(ARA) - While the words "swine flu" and "pandemic flu" are enough to scare adults and children, experts from Everest College's nursing programs explain what H1N1 is, and offer some advice for how to protect yourself and your children from it.

What is H1N1?

H1N1 virus, more commonly known as "swine flu," is a new strand of influenza that has been labeled a pandemic flu by the World Health Organization because of its international reach. It is expected to be the major strand of flu infecting people this flu season. Symptoms of H1N1 include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

"It is important to realize that the swine flu is just one strand of influenza. In that way, it is like the other strains of flu that hit the U.S. every fall and winter," says Darlene Mention, RN, MSN and nursing instructor at Everest University in Brandon, Fla. She explains that, like other forms of the flu, H1N1 is contagious and spreads from human-to-human contact - specifically, through coughing, sneezing or surface contact. She adds, however, that the word "pandemic" simply means that the H1N1 has international reach, and not that it is particularly more dangerous than other forms of the flu.

Who is at risk for H1N1?

"Like other strains of influenza, H1N1 can cause complications, hospitalization and even death, so it is important to take precautionary measures," says Mention. Each year approximately 36,000 people in the U.S. die from flu-related complications, and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized, 20,000 of whom are children less than 5 years old.

Complications from the flu usually arise in high-risk groups, which include children under 5, adults over 65, and adults with chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. According to the Center for Disease Control, approximately 70 percent of those hospitalized with H1N1 this year have or previously had prior medical conditions that place them at "high risk," including pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, asthma or kidney disease.

With most strains of the flu, the elderly are particularly at risk. Over 90 percent of deaths and 60 percent of hospitalizations due to the flu occur in those over age 64. But interestingly, many adults over the age of 64 are not considered to be at high risk for complications resulting from H1N1, because approximately one third of adults over 64 are estimated to have existing antibodies to H1N1.

What can you to do protect yourself from H1N1?

"Everyone needs to take basic precautionary measures to prevent contracting H1N1,"says Cheryl Heintz, RN, BSN and nursing instructor at Everest College in Merrillville, Ind. This means you should wash your hands with soap and water often, cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, avoid touching your eyes, mouth or nose and try to limit contact with sick people. If you cannot wash your hands with soap and water, Heintz suggests that you use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer as a substitute. Studies have shown that many influenza viruses can infect people up to eight hours after they have been deposited on a surface, which means that washing your hands frequently and using disinfectants to clean surfaces is an important way to prevent the spread of the disease.

If you are sick with a flu-like illness, the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever subsides. "Staying home a full day after your symptoms have cleared not only helps you get back to full health, but also helps prevent the spread of the virus to others," adds Heintz.

Flu shots against H1N1 are now available in all states, though many states have only a limited supply. Certain groups of individuals are prioritized for the flu vaccine, including pregnant women, people in contact with infants under 6 months old, children and young adults ages 6 to 24, health care workers and emergency medical technicians, and adults younger than 65 with chronic conditions.

"If an H1N1 flu shot is available in your state, you may want to consider getting yourself and your children vaccinated," says Heintz. The CDC recommends two doses, four weeks apart, for children under 9 years old. For older children and adults, only one dose is needed. While both the flu shot and nasal spray are equally effective, the nasal spray contains a weakened live form of the virus and is only licensed for use for those between the ages of 2 and 49. The CDC advises that adults 50 and over get the flu shot instead, which uses an inactivated form of the virus.



"While the threat of H1N1 shouldn't be blown out of proportion, it is important to realize the flu affects everyone differently. While most cases are mild, H1N1 can and has caused severe complications, hospitalization and even death. Given this knowledge, we want to do all we can to protect ourselves and our families as flu season approaches," says Heintz.

Courtesy of ARAcontent