Influenza A: first of all very calmly
During the last months health professionals who maintain blogs have reflected these concerns in our society living with the so-called pandemic influenza A. The doctors we have been noting in recent weeks a significant influx of patients to demand information consultation. We have also seen some documents and entries in our blogs out of the usual health circuit and broadcast over the Internet. Those two facts have led us to a group of health professionals, whose only common denominator is to write to Bloggers, write the standpoints that can be read below: What is the H1N1 avian ‘flu A is a disease that presents in a small way in the vast majority of people. This caused by the influenza A/H1N1 virus in the same genre that the common flu virus. It can cause symptoms such as fever and headache and muscle, malaise, nasal congestion, coughing and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, diarrhea). Influenza A has the same symptoms as that of every year. How do you get ‘As the common flu, is spread very easily because it is transmitted through the air by tiny droplets that we issue to speak, cough or sneeze. When we speak of “pandemic” we mean that many affected people in many different countries. That is because this is a new virus, and is easier transmission. But it is highly contagious not mean it is more serious. How is it diagnosed ‘There is a rapid diagnostic test to distinguish types of flu. But for the diagnosis of influenza A have poor sensitivity (approximately 35 ). That means 100 people with influenza A only detect about 35 (test positive). Most (65) give a negative result for influenza A. This means that even if you have a negative test, if you have flu-like symptoms may be the cause of influenza A. And what is more important: the recommendations for care will be the same regardless of the type of flu. For this reason, it is useful to test diagnosed a mild to moderate flu. How can evolve influenza A ‘With the available data from the thousands of cases detected worldwide to date, we can say that the vast majority of people spend this flu with mild or moderate symptoms. It must maintain special surveillance of the evolution of symptoms in people with decompensated chronic illness, children under six months and higher risk patients (immunocompromised). How can we act to prevent the spread ‘are two basic recommendations: 1. Frequent hand washing (eg, washing hands 10 times a day has been shown to halve the risk of contagion). 2. Respiratory hygiene (cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and wash hands below, cough or sneeze into your arm if there is no scarf to avoid contact with hands, avoid close or intimate contact when symptoms of the disease are apparent). It is unclear whether the use of masks prevent the spread of the epidemic. Only recommended to use them as sick people are in contact with other people and their carers.
