About Tamiflu

Tamiflu is approved for the treatment of the Influenza virus and also aids from futher spread with in the body, treating flu at its source. Its mechanism of action includes attacking the virus that causes the flu instead of simply masking the symptoms of the flu in adults and children over 1 year of age. It is also indicated as a prophylaxis against the flu.

Tamiflu facts include:

The trade name for Tamiflu is oseltamivir phosphate Unlike other antiviral flu medications, such as Flumadine and Symmetrel, Tamiflu is effective against both type A and B strains of flu The drug helps in the reduction of the duration of the flu symptoms by about 1.3 days This medication is a neuraminidase inhibitor There is no generic version of Tamiflu available on the market and neither is it available through the NHS.

How does Tamiflu work?

Tamiflu, an antiviral drug, is used in the treatment and prophylaxis of both Influenza virus A and B. A neuraminidase inhibitor, Tamiflu acts as a transition-state analogue inhibitor of influenza neuraminidase, which helps in the prevention of new viruses emerging from infected cells. Tamiflu is the only neuraminidase inhibitor that has been proven to fight against Bird Flu.

Tamiflu was the first commercially developed, orally active neuraminidase inhibitor. Considered a pro-drug, Tamiflu is hydrolysed hepatically to active metabolite, the free carboxylate of oseltamivir.

Tamiflu is indicated for treatment and prevention in people at least one year of age and above. Reports are that Tamiflu may have an adverse effect on infants under the age of one.

Tamiflu Dosages

Tamiflu tablets are available as 75mg capsules and as a 12mg/ml tutti-frutti flavored oral suspension for children who are too young to swallow the pills. Tamiflu can be taken either with or without food. But, there are reduced chances of upset stomach if Tamiflu is taken with a light snack, milk, or a meal. In addition, this drug does not treat other flu-like viral infections, such as the stomach flu, colds, or RSV.

Tamiflu treatment should be started with the first appearance of the flu symptoms or soon after exposure to the flu. If one has the flu then Tamiflu must be taken twice a day for five days. But, if you want to take Tamiflu as a preventive medication against the flu, Tamiflu must be taken once a day for ten days. Tamiflu can be taken for up to six weeks. Do not take two doses at a time to make up for a missed dose.

Tamiflu precautions

Safety and effectiveness of Tamiflu have not been determined in people with chronic heart or lung disease, kidney failure, or in people with other underlying medical conditions. In addition:

Efficacy for Tamiflu has not been established in the treatment of flu-like illnesses caused by any virus other than influenza A and B (e.g., stomach flu, common cold, or other respiratory illnesses not caused by influenza). Tamiflu is not known to work in other kinds of infections that appear like influenza or occur along with influenza, and need different types of treatment. Taking Tamiflu should not affect an individual\’s decision to have an annual influenza vaccination. The safety and efficacy of repeated courses of Tamiflu treatment have not been established. Tamiflu is not indicated for treatment or prevention of the flu in patients less than 1 year of age.

Tamiflu side effects

Vomiting, abdominal pain, epistaxis (nosebleeds), ear disorders, conjunctivitis (pinkeye) and nausea are the most common side effects of Tamiflu. Tamiflu side effects are mostly mild to moderate and are generally presented within the first two days of taking the medication. Sometimes, taking the medication on a full stomach may prevent these side effects.

Severe rash is another side effect of Tamiflu and the medication must be stopped in case this happens.

With Tamiflu, some people are at an increased risk of seizures, confusion, delirium, hallucinations, abnormal behavior, convulsions, and encephalitis.

In order to prevent side effects, it is also essential to tell your healthcare professional about receiving nasally administered influenza virus vaccine during the past two weeks.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SWINE FLU

The world is facing a serious problem of swine flu, currently cases of swine flu was first reported in USA and in Mexico. In  Mexico where it was first reported, the Health Authority was placed on alert after the dead of many people due to the influenza virus that was formally unknown.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease that is caused by influenza A (H1N1) virus. Its main symptoms are similar to that of a seasonal flu like fever, coughing, lack of appetite, runny

nose, nausea, sore throat, vomiting, and diarrhea

Medication for Swine Flu

Currently there is no vaccine available for the treatment of swine flu. However, doctors feel that popular anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu and Relenza can prove useful for treatment as well as preventive purposes.

A popular prescription drug, Tamiflu, can help treat influenza type A infection, which includes swine flu. Not only this, it can also prevent the flu. The main ingredient in Tamiflu is oseltamivir, which stops the further spread of the virus in the body, providing it more immunity to fight back.

