Interview with an H1N1 Swine Flu Victim

Putting a Face on the Influenza Pandemic 2009

Sep 3, 2009 Cyndi Allison

This is the second week of school for Garret, and he's on leave early for Labor Day after being diagnosed with H1N1 Flu.

“I’d heard about swine flu, on the news,” says Garret, a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “But, I wasn’t too worried about it. I’ve always been healthy and just didn’t think I’d be one of the first ones to get sick with H1N1.”

In fact, swine influenza is hitting the young adult population harder than other types of flu which generally strike children and the elderly. Deaths related to H1N1 are also generally within the under age 50 population, although death tolls have not been high with the outbreak.

How Did Garret Get the Swine Flu?

Garret did know that he’d been exposed to the flu which is sweeping the country and being tracked by various health groups including the World Health Organization. He had been at a fraternity gathering the previous weekend and had heard that one of his fraternity brothers came down with the flu on Sunday after the Saturday party.

“I’d sprained my right wrist playing basketball, so I couldn’t shake hands,” says Garret. “My frat brother laughed and gave me a guy hug. You know the type, where you kind of bump shoulders. We call them shugs.”

The swine flu is passed by direct contact, so bumping shoulders was enough to infect Garret. But, direct contact can include sharing eating utensils, touching doorknobs, or standing close when someone coughs or sneezes. This means that swine flu is spread fast on college campuses with the southeast being especially hard hit as classes resume.

What Were the First Swine Flu Symptoms Garret Experienced?

“It came on fast,” says Garret. “I just started feeling bad and had chills. My nose began to run, and my ears clogged up. I thought I might have an ear infection to start with.”

Symptoms of the swine flu are similar to seasonal flu according to medical professionals at the UNC Chapel Hill Health Center. Most H1N1 flu victims run a fever and have problems with congestion, although some report minimal coughing and no fever. The cough, however, tends to progress and worsen over the course of a few days and tends to be productive. Unlike many strains of the flu, swine flu sufferers typically do not experience vomiting and diarrhea, although some individuals have reported such problems.

“I’m hungry,” says Garret who requested grilled hot dogs when he got home. “I just don’t feel up to getting up and getting food, but my appetite is fine.”

How Did Garret Follow Up When He Began to Feel Sick?

Garret slept through his morning classes on the day he began to experience H1N1 symptoms and then visited the Student Health Center at UNC. He’d read an email sent out by the university directing students to report any flu cases and to avoid contact with other students (the informal "six foot" rule). Polices vary from college to college depending on a number of factors, but all college students should read up on the swine flu and take precautions.

“The doctor said a lot of kids had been in with the flu,” says Garret. “He checked my ears to be on the safe side, but he said the fluid and swelling were from the congestion associated with H1N1.”

Garret was directed to pick up a decongestant at the campus pharmacy and to call his parents. Students in-state at UNC are being sent home while those from out-of-state are asked to remain isolated in their dorm rooms unless symptoms worsen. Young adults are generally not given antivirals like Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate)which can shorten the duration of the flu and reduce some of the symptoms.

“I wore a furgical face mask and slept until my Mom could get off work and get me,” says Garret. “I felt really bad and sacked out in the back seat, but I felt a little better when the aspirin and decongestant kicked in.”

How is the H1N1 Recuperation Going?

With the third day of symptoms coming to an end, Garret is feeling a little better but still has a low grade fever and a cough. He was able to do a little homework online and got in touch with his professors, since the Health Center is not issuing notes.

“There are so many students getting the swine flu that the Health Center said to have professors call for confirmation if needed,” says Garret. “My professors have been very understanding, so I hope I can catch up on my classes at home and be ready for next week.”

The swine flu usually runs its course in three to five days, so Garret should be fine after a long weekend for Labor Day. The waiting period to return to class is 24 hours sans fever which pushes Garret through Friday if his fever breaks later tonight.

“I hope I’ve about got it knocked. I hate missing classes especially right at the beginning of a semester,” says Garret. “But, it’s probably better to get swine flu now rather than later.”

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