How Can I tell The Difference Between an Allergic Reaction and The Swine Flu?

Many allergies have some very similar symptoms to that of the swine flu. The more common similar symptoms are:
• Cough
• Stuffy Nose
• Sore Throat
• Headache

Some of the symptoms that are associated with the flu and not with common allergies are:
• Sudden High Fever
• Chills
• Tiredness, Lethargy
• Joints that Ache
• Nausea, Vomiting
• Diarrhea

The swine flu is especially dangerous for the elderly, young children and infants as well as those already fighting or being treated for an additional condition or illness.

Vaccines: Will they help?

While the vaccines that are already available at the time of this article being published (Sept 1 2009) will help to fight the common strain of influenza, it will NOT help in preventing H1N1. Women who are pregnant along with the elderly and infants are in a higher risk group and therefore it is HIGHLY recommended that they get the flu vaccine. There are few side effects associated with a flu shot and the most common is soreness at the site of injection. The flu vaccine is actually a dead virus and so it should NOT give you symptoms of the flu. Currently, research is being done and officials hope to have a vaccine to help fight the swine flu in a few months. That being said it is feared that by that time it will already be rampant.

How Do I Protect Myself?

As easy of an answer as this is going to seem, the best way to protect yourself from the swine flu is to wash your hands. Also, if you are in a position that allows you to telecommute, then by all means do so once reports of cases start to climb. It is also important to help those who can’t help themselves such as the infirm or infants. If you have elderly neighbors perhaps offer to do their shopping for them. It is also important that if you notice that you have some of the symptoms that you do NOT ignore them and that you contact your Dr or go to a hospital for treatment right away. While there is a good chance that you might not have the H1N1 virus, if you do getting medication as soon as hospital will lower the chance of it becoming serious.

In Conclusion

While there is no way to guarantee you do not contract the swine flu there are definitely steps you can take to help prevent it and also will help slow the spread. Allergies that are associated with pollen are generally more dormant in the fall and winter depending on when you live. If you have some of the symptoms that can be associated with either the flu or allergies, as well as any that are only associated with the flu, it is recommended that you see a Dr as soon as possible.

Recommended Allergy Resources

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