Health

Protective measure for Swine flu?

Dr. Belal Ahmad for BeyondHeadlines

Swine flu is acute, highly contagious respiratory infection caused by new influenza virus which is called Novel – H1N1 (Swine flu) virus. The disease spreading rapidly from one place to other paces. Presently it is epidemic and may be pandemic nature in our country. First, there is absolutely no need to panic, do not wearing a mask each time you step out of the house, unless you are visiting a very crowded area. Now it is good for us that vaccine become developed against this strain and hopefully it will be effective.

Epidemic: Epi=upon; Demos=People, unusual occurrence in a community or region of disease. In other word, it is define as excess of “expected occurrence”.

Pandemic: An epidemic usually affecting a large proportion of population occurring a wide geographic area such as a section of nation, the entire nation, a continent or the world e.g. Influenza 1918-1957.

Why it is called Swine flu?

After isolation of this flu virus in the laboratory it is found that many of the gene in it were very similar to influenza virus that normally were circulate in pigs of the North America then it is called Swine flu but after further study it is revealed that this virus is different from the virus of the North American pigs. Actually, it has two genes from pigs, another is avian gene and human gene so you can say these altogether are rearrange and develop new human virus and now spread only human to human.

Clinical manifestation of Swine flu:

  • Abrupt onset of systemic symptoms.
    • Headache (generalized / Frontal)
    • Feverish, chills (100 – 1050F)
    • Myalgia (Most common legs, lumbo sacral)
    • Arthralgia may also develop.
    • Malaise
  • Respiratory tract symptoms
    • Cough
    • Sore throat

      Respiratory symptoms become more prominent as systemic symptoms minimize but cough        and sore throat may persist for > 1 week.

  • Ocular Sign and Symptoms
    • Photophobia
    • Burning of eye
    • Pain on eye movement
      • GIT symptoms
    • Vomiting
    • Diarrhea
      • Physical Sign
    • Flushing of Face
    • Skin is hot and Dry
    • Mild cervical Lymphadenopathy is noted (specially in younger)

 

Tests are carried out to confirm the Swine flu:

  • Throat swab, Nasopharyngeal wash, sputum can be used for virus Isolation.

Protective measure for Swine flu?

  1. Avoid Stress – Stress decrease our body immunity “Swine flu se darna nahi larna hai”.
  2. Loose weight – Research indicate links between obesity and death due to Swine flu.
  3. Take plenty of fluid – hydrate body and upper respiratory track helps to wash out the infections.
  4. Take rest ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­- our total body strength and immunity work fully against the elimination of infective organism during rest.
  5. Take Nutritious diet – particularly proteins and vitamins containing diet.
  6. During coughing and sneezing cover your mouth.
  7. Don’t spit everywhere.
  8. In runny nose clean by tissue paper and put the paper in dustbin.
  9. Frequently wash your hands when you come in from outside using the soap or alcohol based hand wash.
  10. Don’t touch eyes, mouth and nose.
  11. Avoid people who are suffering from respiratory illness.
  12. Avoid unnecessary public places.
  13. Avoid the journey (prophet said to avoid journey at the time of epidemic of Taown.)
  14. When go out from home use facemask especially at overcrowded area and hospital.
  15. Steam inhalation, steam bath
  16. Sip / Drink boiled water.
  17. Use tea but not coffee (because coffee dehydrate the Respiratory passage.
  18. Gargle with Luke warm water. (1/2 Teaspoon salt + 5gm Black pepper powder + 10 gm ginger root+ 10 leaves tulsi)
  19. Nasal saline irrigation – for a stuffy nose.
  20. Disinfect your mobile phone.
  21. Avoid alcohol. (Alcohol is very harmful for our body and our healthy community and    society but particularly in this disease alcohol dehydrate the upper respiratory system so that viruses not easily clear from upper respiratory tract and alcohol decreases the body immunity.)

Home Remedies and Diet:

  • Take Vitamin “C” rich diet as Amla, Guavas and Orange.
  • Consume more green vegetables and fruits.
  • Take small and light food.
  • Do not take over cooked food.
  • Cook the food in minimal oil.
  • Turmeric powder 3 gm with milk or in capsule form.
  • Use honey
  • Use lemon oil.
  • Two pods of raw garlic swallowed daily with lukewarm water. Garlic too strengthens immunity.

Formulation of Unani tib can be effective.

Some Unani compound can also be used which are available in market.

  • Cap gilo.
  • Qurs kafoor
  • Khameera Khash Khash.
  • Looq-e-Nazli Aab-e-Tarbooz wala.
  • Khameera Marvareed.
  • Laooq Sapistan Khayar Shambri
  • Tiryaq-e-Nazla.
  • Tiryaq-e- Aazam.
  • Habb-e-suaal.

(Author is Asstt.Professor in F/o Unani Medicine, AMU, Aligarh. The author can be contacted at belal26@gmail.com)

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