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These days, there is a steady increase in the cases of swine flu (H1N1 virus) along with seasonal diseases in the country’s capital Delhi and its adjoining National Capital Region (NCR). Health experts are constantly advising people to remain alert to prevent this dangerous infection. However, a very surprising and noteworthy thing about this virus is that despite being infected with the same virus, it affects people in completely different ways. There are some people in the society who, after getting infected with this virus, recover completely with normal care and rest at home, while on the contrary, the condition of some patients worsens so much that they have to be immediately admitted to the hospital and sometimes the situation even reaches the ICU. After all, why does it happen that the same type of virus proves to be just a minor cold for some, and becomes fatal for others? Let us know about this scientific mystery and all the important reasons behind it in this detailed report.
How fatal or mild the effect of H1N1 virus will be on any person depends entirely on the internal health of that person’s body, his immunity and past medical history. According to medical experts, people who are very old, young children, pregnant women, or people who are already suffering from any serious chronic disease like chronic asthma, respiratory problems, diabetes, heart disease or kidney diseases, their body is not able to fight against this aggressive virus as quickly and effectively. In people with such weak or sensitive bodies, the virus can easily take hold, causing even a simple flu to turn into a serious medical emergency. In contrast, healthy young people with strong immunity fight the virus early on, leaving them with only mild symptoms.
Under normal circumstances, the effect of seasonal flu or cold is limited only to the nose, throat and upper respiratory system, and the patient gets cured with medicine for a few days. But the H1N1 virus has a slightly different and dangerous nature. This virus sometimes crosses the upper respiratory tract and enters deep into the lungs. When this virus damages the lung tissue, the body’s immune system starts overreacting, which is called ‘Cytokine Storm’ in medical terms. This overactive immune response causes microscopic sacs in the lungs to fill with water and fluid, leading to severe pneumonia and a rapid drop in oxygen levels in the body’s blood. This is the main reason due to which the patient has severe difficulty in breathing and needs ventilator or ICU support immediately.
When suffering from H1N1 virus infection, the body’s internal defense system is already weakened and busy to a great extent. At such critical times, dangerous bacteria like ‘Streptococcus pneumoniae’ find an opportunity to attack the body. When along with the virus, this bacterial infection also takes hold of the body, then the physical condition of the patient becomes more complex and serious. Due to this double attack, the damage caused to the lungs increases manifold, making controlling the disease a big challenge for doctors. This is why doctors suggest that one should be cautious in the initial stages of swine flu so that any kind of secondary infection can be avoided.
The biggest and biggest mistake made in swine flu infection is that people ignore the initial symptoms considering them to be normal viral and do not seek doctor’s advice on time. Health experts clearly say that if the antiviral medicines used to treat H1N1 are taken within the first 48 hours (two days) of the symptoms appearing, then this virus can be successfully stopped from spreading in the body. But if there is a delay in starting the treatment, it becomes very difficult to repair the damage done to the lungs. If any person notices the following warning signs, he or she should immediately approach the hospital without wasting a moment:
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Having extreme difficulty breathing or constant nervousness.
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Feeling severe pain or constant pressure in the chest.
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A state of extreme weakness, dizziness or mental confusion.
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Blueness of lips and face due to lack of oxygen in the body.
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Persistent vomiting or sudden drastic decrease in the amount of urine.
A common misconception is that swine flu only seriously affects sick or elderly people. The reality is that the H1N1 virus can make even completely healthy and fit looking young people seriously ill, so no one should take it lightly. The most effective and safe way to avoid this infection is to get swine flu vaccination on time. Additionally, wearing a mask in crowded areas, taking special care of hand hygiene and covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing helps prevent the spread of this virus. Contacting a doctor immediately as soon as any type of flu-like symptoms are seen in the body is the most sensible step towards preventing this infection from taking a serious form.