Despite the fact that children tolerate acute respiratory viral infections better than adults, some forms of influenza can be very dangerous. One of these extremely dangerous forms of the disease is swine flu. In order to stop the disease in time and prevent complications, it is necessary to clearly know the first signs of swine flu in children.
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
Swine influenza is caused by the type of H1N1 virus and is transmitted from person to person by airborne droplets. The risk group includes children from 2 to 5 years, as well as children with weakened immune system and suffering from chronic diseases: asthma, diabetes or heart disease.
The main signs of swine flu are similar to those of normal flu and include:
- heat;
- cough;
- a sore throat;
- headache;
- chills;
- body aches and fatigue;
- vomiting or upset stomach;
- lethargy and weak activity.
To exceptional symptoms of swine flu in children are:
- cyanosis of the skin;
- absence of urination or tears during crying;
- prolonged non-stimulation;
- excited state or absence of reactions;
- rapid or shortness of breath;
- any rash on the body.
Symptoms of swine flu are easier to detect in adolescents than in young children, because they are able to describe their condition. In addition, children may experience periodic disappearance and the appearance of signs of swine flu, i. E. the child may have a fever, after which the patient will feel considerable relief, but after a while the signs of the disease return with renewed vigor. Therefore, even after the disappearance of the symptoms of a sick child should not be released from home within 24 hours.
How does the swine flu manifest itself?
When swine flu, as with another form of viral infection, you can identify several stages that change one another.
- Stage of infection . At this stage, no external manifestations are observed, except for the worsening of the general condition
(weakness, drowsiness, fatigue), which is associated with the struggle of the organism with viruses. - Incubation period . This phase lasts from several hours to three days, during this period, patients become dangerous to others, and the first clinical signs begin to appear (sneezing, muscle pain, the appearance of liquid snot, a fever of 38-39 degrees).
- The height of the disease lasts from three to five days. The organism is weakened by a constant "attack" of viruses on the cells of the body and opens the way for the penetration of microbes, which carry with them various complications (pneumonia, bronchitis). The course of the disease depends on how the treatment is carried out and on the immune system of the child.