Various strains of influenza have played havoc on human health several times throughout history. One of the most recent entrants into the history of this disease is the H1N1 virus, otherwise known as the swine flu. This virus is a type of influenza, which usually causes flu like symptoms in swine, but has been known to move to humans who work closely with animals if the virus mutates. While swine flu is generally mild, it has been known to cause serious health issues in some people.
Fever
The most important symptom you should note is a fever. When the body begins to fight an infection, the white blood cells begin to work faster to fight it. The white blood cells give off heat, which causes the core temperature to rise. A fever is a double edged sword because it helps the body attack an invader (and give you an indication that there is something wrong), but if the fever goes too high, you can have damage to your nervous system. While there is no temperature which corresponds to a particular illness, if you have a fever of over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, you may have the flu and should think about seeing a doctor.
Shortness of breath
Influenza is classified as a respiratory disease because it affects the lungs and throat. When you get the flu, your lungs will get infected, making it very hard to breath. This is often accompanied by a dry cough which comes from the throat being infected. While the fever is the best indication that you might swine flu, if you have a fever in conjunction with a shortness of breath and a cough, see a doctor immediately. Although this symptom is typical of the seasonal flu, more attention should be paid due to the severity of the H1N1 strain.
Other symptoms
The H1N1 strain also produces other symptoms which mirror a regular seasonal flu, though many of them may manifest themselves more severely than they normally would. These symptoms include a headache, lethargy and extreme tiredness, sore throat, runny nose, aches and nausea (although this is more common in children than in adults). While the symptoms on their own are not enough to determine whether you have contracted the swine flu, having three or more may be a good indication that you have been infected. If you have several of these symptoms, a doctor will be able to determine if you have the flu and if that flu is the H1N1. The earlier you get to a doctor, the easier it will be to treat the disease.
