What flu is this?
Media have overcrowded with a lot of reports about a potential pandemic “Swine flu”. A strain of influenza that hadn’t seen before affecting humans is killing people in Mexico and has infected more than 1000 others. It is impacting other countries and has visited New York. But, what about the disisease? How does it look alike? Is it possible to get this disease in COPD?
Is this Swine flu the same Flu we are used to?
The typical influenza is a very contagious disease and ussually is tranmitted by the respiratory route rather than objects. That is the reason why you may find the use of a mask as an appropriate measure. There are several types influeza viruses. The ones most found in humans are called type A and type B (not easy to differentiate in the patient). Type C influenza tends to produce minor illness.
From Avian to Swine Flu
The outbreak in the news is a type of influenza that affects pigs. They can become infected from the avian influenza (the one that affects birds). Pigs may contaminate each other (while the virus changes a little bit) but now there are contaminated humans.
At this point, we have an new influenza affecting humans that will have same features as the “traditional” influenza but with different outcomes. Some of them well known thanks to “out-of-control” media news.
How this Flu looks alike?
These viruses tend to replicate in the layers of airways for a period of 4 days. After this period, the disease becomes apparent and is marked by a sudden onset of symptoms. The symptoms are: nasal congestion, swollen throat, conjunctivitis (red eyes), and the symptoms of bronchitis (cough and sputum production).
The issue is that, although the respiratory system is the most affected, other systems may be involved like digestive, headaches, muscle pain … the patient just want to be on bed.
Are COPD patients more vulnerable?
In terms of COPD, the Flu affects this population and that’s the reason why expert guidelines recommend vaccination before seasonal outbreaks. If this will provide with profilaxis for the current outbreak is still unknown. Given the lung condition it is expected that COPD may include a predominant population to be affected. These viruses affects seriously the respiratory tract.
Since the risk factors for contracting the disease are typical: patients in semi-closed environments (hospitals, nursing homes, schools, prisons, and crowded-close environments during epidemics … it seems reasonable to make some of social distancing at this point.
Recommendations for COPD patients to avoid risks of Swine Flu
I would recommend to my patients some of the things that media are not saying (but creating panic in the population). If you are a stable COPD patient avoid:
- Avoid visits where there are kids (they exchange viruses between each other easier than anybody)
- Do not go to parties in close houses or apartments
- Avoid unnecessary visits to doctor’s offices (talk to your doctor before)
- Don’t use public transportation during rush hours
- Be hydrated and try to cough efficiently (if you are a frequent cougher)
- Air travel is not a good option now (particularly the long ones)
- Concerts, movie theaters, theaters … ussually people go there because they don’t feel well and want to have a quiet entertainment
- Listen to NPR
Your respiratory medications
It is important to keep using your medicines. If you are under therapy with inhaled steroids, you may want to be sure you’re not exposed to people with acute respiratory illneses.
Signs of alarm
If your respiratory symptoms get worse and you have fever and other symptoms of flu, you really need to talk to your doctor since there is a risk for having influenza or being infected with the current swine flu (based on your contacts).
What should you do?
Don’t be scared. Just be smart and protect yourself of become infected. If you have to go to out side places to eat, pick them appropriately (keeping in mind the kind of people who ussually go there).
My best regards.