Tamiflu is available only on prescription, so to buy it, you need to go to a doctor for medical check-up. If the doctor approves and provides you with a valid prescription, then you can buy Tamiflu from any local licensed pharmacy. Another way to buy this drug is over the internet.

The doses of Tamiflu for treatment as well as prevention of flu can vary. Always follow the recommendations of your doctor or pharmacy. Generally, for treatment purposes, adults can take one capsule dose twice daily for five days. For prevention measures, they can take one capsule daily for 10 days.

Since Tamiflu is a prescription drug, patients who takes it are  likely to suffer from some of its side effects such as nausea, vomiting, rash, abdominal pain, and sleep problems. It’s advisable for patients to take Tamiflu with food, as it can lower the intensity of these side effects. Remember, Tamiflu is a proven drug for flu treatment and proves beneficial for flu prevention too.

Another flu treatment called Relenza, contains the ingredients Zanamivir (5mg) and lactose (20 mg), which effectively treat influenza type A and B infections. This flu treatment comes in a powdered form, which is inhaled twice in a day for five days or at least once daily for up to 28 days.

How to Prevent Swine

FluYou can take Relenza for prevention purposes against flu infection, including swine flu. It prevents the further spread of flu virus in the body and strengthens the whole immune system.

Apart from taking any anti-viral medication, you can prevent swine flu infection by taking everyday preventive measures. First and foremost is to avoid a contact with an infected person. You should always try to keep a distance, and if he or she is your closest or dearest one, then use mask whenever you go nearer to that person.

Whenever you are sick due to flu infection, always stay at home to avoid spreading it While coughing or sneezing, always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue.

Be wise by maintaining good personal hygiene. Always wash your hands, as it protects you from germs. You should avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, as it increases the possibility of spreading germs, if you have touched any contaminated surface.

I hope I have been able to educate you on the Swine Flu Influenza and its prevention for more information you can visit :

Http://mankind-health-edu.bloggspot.com

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The world is facing a serious flu threat in the form of swine flu. Currently human cases of swine flu have been reported from Mexico and the US. Swine flu was first reported in Mexico, where several people have died from the new strain of the influenza virus, so health authorities have been put on a high alert to prevent a pandemic like situation from occurring.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease that is caused by influenza A (H1N1) virus. Its main symptoms are similar to that of a seasonal flu like fever, coughing, lack of appetite, runny nose, nausea, sore throat, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Currently there is no vaccine available for the treatment of swine flu. However, doctors feel that popular anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu and Relenza can prove useful for treatment as well as preventive purposes.

A popular prescription drug, Tamiflu, can help treat influenza type A infection, which includes swine flu. Not only this, it can also prevent the flu. The main ingredient in Tamiflu is oseltamivir, which stops the further spread of the virus in the body, providing it more immunity to fight back.

Another flu treatment called Relenza, contains the ingredients Zanamivir (5mg) and lactose (20 mg), which effectively treat influenza type A and B infections. This flu treatment comes in a powdered form, which is inhaled twice in a day for five days or at least once daily for up to 28 days.

Apart from taking any anti-viral medication, you can prevent swine flu infection by taking everyday preventive measures and by knowing about the common swine flu symptoms. First and foremost is to avoid a contact with an infected person. You should always try to keep a distance, and if he or she is your closest or dearest one, then use mask whenever you go nearer to that person.

The world is facing a serious flu threat in the form of swine flu. Currently human cases of swine flu have been reported from Mexico and the US. Swine flu was first reported in Mexico, where several people have died from the new strain of the influenza virus, so health authorities have been put on a high alert to prevent a pandemic like situation from occurring.

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2009 is the year of Swine Flu globally. It is more prevalent in humans due to the emergence of Influenza A virus Subtype H1N1 that contains genes which are closely related to swine influenza. Swine Influenza is also known as Pig flu, Swine Flu and hog flu.

According to World organization for animal health this strain is mainly caused through pigs. Pigs are more prone to influenza as comparative to humans. The transmission of Swine influenza virus from pigs to humans is not usual and does not cause human influenza which further results in the production of antibodies in blood. It is always not necessary that this influenza is only cause through pigs. Swine Flu is highly contagious and it can be transmitted from human to human and further results in normal influenza. Chill, fever, sore throat, muscle pain, headache coughing, weakness and general comfort are all symptoms of Influenza.

Swine Influenza is more prevalent in countries like United States (In mid west and in other States) Mexico, Canada, South America, Europe, United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Eastern Asia.

Swine Flu is not transmitted through Pork when properly cooked. However for the people who work with pigs, they have high risk of getting Swine Flu.

