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Swine Flu Symptoms - Children & Adults

H1N1 Flu Virus Pandemic Vaccine Medical Questions

Jul 24, 2009 Bernard P. Nelson

A U.S. government web site provides lists of swine flu symptoms for children and adults. A medical study questions vaccine availability for the H1N1 flu virus pandemic.

“Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with H1N1 (swine) flu...” according to an (author unknown) article titled, “What are the Signs and Symptoms of H1N1 (Swine) Flu in People?” The article, dated 2009, is published on an official U.S. government web site, managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The article states that diarrhea and vomiting, caused by swine flu, are in addition to “symptoms of regular human flu...”

Symptoms of Swine Flu

H1N1 symptoms in children are listed in the article under the paragraph title, “In Children Emergency Warning Signs That Need Urgent Medical Attention Include:”

Problems with breathing or rapid breathing.
Skin color turns “bluish” or has gray tones.
Lack of fluid intake.
Severe or ongoing vomiting.
Child does not wake up or has trouble “interacting.”
Irritable to the point that the child does not want to be held.
Regular flu-like symptoms improve, and then return stronger with fever and worsening cough.

H1N1 warning symptoms for adults are listed in the article under the paragraph title, “ In Adults, Emergency Warning Signs That Need Urgent Medical Attention Include:”

Breathing difficulty or breath shortness.
Chest or abdomen area experiencing pressure or pain.
Onset of sudden dizziness.
Random confusion.
Severe or ongoing vomiting.
Regular flu-like symptoms improve, but return stronger with fever and ongoing cough.

The H1N1 symptoms article states that in addition to the listed swine flu symptoms for children and adults, that swine flu can also cause “pneumonia and respiratory failure and deaths...” normally in individuals with other medical problems such as breathing problems and heart disease. The article advises that “like seasonal flu...swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.”

An article titled, “Novel Swine-Origin Influenza Virus A (H1N1): The First Pandemic of the 21st Century,” expresses concern about the wait for answers to vital medical questions relating to swine flu. The article, dated July, 2009, is from studies by the Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. The authors are:

Chang LY.
Shih SR.
Shao PL.
Huang DT.
Huang LM.

The Taiwan University Hospital article answers the question, what is swine flu? “This virus [H1N1 or Swine Flu] has an HA gene that is derived from the 1918 swine influenza virus and other genes from human, avian, and Eurasian swine influenza viruses...” The article states that swine flu symptoms are the same as seasonal flu, but sometimes different from seasonal flu due to the symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea in “a quarter of infected patients.” Vomiting and diarrhea symptoms are rare in seasonal flu, according to the article.

Swine Flu Vaccine

“Vaccination is the only way to dampen this pandemic [swine flu],” according to the Taiwan University Hospital article. The article states that many medical questions remain unanswered about protecting the public from the swine flu pandemic. The questions needing answers, according to the article, are:

What is the “clinical impact” of the pandemic?
What are the “optimal doses” of the H1N1 vaccine?
To what extent will the virus spread, or what is its “future destiny?”

The Taiwan University Hospital article concludes by advising, “ A breakthrough in vaccinology against influenza is needed to address the recurring influenza pandemic.”

Swine Flu Map

A swine flu map link is provided to the U.S. government's updated map of the spread of swine flu, in the U.S., state by state.

The Department of Health & Human Services provide links to additional swine flu facts on the U.S. Government web site. The site states that most swine flu symptoms are the same as seasonal flu, with the exception of vomiting and diarrhea. The Taiwan University Hospital article associates vomiting and diarrhea with swine flu, stating that these symptoms occur in 25% of H1N1 patients. The need for an effective vaccine to stem the pandemic, and avoid future swine flu epidemics, is recommended.

The copyright of the article Swine Flu Symptoms - Children & Adults in General Medicine is owned by Bernard P. Nelson. Permission to republish Swine Flu Symptoms - Children & Adults in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Origin of Swine Flu