Swine flu: how do you know when you've got it bad?

The World Health Organization has issued a list of symptoms that indicate an infection of pandemic H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, is progressing toward complications such as pneumonia and medical attention is required.

Worrisome signs, the agency said, include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, turning blue, bloody or colored sputum, chest pain, altered mental status, a high fever lasting more than three days, and low blood pressure.

In children, particular danger signs include fast or difficult breathing, lack of alertness, difficulty in waking up, and little or no desire to play.

Because the disease can progress very quickly once such signs appear, an immediate visit to the family doctor or to the emergency room is warranted, the WHO said.

As of Friday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 5,314 swine-flu-related hospitalizations in 47 states and U.S. territories and 353 deaths.

-- Thomas H. Maugh II

Comments

[David]

Just a note concerning H1N1. About 5 weeks ago I had symptoms consistent with flu including fever for over 3 days and above 102F at times, and a deep tightness in my chest, plus muscle/body aches for almost a week and mental cloudiness with a need to just lie down all the time. 5 weeks out I am still not feeling 100% being tired and still some coughing when exerting-my lungs clearly have taken a hit. I have never had anything like this and do not normally get sick easily. I don't know that it was H1N1 because I got to a doctor too late for direct viral testing. I just wanted to post this in case anyone else has had or will get similar symptoms. I don't normally post any comments anywhere, but admit to being rather obsessive about the possibility that this new flu may hit some healthy people pretty hard in the lung department.

[Ken]

Should not the statistic of 5314 hospitalizations and 353 deaths be seen in comparison to an estimated 1,000,000 infections?

[Aaron]

I too came down with a very bad flu not too long ago. I don't know if it is all the hype out there but I really did feel this was worse than what I had had before. Although it probably wasn't H1n1 because I did not have a fever, my lungs chest and lungs hurt and I had shortness of breath. I had never experienced those symptoms with a flu before. Heard they are coming up with a vaccination. http://www.theartdeptchronicles.blogspot.com

[Dawn Sisson]

day 5 with fever will be tonight - I feel as if I have overdosed on tylenol, ibuprofin and other over the counter - mainly for the extreme pain and constant fever. I really don't know how high my fever would get as I have medicated every 3-4 hours (with extra strength). It has been anywhere from 100-102 constant for 5 days as of tonight. worst physical pain I can recall! Will go to the dr tomorrow if I stiil have a fever.

[Jennifer Stuck]

I have never been so sick. I have so much mucus in my chest when I wake. I can't stop puking. Horrible muscle aches. Sweats and chills. And I've never slept so much in my life. Somedays I feel better, and others times I can't even get out of bed for days at a time. I have been sick for 2 months already. I have lost 30 pounds. I can't take it anymore. The worste part is when I throw up, my arms go numb and my hands curl up. It scares me. I feel like I might die.

[Tiffany]

when i woke up tuesday i wasnt feeling right . but still went into work .. i was sweating there and felt like i was going to pass out so go send home and rested. wed i called the hotline they asked me all the neccasery questions but when i came to temperature i didnt know i didnt have a themometar so they said i wasnt allowed to have the tami flu, so suffered that day. thurday i was so bad i called my own doctor my partner bought a themometer and my deparature was 40.3 they said i had swine flu and i had the tami flu given to me which is the worse thing that happened to me.. all i was doing is throwing up friday i was at my worse my partner kept telling me to drink but i just kept choking on it so he had to call an emegency doctor to see me at 1am fridaynight/sat morning he came to check me over give me injections and a new drug to sort me out .. im getting better slowly but my chest is hurting so much i feel like my lungs have collapsed on me i cant sleep becuase of all the coughing .. my back and neck hurt but one bonus my tempareture has decreased ... hopefully only a few more days to go becuase off on holiday in 2 weeks lol xx

[Dawn Sisson]

Posted originally Aug 4 after being sick for 5 days. Now August 22 and just starting to feel normal again. I did go to the doctor and it was confirmed FLU - Type A (which H191 is!) but they said when I called back a two days later they could not confirm H191 unless I was hospitalized. There is NO other FLU type A that I am aware of in SUMMER!! Seems to be some denial going on now! hmmmmm!
I say LET US DEAL with the REALITY! I am certain I got it from one of my little grandchildren. All 3 whom I am certain had it but were never diagnosed. No CBC, no urnine test - nothing. (FYI - I am only 46) One who had it 3 weeks and went to the doctor 2 or 3 times - two rounds of antibiotics - NEVER TESTED! He was the first to get it and probably got it at Summer Camp or Swim lessons. Same symptoms as me - his fever was HIGH 105! My symptoms were FEVER 102 7-8 days, horrible aches and pains all over, cough started about day 5 and got much worse. I would not be surprised if this flu spreads like FIRE now that school is back in session.

[Elizabeth]

I got sick with the flu right on Thanksgiving Day. I started out feeling very achy, weak, with a minor cough. By the eve. I took a motrin and felt a little better. However, come the next morning I felt Horrible! From the moment I woke up I felt the worst congestion in my chest. I had never experienced such a horrible congestion. Make a long story short I was out for 5 days with temps of up to 102...constantly feeling achy and weak. I couldn't eat hardly anything...lost my apetite entirely. I took so much medication which I hardly ever take...Just now..about 3 weeks later my cough is finally going away. In summary...I have NEVER been so sick in my life. I thought that this swine flu was a bunch of hype but its the real deal.