September 3, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - People infected with H1N1 swine flu need to follow their doctor's orders both in regard to medication recommendations and in how to take steps to avoid spreading the virus, says a noted University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) antiviral researcher who oversees all adult studies conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Collaborative Antiviral Study Group.
That may mean getting a prescription for one of the antiviral drugs, Tamiflu® or Relenza®, soon after flu symptoms appear, and avoiding doctors' waiting areas and hospital emergency departments, where H1N1 could cause more illness, says John Gnann Jr., M.D.
"If your community is one where people are coming down with swine flu and are developing flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, body aches and sore throat, you should stay home and avoid contact with others if you feel this way," says Gnann, a professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases. "In the middle of an epidemic, when there's a lot of influenza in the community, it may not be necessary for you to go in and see your health-care provider in order to receive solid medical advice.
"Call the doctor's office before you go - you can get appropriate symptom management over the telephone," he says.
Experts recommend the use of Tamiflu or Relenza for the treatment and the prevention, in certain cases, of infection with H1N1 swine flu. These are prescription medicines that come in pills, liquid or an inhaled form designed to fight flu by keeping the virus from reproducing inside the body, Gnann says. Antiviral drugs have shown they make flu illness milder and speed recovery if taken soon after symptoms appear, he says.
"If you take an antiviral drug for the flu, it is very important that you start treatment within the first 48 hours after disease onset," Gnann says. "So, within two days of the time fever starts, patients need to be taking antiviral drugs. Beyond that time it is less clear that antivirals provide any benefit against flu."
Smart advice for people who are recovering from swine flu at home or caring for a flu patient includes covering coughs or sneezes with a tissue or by bending an arm over the mouth, he says. Cleaning hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based gels is important for both the flu patient and the caregiver. Wear a facemask, if available and tolerable, when near the infected person. Experts recommend staying home for at least 24 hours after a fever subsides.
"Keep the sick person, whether it's a child or an adult, in a private room and preferably one that has a private bath, if the home situation allows," Gnann says. "There should be a limit on the visitors coming into the home. Try to keep the contacts at a minimum to try to avoid spreading the virus."
About UAB
UAB is the state of Alabama's largest employer and an internationally renowned research university and academic health center whose professional schools and specialty patient care programs are consistently ranked as among the nation's top 50. The UAB Health System includes all of the University of Alabama at Birmingham's patient care activities, including UAB Hospital, the Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital and The Kirklin Clinic. Find more information at www.uab.edu and www.uabmedicine.org.