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How can you tell the difference between swine flu and regular flu?
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
According to WHO and the National Academy of Medical Sciences on the incidence of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections, Ukraine is expecting a more intense level of influenza this year. Doctors also do not rule out the possibility of the circulation of a new strain of swine flu A (H3N2), which belongs to the H1N1 subtype.
The season of viral diseases has arrived, and we increasingly see people with a sickly complexion and runny nose, we hear coughing and hoarse voices. The danger of catching a viral infection follows us everywhere.
What is swine flu?
In 2009, the entire world was gripped by panic caused by the emergence of a new strain of the flu virus, which was given the code name “swine flu”, the causative agent of which, in turn, is the H1N1 subtype virus, which has the greatest genetic similarity to the swine flu virus.
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
In general, the symptoms of swine flu are not much different from the seasonal flu: a person also feels unwell, headaches, sore throats, body aches, chills and fatigue. However, with swine flu, many patients complain of diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting, which are not typical for a normal seasonal disease.
How to know the type of flu?
To find out whether you have swine flu or have been struck down by the common seasonal flu, the doctor must collect an anamnesis – information about the development of the disease, and also take a bacteriological analysis – a swab from the nasopharynx, which is sent for laboratory examination. Until the results of the analysis are known, the doctor prescribes the patient immune-supporting drugs and prescribes treatment as for the common flu.
Spread of the swine flu virus
As with seasonal flu, the swine flu virus penetrates through the epithelium of the mucous membranes of the human respiratory tract, as well as when touching an infected patient or objects that he or she has recently touched. Therefore, be sure to wash your hands as often as possible and touch your face less.
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The danger and consequences of swine flu
Many people do not even suspect that they are sick with this type of flu and many normally tolerate the disease, which proceeds without any particular complications. However, since the current H1N1 flu is completely new and no one has immunity to it.