POLOKWANE – Last Monday a notice was placed on Medpark’s Facebook page regarding swine flu.
The message read:
“With the malaria epidemic a thing of the past, the winter is upon us. We have recently seen a surge in Influenza A cases (H1N1 ‘swine flu’; H3N2). This is characterised by a sudden onset – within a few hours – of a high fever, sore throat, cough and other respiratory symptoms.”
BONUS spoke to a doctor who explained that there are three influenza viruses namely A, B and C. A is the most dangerous, while B is a little less dangerous, and C is more like a very bad cold.
“Anyone can get Influenza A – older people as well as young, healthy people. If you have Influenza A you will get very sick in a very short time.
“You will go to bed at night as a healthy person and wake up very sick. Within six hours you will have all the symptoms in a very bad way.”
Symptoms of H1N1 include fever, cough, sore throat, watery eyes, body aches, shortness of breath, headache, weight loss, chills, sneezing, runny nose, coughing, dizziness, abdominal pain, lack of appetite and fatigue.
According to the doctor, people should be vaccinated against it and if someone experiences flu-like symptoms, they should be isolated. “Everyone, not only the sick person, should wash their hands regularly. You treat it symptomatically as antibiotics will not work.
“If you develop a secondary illnesses, it can be treated with antibiotics.
