Influenza A(H1N1) and your family

Written for BabyCenter Malaysia
Approved by the BabyCenter Malaysia Medical Advisory Board

 

• What is H1N1 flu?
  
• What are the symptoms of H1N1 flu?
  
• How does H1N1 flu spread?
  
• What should I do if my child shows symptoms of H1N1 flu?
  
• Is there any treatment for H1N1 flu?
  
• What can I do to avoid H1N1 flu?
  
• How long will I be contagious if I have H1N1 flu?
  
• Is there a vaccine for H1N1 flu?
  
• Where can I find more information?
  

What is H1N1 flu?

Influenza A(H1N1) is a very contagious respiratory disease. It is also called swine flu because it is a new form of a virus that affects pigs. However, the virus that has caused the current outbreak can also affect people. Usually, people affected by swine flu have been in direct contact with pigs. The reason why there is such concern about the current outbreak of H1N1 flu is that it is now spreading from person to person -- and this is happening in Malaysia, too. That's why the World Health Organisation has raised a worldwide pandemic alert.

What are the symptoms of H1N1 flu?

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H1N1 flu has different effects in different people. Some people who catch the virus only have mild symptoms. But others can develop complications and in extreme cases H1N1 flu can cause death.
The symptoms of H1N1 flu are very similar to regular flu symptoms:
• fever;
• tiredness;
• cough;
• headache;
• muscles and joint pain.
H1N1 flu can also cause:
• acute abdominal pain;
• diarrhoea;
• vomiting.
A fever caused by H1N1 flu can be very high: if you have regular flu, your fever is unlikely to go above 39 degrees C (102.2 degrees F). If you have H1N1 flu it could reach 39 degrees C and higher.

How does H1N1 flu spread?

H1N1 flu spreads from person to person in the same way as other flu viruses: through coughing and sneezing of people who are infected. H1N1 flu is very contagious and spreads easily, particularly in enclosed spaces where there is close contact between infected people and healthy people.
Swine viruses are not spread from eating or preparing pork.

What should I do if my child shows symptoms of H1N1 flu?

Call your doctor and explain what's happening. Tell her how old your child is and whether he, or anyone else in your household, has any other health problems. H1N1 flu can be more severe in people with compromised immune systems. Because the virus is very contagious, your doctor will tell you whether you should go to the clinic or if you should stay at home.
You may be asked to take your child to hospital to have a sample taken from his respiratory system. This will be analysed in order to find out if his symptoms are caused by H1N1 flu.

Is there any treatment for H1N1 flu?

There is no cure for H1N1 flu but antiviral drugs will relieve the symptoms and help you to recover faster. We don't yet know for certain that the antiviral drugs that are used to treat H1N1 flu are safe to take in pregnancy. Your doctor will only suggest treatment if she feels that the potential benefit justifies the possible risk to your baby.

What can I do to avoid H1N1 flu?

Just as with regular flu, there are some things you can do to avoid infection and minimise the spread of the disease:
• Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue when you cough and sneeze, and throw it away after using it.
• If you don't have a tissue to hand, cover your mouth with the inner part of your elbow when you cough or sneeze. This will avoid spreading the infection to your hand and will minimise spreading the disease.
• After coughing and sneezing, wash your hands with warm water and soap. Rub both sides of your soapy hands for at least for 15 seconds and rinse with lots of water. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitisers.
• Don't touch your eyes, nose or mouth because the germs spread very quickly.
• Wash your hands frequently – the virus can live for up to two hours on surfaces like doorknobs and telephones.
• Eat a healthy diet, including plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and wholegrain foods – a balance of these will give you minerals and antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin C, which help to fight infections.

How long will I be contagious if I have H1N1 flu?

If you have the H1N1 flu virus you can be contagious for up to seven days after the start of the illness. Children, especially younger ones, may be contagious for longer periods.

Is there a vaccine for H1N1 flu?

Not at the moment. Researchers are working on an effective vaccine for H1N1 flu but it will take several months to produce. We do not yet know if it will be offered to pregnant women. During pregnancy it's not usually recommended that you have a flu vaccine unless your doctor advises you otherwise or you are a healthcare professional working directly with patients.

Where can I find more information?

You can call the Health Ministry's information hotline, 03-88810200 or 03-88810300.
Read more about H1N1 flu in pregnancy.