Information on H1N1 (Swine Flu)

How Do I Know If I Have the Flu?

If you have all or some of the symptoms mentioned below;

• Fever
• Coughing
• Sore throat
• Runny or congested nose
• Body aches
• Headache
• Trembling
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea or vomiting

If the Flu Symptoms are Mild, Do I Need To Go To the Emergency Department?

• Stay at home except for people who need medical advice and help*
• Contact with other people should be avoided except for medical assistance

If your flu symptoms are mild, you do not need to contact the emergency department. If you are sick or showing signs of illness, rest at home and stay away from people around you to avoid infecting them. You should wash your hands frequently to avoid infecting others. You should wear a mask when you have to go outside, and you should cover your mouth with a tissue in cases of coughing and sneezing. Take plenty of fluids, consume nutritious foods and use paracetamol as a fever reducer. The 2009 H1N1 virus shows mild symptoms in most people, requiring no medical or antiviral treatment other than antipyretics.

People who need medical advice and assistance during swine flu;

• Children under the age of 5, especially under the age of 2
• Elderly people over 65 years
• Pregnant women
• People with Chronic DiseaseKanser
• People Have Cancer
• Blood diseases
• Chronic lung diseases
• Diabetes mellitus
• Heart Diseases
• Kidney diseases
• Liver diseases
• Neurological disorders
• Neuromuscular disorders
• Weakened immune system (AIDS)

It is also possible to see serious symptoms in healthy people. When the following symptoms are seen in people who have the flu, it is absolutely necessary to consult the health institution.

What are the emergency symptoms?

In children;

• Fast and challenging breathing
• Bluish color of the skin
• Not being able to breathe enough
• Fatigue
• Restlessness, aggression, and behavior change
• Increased symptoms
• Rashes with fever

In adults;

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest and abdomen
• Dizziness
• Dizziness and drowsiness
• Severe and persistent vomiting

Are There Any Medications That Treat H1N1 Flu?

Yes. Medications that can be used under the control of a doctor to treat or prevent swine flu are available. Unless recommended by your doctor, these medications should never be used without a prescription.

How Long Should I Stay Home When I Am Sick?

Stay at home for up to seven days (up to 24 hours without a fever).

What Should I Do To Protect Myself from the Flu?

First and foremost, we need to wash our hands. Maintain your overall health.

• Get enough sleep,
• Be physically active,
• Manage your stress,
• Drink plenty of liquids,
• Eat regularly.

Additionally;

• Do not touch surfaces infected with the flu virus,
• Avoid contact with sick individuals.

How Long is the H1N1 Flu Virus İnfectious?

• Lasts approximately +7 days with acute onset symptoms.
• Incubation Period: 1-4 days, average 2 days
• Infectious period:

It starts 1 day before the symptoms and lasts for 7 days.
Children may be contagious for longer.

What Can I Do To Protect Myself?

To prevent contagion, it is necessary to use a mask and avoid crowded places.  To protect your health (both sick and healthy individuals):

• When coughing, close your mouth and nose (with a handkerchief)
• Wash your hands with soap and water, use alcohol-containing hand sanitizers (especially after coughing or sneezing),
• Do not touch your eyes, nose, and mouth, because that's how the virus spreads.
• Avoid contact with sick people.
• If you have the flu, do not go to school or work, rest.

Washing Hands

Washing your hands often will help protect you from the disease. Wash your hands with soap and water or clean them with alcohol-containing hand sanitizers. It is recommended to wash your hands with soap and water for 15 - 20 seconds. Alcohol wipes can be used in the absence of soap and water.

Measures to be Taken in Offices

Open offices are suitable environments for the A (H1N1) (Swine flu) virus as well as for all respiratory infections. In the winter months, when people spend more time indoors and have tighter living conditions, the rate of transmission of flu-like infections is higher. In the last months of the pandemic, this virus has been on our agenda more than other viruses, and the effect of fear and anxiety is very high. For this reason, in open office environments where most of the day is spent, the most important protection methods to be considered to protect from other respiratory viral diseases, especially swine flu, are as follows:

Providing Healthy Living Conditions

• Going outdoors during the day, getting plenty of oxygen, fresh air
• Paying more attention to healthy eating than ever before
• Taking care to consume fresh fruits, vegetables, and plenty of fluids
• Paying attention to doing physical exercises, especially walking

Implementing Infection Prevention Rules

• Resting at home for 1 week when showing signs of severe disease, treatment without medication unless severe symptoms are shown
• Staying at least 1 meter away from people with suspected illness
• Masks worn by people with signs of illness in the office
• Covering the mouth with something that can be discarded later while sneezing, coughing (handkerchief, mask…) Sneeze on your arm
• Washing our hands frequently, which may be a means of transmitting the disease due to the possibility that the virus may remain on the surfaces
• Not touching our mouth and nose when there is no hand washing opportunity
• Keeping hand sanitizer in easily accessible places and using disinfectant in cases where there is no immediate hand washing opportunity
• Ventilating the environment every 3 hours; increasing the air exchange rate in smart buildings
• Ensuring the disinfection of all surfaces in common areas at the end of the day (unlike routine cleaning, performing this cleaning with virus effective disinfectants

Measures to be Taken in Schools

• Children should be taught the importance of hand washing. It should be washed by hand frequently with soap and water.
• The sick child (fever, sneezing and coughing) should be sent home regardless of the diagnosis.
• Regardless of the reason, the coughing child who sneezes should be trained to close his mouth.
• Classes must be ventilated between each class. Children should be allowed to consume plenty of fluids and fruits.
• Disinfection of the kitchen, cafeteria, toilets in schools should be carried out more often than usual.
• Children with chronic diseases should be identified and referred for vaccination.
• It is essential to cooperate with families.
• Disinfection of sources such as common water dispensers should be carried out more frequently and care should be taken to prevent direct contact (such as children putting their mouths to the water dispenser and drinking water or taking water from their own water containers and dispensers)
• School services should be ventilated frequently.
• Each child should be encouraged to bring disposable wipes with them.
• Prevent children from touching their faces with their hands. Avoid touching any part of your children's face except for necessities such as food, bath, and wound care.
• If possible, have the child gargle with salt water once a day when they return from school. Let's make sure your child drinks as much of the lukewarm drinks as he can. (Such as milk, herbal teas)
• Ensure that children consume plenty of fluids and fruits. Boost their immunity by using foods rich in vitamin C.