Health

Swine Flu

The symptoms of swine flu are broadly the same as those of ordinary flu, but may be more severe and cause more serious complications.

The typical symptoms are:

• sudden fever, and
• sudden cough.

Other symptoms may include:

• headache,
• tiredness,
• chills,
• aching muscles,
• limb or joint pain,
• diarrhoea or stomach upset,
• sore throat,
• runny nose,
• sneezing, and
• loss of appetite.

Most people who have contracted swine flu recover within a week and do not suffer complications, even without being given antiviral medication. However, experts point out that as this is a new virus, its behaviour cannot be predicted with certainty. Swine flu is different from seasonal flu in that most serious illnesses have been in younger age groups, as happened in all three 20th-century influenza pandemics.

A doctor faced with a symptomatic patient cannot yet predict with certainty the course of their illness and whether or not they will be in the small proportion who may become more seriously ill. This is why antiviral medication is still being given to all those with swine flu in the UK, subject to their doctor’s discretion.

High-risk groups

Some groups of people are more at risk of serious illness if they catch swine flu, and will need to start taking antiviral medication as soon as they are confirmed with the illness. Scientists are still learning more about the risk profile of the virus, but it is already known that the following people are particularly susceptible:

• people with:
  - chronic lung disease,
  - chronic heart disease,
  - chronic kidney disease,
  - chronic liver disease,
  - chronic neurological disease (such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease),
  - immunosuppression (whether caused by
  disease or treatment) and
  - diabetes mellitus,
• patients who have had drug treatment for
  asthma within the past three years,
• pregnant women,
• people aged 65 years and older, and
• young children under five years old.

It is vital that people in these higher-risk groups who catch swine flu get antivirals and start taking them as soon as possible.

Complications

For most people, the illness appears to be mild and self-limiting. Cases have been confirmed in all age groups, but children and younger people seem much more likely to be affected, whereas fewer cases have been confirmed to date in older adults.

For a minority of people, the virus has caused severe illness. In many, but not all, of these cases underlying risk factors have been identified that are likely to have contributed to the severity of the condition.

Worldwide, just over 0.4% of the laboratory-confirmed cases reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) have died, which would be a rate consistent with that normally observed with seasonal influenza. However, the true number of swine flu cases is likely to be significantly higher than that reported to WHO and therefore the figure of 0.4% is likely to be an overestimate of the death rate.

Where complications do occur, they tend to be caused by the virus affecting the lungs. Infections such as pneumonia can develop.

Checking symptoms

If you have flu-like symptoms and are concerned that you may have swine flu:

• Read up on swine flu symptoms then use the NHS Direct swine flu symptom checker.
• or ring the Swine Flu information line on 0800 1 513 513
• If you are then still concerned, stay at home and call your GP.
• If the GP confirms swine flu by telephone, they will give you a voucher reference number entitling you to antiviral medication.
• Give this number to a healthy friend or relative and ask them to pick up the antivirals for you from a designated local collection centre.

Treatment

Go here for information on the treatment of swine flu.

General health information

Key facts from the 2006 NHS Bournemouth Health Profile

• Bournemouth is a regional centre with large young adult population. The town centre has an active night-time economy and high concentration of licensed premises.
• 18% of inhabitants live in the most deprived fifth of areas in England and 21% of children live in low income households.
• One of the best areas for achieving “decent homes standard” in local authority housing.
• GCSE achievement is lower than for England.
• Violent crime worse than for England. An estimated 16% of adults binge drink.
• Support for older people at home less than for England.
• Estimates suggest a low rate of adult obesity.
• Life expectancy 77.3 for males. Life expectancy for females, at 81.9, is higher than for England. Both are rising
• The life expectancy gap between the fifth healthiest and least healthy wards is 5.7 years.
• 300 people die each year from smoking related diseases, this is a lower rate than for England.
• Premature death rates from heart disease, stroke and cancers are also lower and falling.
• Around 86 people die or are seriously injured on the roads of Bournemouth each year.
• People less likely to feel in poor health than throughout England, although more likely than in the South West.
• The percentage of people registered with a GP for mental health conditions is higher than for England. High rates may reflect high need or good service provision.
• Alcohol-related hospital stays are at a higher rate than for England.

Life Expectancy in Bournemouth