Do you have swine flu ?

The most common symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of seasonal flu, including fever, weakness and fatigue and aching muscles and joints, although, these could be more severe. Certain people are most at risk, including pregnant women, the elderly and young children and people with underlying health conditions.


What is swine flu?

A new strain of Influenza A (H1N1), also known as swine flu, was confirmed in the UK in April and has spread to nearly 200 countries around the world.

Although symptoms have generally proved mild, a small number of patients will develop more serious illness. Many of these people have other underlying health conditions, such as heart or lung disease, that put them at increased risk.


Symptoms

The symptoms of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of regular seasonal flu and include:

• fever
• lack of energy
• lack of appetite
• coughing
  

Some people with swine flu also have reported:

• runny nose
• sore throat
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhoea
  

As with any sort of influenza, how bad and how long the symptoms last will depend on treatment and the patient’s individual circumstances.

Most cases reported in the UK have been relatively mild, with those affected starting to recover within a week.