What are the symptoms of influenza A (H1N1)?

Influenza A H1N1 infection is a contagious respiratory tract. Its symptoms are similar to those of seasonal influenza.

The most common symptoms are:

• Fever between 38 ° C and 40 ° C, which begins suddenly and lasts between 2 and 5 days;
• Cough, which lasts about 1 week;
• Fatigue that lasts several days;
• Muscle aches and pains;
• Sore throat;
• Headache;
• Loss of appetite;
• Runny nose.Other symptoms are sometimes:
• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Diarrhea.

If any of these symptoms accompanying the fever, it is advisable to consult a doctor the same day:

• Shortness of breath;
• Difficulty breathing;
• Pain with breathing;
• Vomiting for over 4 hours;
• In a child seem very sick and without energy, be difficult to awaken.
  

If any of the following accompanying fever, you should go to a hospital emergency room immediately.

• Difficulty in breathing persists and increases;
• Blue lips;
• Difficulty moving;
• Significant neck stiffness;
• Drowsiness, confusion, disorientation or difficulty staying awake seizures;
• No urine for 12 hours;
• Fever in a baby under 3 months.

Influenza A H1N1: two types of masks, surgical and protection FFP2

Two types of masks are used to counter the spread of flu masks and surgical masks for respiratory protection (masks FFP2).

The projection masks or surgical masks are worn by infectious people in order to protect the environment. Their filtration is not sufficient to protect a healthy person against micro-particles in the air.


They consist of a single layer filter. They provide a protection period of 3 to 4 hours.

In France, they are freely available in pharmacies on prescription. They have no expiration dates.

Masks or respiratory protection masks filter (in forms of duck-billed) are carried by healthy people to protect themselves from viruses suspended in the air.

According to the European standard, masks FFP1, FFP2 or FFP3 hold respectively 80%, 94% and 99% of particles measuring one millionth of a meter. The recommended standard for the protection of healthy people against influenza A is the standard FFP2.

The N95 mask filters, used especially in the United States and Canada 95% filter micro-particles.

These masks are made of two layers of filter. They can be worn for 4 to 8 hours.

They are intended primarily for health personnel and those who are in direct and repeated contact with patients. In the context of influenza A H1N1, they will be provided directly to health professionals by the state and employees exposed (cashiers, tellers ...) by employers. They have an expiry of 4 years.

Influenza A (H1N1): contagion lasts 8 days after onset of symptoms

About 15% of people who contract influenza A H1N1 (swine flu) still contagious, eight days after the onset of symptoms, according to researchers from several universities and research centers in Quebec, under the coordination of Dr. Guy Boivin, center CHUL Research, and Gaston De Serres, National Institute of Public Health of Quebec. After 10 days, no such person is still contagious. These results will be presented at the International Congress Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy being held in San Francisco.


This study was conducted among members of 65 families in Quebec, from May to July 2009. These preliminary results will be complemented by ongoing studies and compared with those of work elsewhere in the world.

Further analysis of blood is taken in the context of this study aimed at better understanding the immune response of infected persons and to determine the proportion of persons infected who show no symptoms.