Influenza is a common respiratory infection that affects millions of people every year. It is caused by different strains of the influenza virus and usually peaks in the winter months. However, swine flu (H1N1 influenza), which emerged in 2009 and quickly turned into a pandemic, caused great concern in the community. Although swine flu has similar symptoms to seasonal flu, it can have some important differences and serious health risks. Differentiating between influenza and swine flu is critical for proper management and treatment of the disease. In this article, we will detail how to distinguish between influenza and swine flu, the prevalence of H1N1 today and important information about both types of illness.
Is Swine Flu (H1N1) Still Occurring?
Yes, swine flu (H1N1) is still occurring. Since it caused the pandemic in 2009, the H1N1 virus has become one of the seasonal flu viruses. This means that every year flu cases include H1N1. Flu vaccines are being formulated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and local health authorities to include H1N1.
How can swine flu and normal flu be distinguished?
Differentiating between flu and swine flu can be difficult because they both have similar symptoms. However, there are some obvious differences and clues that can help you distinguish between the two illnesses. We can start with the difference between the symptoms of flu and swine flu.
Influenza (Seasonal Influenza):
- Sudden onset of high fever
- Severe muscle aches
- Headache
- Tremor
- Fatigue and weakness
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Cough (usually dry)
- Rarely nausea and diarrhea (usually in children)
Swine Flu (H1N1 Influenza):
- High fever (but not always)
- Severe muscle aches and fatigue
- Headache
- Cough (usually dry)
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Redness and watering of the eyes
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea (especially more common in children and young people)
