H1N1 is merely one of the influenza virus types that produces H1N1 flu, widely known as “swine flu” because it was first discovered in pigs. The virus is very contagious and transmits between humans rapidly and effectively, generating symptoms similar to those of the typical human flu.
Symptoms and red flags
Dr. Vikram Vora, Medical Director, India Subcontinent – International SOS, stated in an interview with HT Lifestyle that the H1N1 flu’s symptoms and warning signals are remarkably similar to those of typical human flu and are brought on by the virus’s growth in the nose, throat, and lungs’ cells. These include fever (with or without chills), sore throat, cough, runny nose/stuffy nose, watering of the eyes, headache or heaviness, exhaustion, nausea, vomiting and at times, diarrhoea. Breathing difficulties, chest pain, dehydration, and convulsions are rare in children but can occur. After the illness, these symptoms go away within a few days.
Itching in the throat, runny nose, fever, body ache, high-grade fever myalgia, cough with expectoration, and breathlessness are some of the warning signs to watch out for if someone has the swine flu or H1N1. Dr. Kishor Sathe, Specialist Emergency Medicine at PD Hinduja Hospital and MRC in Mumbai, echoed this. Dr. Anant Pandhare, Medical Director at Aurangabad’s Dr. Hedgewar Hospital in Maharashtra, added to the list by saying, “Some of the most common symptoms are chills, fever, cough, diarrhoea, vomiting, headache, throat pain, body ache, running nose, requirement of O2 in some cases who are having comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension. Young children and infants with severe swine flu symptoms may experience dyspnea, apnea, tachypnea, dehydration, and other symptoms. Acute respiratory failure may happen occasionally.