CDC Podcast/Video Describes Swine Flu Symptoms and Warning Signs
Dr. Joe Bresee, with the CDC Influenza Division, describes the Swine Flu in the video below. Dr. Bresee describes Swine Flu's signs and symptoms. He also describes how the virus is transmitted, medicines to treat it, steps people can take to protect themselves from it, and what people should do if they become ill.
Dr. Bresse says the symptoms are similar to seasonal influezna including fever, couch, soar throat, body ache, chills and fatique. With this Swine Flu outbreak some people are reporting diarrhea and vomiting. Dr. Bresse also notes that the virus is being spread from person-to-person. It is not spread by food and has nothing to do with eating pork, which is safe.
Everything Dr. Besse says in the podcast about symptoms and signs to watch for in children and adults is repeated here on a CDC webpage. The page lists the following warning signs that need urgent medical attention for adults and children.
In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
You can also listen Dr. Bresee's message here on the CDC as a podcast. You can find more Swine Flu resources here on Health News Blog.
