H1N1, also known as the swine flu, is a strain of type A influenza that began infecting people in 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports. In June 2009 the World Health Organization declared that this new strain of the flu had evolved into a worldwide pandemic. Although this virus can cause dangerous complications, in many cases this infection is very similar to the seasonal flu variants.
Identification
Swine flu is a name given to the H1N1 virus, the CDC explains, because this strain of the flu has certain genes in common with strains of influenza that commonly occur in North American pigs. As the H1N1 flu strain was further studied, however, scientists found that it differed in many ways from other kinds of flu. This strain of influenza actually contains genes that are often found in avian and human influenza, as well as certain genes found in flu strains from Europe and Asia.
Symptoms
The H1N1 flu causes symptoms that are similar to those caused by other flu strains, the Mayo Clinic explains. These include a fever, chills, fatigue and aches throughout the body. Patients may also experience problems with the gastrointestinal system, including a sore throat, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The H1N1 flu also can cause patients to develop a cough.
Transmission
The H1N1 flu is spread via respiratory droplets, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) explains. These can be dispersed into the air when a person infected with the virus coughs or sneezes. The contaminated droplets can then spread to other people if they touch the droplets and then their eyes, mouth or nose. People are contagious beginning approximately one day before they develop symptoms and are generally contagious for a week.
Risk Factors and Complications
The population in general is susceptible to the H1N1 flu. People who work directly with patients are particularly at risk of contracting this virus. Children at school and college students can also be infected by their classmates. Patients who are infected with the H1N1 virus can experience worsening of other chronic conditions, such as heart disease and asthma, according to the Mayo Clinic. H1N1 can also cause pneumonia and sudden respiratory failure.
Treatment
Contraction of the swine flu can be prevented by receiving the vaccine for this flu strain. Once infected, most patients require no medical treatment as most patients' immune systems can fight the infection. Patients who are at a high risk of developing complications of the flu may receive oseltamivir and zanamivir, which are two anti-viral drugs that can be used to reduce the severity of the symptoms and help speed the healing process.
