Do I have swine flu?

Swine flu has been rated as an international pandemic and should be taken very seriously. This virus spreads rapidly and can infect anyone - including you. Even though it causes no more than a mild illness in most cases, swine flu has contributed to a number of deaths and it is worth knowing the symptoms.

People with swine flu typically develop a sudden fever with body temperatures of 38°C (100.4°F) or above and they suffer from a cough that appeared as suddenly. Some people also show the following symptoms:

• headache
• tiredness
• chills
• aching muscles
• limb or joint pain
• diarrhoea or stomach upset
• sore throat
• runny nose
• sneezing
• loss of appetite

Any rapid rise in body temperature should be monitored closely and it is adviseable to use a thermometer to ensure an accurate reading. A high fever is one of the main symptoms of swine flu.

Even though the vast majority of cases have resulted in nothing more than a mild and relatively short illness, people with underlying health problems (such as cancer sufferers, pregnant women, etc) may be at risk and a general practitioner should be consulted in these cases.

It is important to avoid contact with other people when you suspect that you may be suffering from swine flu in order to avoid the virus from spreading further. For that reason it has been suggested that you phone the doctor, rather than physically go there, when any of these symptoms present themselves.

Depending on the country that you live in, there may be on-line help available, not only to diagnose and assess the ilness but also to order vaccine if required. A simple Google search should yield information about such a service in your area.