Swine Flu can be taken care in animals by giving them proper vaccination and taking good care of them. Antibiotics are used against animals for treating Swine Influenza, which by no means will cure Swine Influenza but will help in Treating Bacterial pneumonia and other secondary infections.

Preventive measures:

Pigs to Humans- Farmers and Veterinarians are advised to use a face mask when they are with infected animals. Use of gloves and avoidance of direct contact with animal (Nose or mouth) can be beneficial.

Humans to humans-Wash your hands regularly with an antiseptic soap or an alcohol based sanitizer. You can also clean your floor surface against the viruses and bacteria with the use of Chlorine bleach solution.

Anti-Viral drugs can be given to the humans who are suffering from Swine Flu. It instantly relieves the patient from the illness. Anti viral drugs should be given within 2 days of symptoms. Besides giving viral drugs, palliative care is also given by hospitals and homes in order to control the fever and to maintain the fluid balance. It is recommended by the U.S. Centre for disease Control and Prevention to use Tamiflu or Relenza as a protection/prevention from Swine Flu.

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Will the avian flu cause a disaster similar to the Spanish flu of 1918 that killed more than fifty million people in the world?

Avian flu or avian influenza is spreading at an alarming rate and it is believed that if it continues its flight, it has the potential to cause another major pandemic around the world. This time, it is estimated that up to one hundred and fifty million people may die.

Avian flu is a disease caused by a specific type of avian or bird influenza virus. Scientists have discovered that there are fifteen types of avian flu viruses that affect the bird populace. The current outbreak of avian flu is caused by the H5N1 virus.

Although the avian flu virus is supposed to be typically affecting the birds, the nature of this flu virus is that it can mutate and transfer from one species to another. The avian flu virus that has been killing birds previously is now affecting human beings too. Those people who have been affected contacted the disease because they were unhygienic in handling infected poultry.

The H5N1 virus has been found to be highly contagious and it can be transmitted to human beings through the contact of excretal or nasal secretions from infected birds. In addition, if the avian flu mutates and joins with a human flu virus, it will be transmitted easily from one person to another. If not detected and treated early, it can become fatal. The deadly avian flu virus is highly infectious and if it spreads rapidly, it will cause rapid fatalities to the human species.

This virus was first discovered in Hong Kong in 1997. It was spread by infected migratory birds such as wild ducks, swallows and wild geese to domesticated fowls like chicken, ducks, geese, turkeys and eventually affecting human beings too. A number of countries have confirmed human deaths due to avian flu and the figures have been constantly on the rise. Apparently, the avian flu virus has infected several hundred people and killing at least one hundred and fifty of them. It has also spread to a number of other countries such as Cambodia, mainland China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The lethal H5N1 virus has caused the death or culling of an estimated two hundred million birds over a widespread of countries such as Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong), Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thailand, Malaysia, Mongolia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Vietnam.

When infected with the pathogenic H5N1 virus, the birds may develop severe sicknesses such as respiratory diseases and they usually die within the same day. Other telltale symptoms are loss of appetite, diarrhea, nervousness and depression as well as a reduction in egg production and ruffled feathers.

As prevention is the best cure, the precautionary measures initiated by the various affected countries helps in curbing aggravation.

At poultry farms, once a bird is infected, it must be culled immediately and the others properly vaccinated. While the owners are to routinely send randomly selected birds to the nearest avian lab for thorough check-ups, all of their workers must be properly covered when handling the fowls so as to avoid any direct contacts with infected birds.

It is believed that the avian flu virus cannot survive in temperatures above 100C. As such, all poultry products must be cooked thoroughly and properly. In addition, it is important to wash one’s hands with soap and hot water before food preparation and meals or after coming in contact with raw poultry products.

Although two drugs, Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) are found to be effective against the deadly avian flu virus if taken within forty-eight of occurrence of first symptoms, no preventive drugs has yet been discovered against the H5N1 virus.

Avian flu infection in human beings portrays common flu symptoms such as cough, fever, headache, sore throat and muscle aches or pains. These may then progress to life threatening complications such as severe chest pains, breathing difficulties, respiratory failure and viral pneumonia. However, at times, the only symptom that an affected person has is an eye infection such as conjunctivitis, which can be mistaken to be ordinary sore eyes. As such, there may be misconceptions on whether the person has ordinary flu or the life-threatening avian flu.

The avian flu is certainly a potential pandemic threat to humanity and has to be addressed globally. As prevention has always been the best cure, the temporary solution is to maintain a healthy and hygienic lifestyle all the time.

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