LECTURE/PRESENTATION A SHIFT

DATE : 06.01.2016
VIRUSES - H1N1 INFLUENZA (SWINE FLU)
Viral infections occur when viruses enter cells in the body and begin reproducing, often causing
illness. Viruses are tiny germs that can reproduce only by invading a living cell.
How Are Viruses Different from Bacteria?
Viruses are far smaller than bacteria. They are so small that they could not
be seen until the electron microscope was invented in the 1940s. Unlike most
bacteria, viruses are not complete cells that can function on their own. They
cannot convert carbohydrates to energy, the way that bacteria and other
living cells do. Viruses depend on other organisms for energy and viruses
cannot reproduce unless they get inside a living cell. Most viruses consist
only of tiny particles of nucleic acid (the material that makes up genes)
surrounded by a coat of protein. Some have an outer envelope as well.
How Do Viruses Infect the Body?

Viruses can enter the human body through any of its openings, but most
often they use the nose and mouth. Once inside, the virus attaches itself to
the outside of the kind of cell it attacks, called a host cell. For example, a
rhinovirus attacks cells in the nose, while an enterovirus binds to cells in the
stomach and intestines. After entering the cell, the virus begins making
identical viruses from the host cell's protein. These new viruses may make
their way back out through the host cell's membrane, sometimes destroying
the cell, and then attacking new host cells. This process continues until the
body develops enough antibodies and other defenses to defeat the viral
invaders.
How Long Do Viral Infections Last?

In most types of viral infection, the immune system clears the virus from the
body within days to a few weeks. But some viruses cause persistent or latent
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infections, which can last for years. In these cases, a person may get
infected and seem to recover or may not be aware of being infected at all.
Then years later, the illness will occur again, or symptoms will start for the
first time.
How Do Viruses Cause Illness?

Viruses can cause illness by destroying or interfering with the functioning of

large numbers of important cells. Sometimes, as mentioned earlier, the cell
is destroyed when the newly created viruses leave it. Sometimes the virus
keeps the cell from producing the energy it needs to live, or the virus upsets
the cell's chemical balance in some other way. Sometimes the virus seems to
trigger a mysterious process called "programmed cell death" or
apoptosis,that kills the cell.
Some persistent or latent viral infections seem to transform cells into a
cancerous state that makes them grow out of control. It has been estimated
that 10 to 20 percent of cancers are caused by viral infections. The most
common are liver cancer caused by persistent infection with Hepatitis B or
Hepatitis C virus, and cancer of the cervix.
Sometimes a viral illness is caused not by the virus itself, but by the body's
reaction to it. The immune system may kill cells in order to get rid of the
virus that is inside them. This can cause serious illness if the cells being
killed are very important to the body's functioning, like those in the lungs or
central nervous system, or if the cells cannot reproduce quickly enough to
replace the ones being destroyed.
Symptoms

Symptoms vary widely, depending on the virus and the organs involved.
Many viruses, like many bacteria, cause fever, and either respiratory
symptoms (coughing and sneezing) or intestinal symptoms (nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea). Viral illnesses often cause high fevers in young children,
even when the illnesses are not dangerous.
Treatment

Viruses cannot be treated with the antibiotics that kill bacteria. Fortunately, a
few drugs, such as ribavirin and acyclovir, can control the spread of viral
invaders without destroying host cells. Unfortunately, none of these drugs
has been able to treat viral infections as effectively as antibiotics treat
bacterial infections.
How Are Viral Infections Prevented?
Hygiene and Vaccination

H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu)

Swine influenza is an infection caused by any one of several types of swine
influenza viruses. Swine influenza virus (SIV) is any strain of the influenza family
of viruses that is endemic in pigs. As of 2009, the known SIV strains include
influenza C and the subtypes of influenza A known as H1N1, H1N2, H2N1, H3N1,
H3N2, and H2N3.
How the flu virus spreads

The swine flu virus is spread in exactly the same way as ordinary colds and
flu. A flu virus is made up of tiny particles that can be spread through the
droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when someone coughs or
sneezes. If someone coughs or sneezes and they do not cover it, those
droplets can spread about one metre (3ft). If you are very close to the person
you might breathe them in. Or, if someone coughs or sneezes into their
hand, those droplets and the virus within them are easily transferred to
surfaces that the person touches. Everyday items at home and in public
places may have traces of the virus, such as door handles, the TV remote
control, hand rails and computer keyboards. Viruses can survive for several
hours on these surfaces. If you touch these surfaces and touch your face, the
virus can enter your system, and you can become infected. Evidence from
previous pandemics suggests that one person will infect about two others,
and that influenza spreads particularly rapidly in closed communities such as
schools or residential homes. People are most infectious soon after they
develop symptoms, although they can spread the virus for up to five days
after the start of symptoms (for children this is seven days).
Symptoms

The symptoms of swine flu are broadly the same as those of ordinary flu, but
may be more severe and cause more serious complications. The typical
symptoms are sudden fever or a sudden cough. Other symptoms may
include:headache,tiredness,chills,aching muscles,limb or joint
pain,diarrhoea,sore throat,runny nose,sneezing and loss of appetite.Most
people who have contracted swine flu recover within a week and do not
suffer complications, even without being given antiviral medication.
Treatment
The Influenza A H1N1 Swine Flu virus treatment mainly involves antiviral drugs and
antibiotics to treat complications.

Paracetomol - As with ordinary flu, people who come down with swine flu should
take lots of rest and use standard paracetomol-based cold remedies to reduce their
temperature and help relieve symptoms.

Antivirals - The antiviral medications oseltamavir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir

(Relenza) are also being used to treat people with swine flu. Antivirals are not
a cure for swine flu, but will help to:

reduce the length of time you are ill by around one day.

relieve some of the symptoms.

reduce the potential for serious complications such as pneumonia.

Antibiotics - Antibiotics are used to treat swine flu patients who develop
complications. They help combat bacterial infections such as pneumonia.
Prevention
Vaccination and Good Personal Hygiene
NB:Health care providers are advised to wear facemasks if in contact with patients
of flu-like symptoms.