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Swine flu is an infectious disease caused by an H1N1 virus. The most common symptoms include high fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pains, headache, coughing, and tiredness and are similar to other respiratory or infectious conditions.  Initial lab-based diagnosis is needed before starting specific antiviral.

Medications:

  • Tab. Antiflu (Oseltamivir 75 mg) – 1 tablet twice a day for 5 days.
  • Tab. Dolo 650 (Paracetamol 650 mg) 1 tablet 4 times a day for 5 days.
  • Syrup Rapitus (Levodropropizine 30 mg/5ml) – 10 ml at bed time.
  • Tab. Limcee (Vitamin C 500 mg) 1 tablet a day.
  • Cap. Becozinc (Vitamin B complex and Zinc) 1 tablet a day.
  • Cap. Sinarest Vapocap (for inhalation only) in hot water as needed.

For contacts – Give tab. Antiiflu (Oseltamivir 75 mg) 1 tablet once a day for at least 10 days.

Preventive therapies:

  • Inj. Influvac adult (inactivated Influenza vaccine) i.m. every year as soon as it becomes available. Inj. Influvac kids (inactivated Influenza vaccine) i.m. for children.
  • Inj. Pulmovax 23 (Pnemococcal polysaccharide vaccine PPV 25 mcg) i.m. every 5 years.

General advice:

  • Advice home remedies chicken soup, foods with garlic and pepper.
  • Advice lots of warm water with honey and lime juice to reduce throat irritation.
  • Salt-water gargles.
  • Consider humidifiers to loosen sputum produced with cough.
  • Suggest menthol based ointments such as Vicks vaporub.

Investigations:

  • Throat swab – to rule out swine flu.
  • Malaria antigen card test – to rule out malaria.
  • NS1 Dengue antigen test – to rule out dengue.

Referral:

Consider referring patient to secondary care in case of severe symptoms or if patient presents with additional complications.