What is the difference between swine flu and normal flu




















As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs. What are the differences between the H1N1 flu and seasonal flu? Stacy Wiegman, PharmD. There are several differences between the H1N1 flu and seasonal flu. H1N1, or swine flu, is most likely to afflict people under age 25, while seasonal flu occurs most often in people 65 and older.

Both types of flu cause similar symptoms, including fever, coughing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, body aches, chills and fatigue. Infected people can start spreading flu germs up to a day before symptoms start, and for up to seven days after getting sick, according to the CDC. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

A: You will not be able to tell the difference between seasonal flu and H1N1 influenza without medical help. Typical symptoms to watch for are similar to seasonal viruses and include fever, cough, headache, body aches, sore throat and runny nose.

Only your medical practitioner and local health authority can confirm a case of influenza of H1N1flu.

A: The symptoms of novel H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever , cough, sore throat , runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Also, like seasonal flu, severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

A: While most of the current H1N1 influenza cases have been mild so far, infected individuals should still be aware of some of the more severe illness with H1N1 flu. If a person has any of the above symptoms they should seek medical care immediately. For any questions consult your regular medical provider or the local health department. A: H1N1 flu is sensitive to the antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza. The CDC recommends those drugs to prevent or treat swine flu; the drugs are most effective when taken within 48 hours of the start of flu symptoms.

But not everyone needs those drugs. Both influenza A and B viruses can be further classified into clades and sub-clades which are sometimes called groups and sub-groups. Note that this graphic is an example, and currently circulating influenza clades and subclades may differ from those presented here.

Figure 1 — This is a picture of a phylogenetic tree. Each sequence from a specific influenza virus has its own branch on the tree.

The degree of genetic difference between viruses is represented by the length of the horizontal lines branches in the phylogenetic tree. The further apart viruses are on the horizontal axis of a phylogenetic tree, the more genetically different the viruses are to one another. An influenza clade or group is a further subdivision of influenza viruses beyond subtypes or lineages based on the similarity of their HA gene sequences.

See the Genome Sequencing and Genetic Characterization page for more information. Clades and subclades are shown on phylogenetic trees as groups of viruses that usually have similar genetic changes i. Dividing viruses into clades and subclades allows flu experts to track the proportion of viruses from different clades in circulation.

Note that clades and sub-clades that are genetically different from others are not necessarily antigenically different. These proteins act as antigens. Antigens are molecular structures on the surface of viruses that are recognized by the immune system and can trigger an immune response such as antibody production. Therefore, for antigenically different viruses, immunity developed against one of the viruses will not necessarily protect against the other virus as well. Influenza A H3N2 viruses also change both genetically and antigenically.

Influenza A H3N2 viruses have formed many separate, genetically different clades in recent years that continue to co-circulate. Similar to influenza A viruses, influenza B viruses can then be further classified into specific clades and sub-clades. Influenza B viruses generally change more slowly in terms of their genetic and antigenic properties than influenza A viruses, especially influenza A H3N2 viruses.

Influenza surveillance data from recent years shows co-circulation of influenza B viruses from both lineages in the United States and around the world. However, the proportion of influenza B viruses from each lineage that circulate can vary by geographic location and by season.



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