Expect a High Fever
Anticipate a fever in excess of 100 degrees F in a person who contracts avian influenza. Symptoms differ considerably from one case to the next, with some patients showing only mild signs of infection while others develop life-threatening complications. If you develop symptoms, a high fever will likely be the first of them.
2. Watch for Regular Flu Symptoms
After you develop a fever, you can expect flulike symptoms to follow in short order. These include sore throat and cough, wheeziness, diarrhea and upset stomach and malaise. In some cases, patients develop an upset stomach to the point of vomiting. Some individuals with avian influenza have experienced bleeding in their noses and gums.
3. Conjunctivitis Can Develop
If your first sign of infection is an eye infection, this may turn out to be the only symptom you develop. Doctors don't know why, but it seems that a relatively mild case of conjunctivitis is the lone symptom developed in a significant percentage of cases. This usually happens if you catch avian influenza but are an otherwise healthy adult with no history of respiratory infections.
4. Rare but Serious Complications
Be aware of the possibility that you may develop uncommon but potentially deadly bird flu complications. These generally affect very young and very old patients to a greater degree than healthy adults, but anyone with bird flu is at risk of facing serious health problems.
The two most common life-threatening complications of avian influenza are viral pneumonia and acute respiratory difficulties. The latter is the culprit in the majority of bird flu deaths, but the former can be just as deadly, particularly for the elderly.
5. Spot Sick Birds
It is difficult to spot sick birds in the wild, since many untamed carriers of the bird flu do not appear to be sick. However, closely watch any poultry you keep for bird sickness and death. If unusually large numbers of birds get sick or die off, you should assume that avian influenza is a probable cause and contact your local health authorities at once.
