Article 1 : INFLUENZA H1N1

THOSE of us who have symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI) should focus on getting better and avoiding contact with others.

I. Do we need to see a doctor?
•Not all patients with suspected influenza A(H1N1) infections need to be seen by a healthcare provider. This is because for most of us, the disease is mild and self-limiting.
•However, if we are from one of the high-risk groups (see below), we should seek immediate medical attention when we have influenza-like illnesses.
•If we are not considered high-risk, we should monitor our symptoms and seek medical help if they worsen or do not get better by day three. If we experience any of the emergency warning signs (see IV), we should also seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY.
•That said, not everyone needs to be tested for the influenza A(H1N1) virus as current recommendations for the prescription of anti-virals do not depend on a positive diagnosis.
•Anti-virals will be given to those who are admitted for moderate/severe influenza-like illnesses, those who are in the high-risk groups, and those whose high-fever has not gone away for more than two days.

II. What can we do to help ourselves recover?•
If the fever is uncomfortable, paracetamol can be taken at standard recommended doses. Lowering the fever will not make the illness go away faster, but it may make us feel more comfortable. However, you need to follow instructions on the label or talk to your healthcare provider about products you could use, their dosage, possible side effects, and conditions when you should not use the remedy.
•Eat well, rest well and stay active

III. How can we stop spreading the influenza A(H1N1) virus?
When we are not feeling well or when we have influenza-like illnesses, we should:
•Remain home and avoid going to the workplace, educational institution or any public places.
•Practise good cough etiquette – We should cover our mouths and noses with tissues when coughing or sneezing and dispose of the tissues appropriately. After that, we should clean our hands with soap and water or a hand sanitiser. If a tissue is not within reach, we can use our sleeves or scarves to cover our mouths and noses. You can wear a mask if you come into close contact with others.
•Improve personal hygiene: We should clean our hands often, using soap and water or a hand sanitiser, especially after we cough or sneeze. Paper towels should be used to dry our hands after hand washing but avoid sharing cloth towels with others. We should also clean commonly used household items or frequently touched surfaces regularly with household detergents.
•Do not share personal utensils and linen: Linen, eating utensils and dishes used by those of us who are sick need not be cleaned separately, but these items should not be shared without washing thoroughly first with water and soap.
•Social distancing:
i. We should try not to leave our homes when we have fever or during the time we are most likely to spread the infection to others. (We are likely to spread the virus from one day before we develop symptoms to up to seven days after we get sick.)
ii. Staying in a room separate from other household members when we are sick is a good idea.
iii. If we need to leave home (eg for medical care), we should wear a surgical mask and practise cough etiquette and good hand hygiene.

IV. How do we know if we are getting worse
If anyone has any of the following emergency signs, please SEEK MEDICAL HELP IMMEDIATELY.
•Signs of breathing problems: We feel short/out of breath, have chest pains or have difficulty breathing. In children, this may appear as fast or troubled breathing.
•Signs of lack of oxygen: Our lips have gradually turned bluish or purplish.
•Signs/risks of dehydration: We have severe or persistent vomiting, feel dizzy when standing, and do not pass urine as much as we are used to. Children may lack tears when crying.
•Signs of neurological problems: We are less responsive, drowsy or confused than normal. Children may not be waking up as frequent, be irritable or interacting as usual.

V. How do we know if we are recovering?•
Usually, the fever will subside, appetite will return, and the headaches will go away in about three days. Generally we will feel better and are no longer very lethargic, and gradually, the cough and influenza-like symptoms will go away.

comment:
Nowadays, our country faces the big problem same as other country faced too. Which is Influenza H1N1 was fearful to everybody. This disease is very dangerous because it can cause death. In Malaysia also have several cases and indicate many patient deaths. Who those have symptoms of influenza H1N1 should focus on getting better and avoiding contact with others. We should take care ourselves, if anyone has any of the symptoms please seek medical help immediately. The most important is personal hygiene; we should clean our hands often, using soap and water or a hand sanitizer especially after we cough or sneeze. When coughing or sneezing we should practice good cough etiquette. Cover our mouths and noses with tissue when coughing or sneezing and dispose of the tissue appropriately. After that, we should clean our hands with soap and water or a hand sanitizer