What is it?
Swine Flu (Influenza A, H1N1 strain) is a highly infectious viral disease. It mainly affects the respiratory tract with some effect on other organ systems. We are experiencing a pandemic of this infection, meaning that it will continue to circulate through the community for many months. Early attempts at containment have obviously failed.
An increase in cases this Autumn is predicted.
How do you get it?
It is easily transmitted by droplet particles from coughing and sneezing and contact with contaminated objects.
Who gets it?
It differs from regular seasonal Influenza in its rapid transmissible nature and its preference for the young. Young adults and children are currently the population most at risk. It is a generally mild illness and almost all deaths worldwide have been in individuals who have underlying health problems e.g. heart disease, diabetes, asthma, immunosuppressant medication e.g. Cortisone-like drugs, HIV infected individuals, and other significant pre-existing diseases especially of the liver kidneys and nervous system.
Pregnant women and children under five years of age are also at increased risk.
What are the symptoms?
These can include:
• Cough
• Fever, usually over 38.0C
• Headache
• Muscle and joint pain (but usually without visible swelling)
• General weakness, fatigue and tiredness
• Upper respiratory symptoms eg sore throat, runny nose
• Nausea and digestive upsets
How long does it last?
Typically it lasts a week but post- influenza fatigue may last several weeks longer. In this, it is similar to other recent Influenza epidemics.
Why is it different to other Influenzas?
Pandemics such as the current H1N1 Influenza can affect up to half the population. Current estimates suggest one third of the UK population will catch this disease, mostly in a mild form.
Many will not even notice and think their symptoms indicate they simply need a holiday or should just improve their eating and drinking habits etc. This, of course may also be true.
Seasonal epidemics arrive in a predictable seasonal occurrence and a vaccine can be prepared well in advance.
Pandemics arrive at any time, spread rapidly, without time to prepare a vaccine till the infection has taken hold of a significant part of the population.
How is it treated?
A cynic could say ”rather poorly” and not be too wrong.
Oral Tamiflu and inhaled Relenza are the approved antivirals currently in use. Relenza is safe in pregnancy unlike Tamiflu.
To be effective, the drugs need to be commenced within 48 hours of the onset. Antibiotics do not help and indeed, by altering bowel bacterial flora, may actually lower immunity.
Secondary infection, if it occurs, is seen after a week with persisting fever, coughing up of foul sputum and progressive weakness.
This is not common and antibiotics MAY have a role in these cases.
How do we detect it?
In a pandemic, clinical suspicion is sufficient. As the viral testing takes 48 hours to return and antivirals need to be commenced within 48 hours of onset of symptoms, it is pointless performing this testing except in most unusual circumstances.
I have the symptoms: what do I do?
General advice:
• STAY AT HOME.
• Take plenty of clear nourishing liquids especially water. Dehydration can worsen the severity of the disease.
Specific advice
• Contact your doctor. Antivirals can only be prescribed CURRENTLY via Government designated centres. Private doctors are no longer allowed to prescribe Relenza and Tamiflu for the duration of this pandemic.
The National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS) is now operational in England.
ACCESSING ANTIVIRALS IN WESTMINSTER
The NPFS will provide a telephone and web based assessment service. The NPFS telephone number is 0800 1 513 100 and web address: www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu. This service is available to all people residing in UK, whether registered with NHS or not. Patients who need antiviral medication are given a unique authorisation number, which the patient’s ‘flu friend’ – a friend or relative who does not have swine flu – uses to collect the medication from an antiviral collection point (ACP). Each patient is only eligible for one course of antivirals.
How can I avoid Swine Flu?
At TTSM we offer you an Integrated Medical approach to health care: the best of Orthodox and Complementary Medicine.
A) PREVENTION:
General advice:
• Avoid crowds
• Wash hands using a nailbrush with soap and water after touching others and especially after using public transport. Alcohol based gel rubs are extremely convenient and relatively inexpensive.
• Avoid immune depressing activities such as “social” drinking, recreational drugs, unnecessary antibiotics, large amounts of sugar and dehydration. Normal for London (“NFL”) drinking weakens many organ systems. Remember, 40% of the liver cells are immune cells. Alcohol liver damage directly affects immunity.
Vaccines:
Last year’s Fluvax may still provide at least some residual partial protection against the Swine Flu.
The Health Department assures us in any case that the specific Swine Flu vax will be available in UK in the next month or so….
If and when TTSM is able to assist the Health Department in its national immunisation for Swine Flu, we will advise our members accordingly.
Homeopathic Cold and Flu prevention (“Homeo-prophylaxis”):
Influenzinum/Bacillinum 200
This medicine is a homeopathic treatment which aims to modulate the body’s defence against respiratory infections in general.
It has been in use for many decades and, in the opinion of experienced homeopathic doctors is a useful adjunct to healthy lifestyle in the avoidance of colds and flu.
It is derived from several homeopathic viral and bacterial vaccines (“nosodes”)
There is no infective principle remaining owing to the high degree of sterility and dilution used in its preparation.
For further information on homeopathy please visit the following websites or correspond with The Third Space Medicine’s Medical Director, Dr Eric Asher MBBS FRACGP FFHom directly: eric.asher@thethirdspace.com. www.homeocare.co.uk www.trusthomeopathy.org
It is typically taken once weekly.
B) TREATMENT:
Homeopathic Anas Barb 200, TAKEN FROM THE ONSET OF FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS, has a long traditional use in Homeopathy for the treatment of all Influenza. It is derived from wild duck organs, a natural reservoir of Avian Influenza virus. There is no negative interaction with orthodox medication such as Tamiflu.
Take vitamin C unless specifically advised against this by your doctor. The dose in illness is 100mg per kg of body weight three times a day. For an average adult male this effectively means two 500mg vitamin C tablets or equivalent dose of powdered vitamin C each HOUR while awake. As you improve, reduce the dose. Rumbly tummy and loose motions with HIGH doses of vitamin C mean the body needs less.
As you improve, you will need lower doses.
Golden Seal plus Echinacea. This herbal mixture is quite effective in assisting recovery from viral and indeed bacterial infections. The Golden Seal assists the mucous membranes to recover and Echinacea both soothes local pain (some numbing sensation is normal) and improves immunity.