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.
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.
1. Recognizing Influenza A
According to the Institute for Public Health: "A possible case of influenza A H1N1 is a person with an acute respiratory syndrome with sudden onset of general symptoms such as fever over 38 ° C or aches or asthenia (fatigue) AND respiratory signs [cough or dyspnea [breathing disorder]]. " Some cases of influenza A have also presented a sore throat, runny nose, headaches or digestive problems (diarrhea, nausea or vomiting).
2. H1N1: When to contact their doctor?
Fatigue, discontinuous headache, fever ... you have symptoms. But when should we contact the doctor? "If the temperature is above 39° C with general symptoms like headache, body aches, extreme fatigue. If it is associated with respiratory disorders [dyspnea] basithoraciques or pain, or if it is associated with neurological signs, "says a doctor of the French Society of General Medicine. In all cases, if the fever persists for more than three days, the World Health recommends consulting a physician.
3. H1N1: Drugs effective
Paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin attention! Some drugs known to fight against the 'flu can do more harm than good! "We must avoid using acetyl salicylic acid [aspirin] because it increases the risk of Reyes syndrome [disease affecting the liver and brain]," said a doctor of the French Society of General Medicine. Also, do not take antiviral drugs (Tamiflu ®, Relenza ®) without consulting a doctor. In fact, "the only drug that can be taken to relieve pain and fever paracetamol [acetaminophen]. The risk / benefit ratio is much higher than that of ibuprofen and ketoprofen." Dosage of paracetamol ( adults and children over 50 kg): 1 g per dose to renew after 6 to 8 hours. Not more than 3 g per day.
4. When taking Tamiflu and Relenza?
Tamiflu and Relenza are antiviral drugs that can alleviate the symptoms of influenza A, shorten its duration and possibly prevent complications. However, "we must take if a doctor prescribes them," he recalled recently the WHO. Especially for Tamiflu, "making its routine may cause nausea, diarrhea and hallucinations," said the HPA (High Health Authority English). They are prescribed to people at risk of complications (respiratory ...) and must be taken within 48 hours after onset of illness to be effective. For other patients, the doctor prescribed symptomatic treatment (paracetamol ...). Note: In a declared pandemic (Phase 6), Tamiflu and Relenza can be prescribed to pregnant women.
5. What if symptoms persist?
Sometimes the symptoms persist or worsen (reprise fever, difficulty breathing, chest pain ...) even being under medical treatment. In this case, nothing should be overlooked! "The risks of complications are pulmonary [lung] and myocarditis [inflammation of the myocardium," said Dr. Patrick Pelloux, an emergency physician. "There is also a risk of meningo-encephalitis [inflammation of the meninges simultaneous and brain in the brain]," added a doctor of the French Society of General Medicine. Do not hesitate to remind your doctor. Avoid, however, go there directly because the risk of contagion runs until 48 hours after symptoms disappear.
6. How long is it contagious?
The influenza A, like other forms of influenza (B, C) is a highly contagious disease. The authorities also expect that 20 million people, nearly one third of the national population could be infected by the end of the year! To avoid infection, be aware that the incubation period (time from infection to onset of symptoms) could go, according to the Ministry of Health, up to 7 days. "A person infected with the virus influenza A is contaminating five days before the onset of symptoms," said Dr. Patrick Pelloux, an emergency physician. She stays until 48 hours after symptoms. In general, influenza A lasts 5 to 8 days.
7. New symptoms in the fall?
"Because the virus influenza A H1N1 is new, we might fear that causes symptoms ... never seen " qoted by a french doctor "Yes, I am not a soothsayer but one can imagine that could fall soon occur greater virulence with mutation of the virus and complications more frequent [pneumonia, meningo-encephalitis]. As to Professor Bernard Debre, a physician and member UMP: "Of course, this virus can mutate and become virulent although for now this is not the view expressed by the majority of virologists." (July 26, 2009-JDD). Conclusion: no need for alarm yet, but remain cautious while respecting their c onseils anti influenza A.
8. How to stem the epidemic?
If you do not feel well, show a high fever, cough and / or sore throat, you should take some preventive measures to avoid contaminating your friends! The first: stay home! The transmission of the virus being by air, leaving you spread it everywhere! If you are forced to go out, wear a mask. Do the same, if you're visiting. Then, it is advised to wash their hands regularly (at least after coughing or sneezing) with soap or alcoholic solution (sold in pharmacies and supermarkets) for 40 to 60 seconds, and cover the mouth and nose with a tissue (disposable after each use) when coughing or sneezing. Finally, regularly ventilate the rooms.
Directions:
- In the treatment of influenza, it can be used in patients who show symptoms of the flu, when we know that the virus circulates within the community.
- In the prevention of influenza, it can be used in patients who had contact with a person sticking.
This use is generally determined on a case by case but may, in exceptional circumstances, take the form of a season. For example, vaccination against influenza, and insufficient pandemic (epidemic influenza worldwide). Caution:Tamiflu does not replace vaccination against influenza and its use must be based on official recommendations.
Dosage:
- Treatment of influenza (initiated within two days after onset of symptoms): a dose taken twice daily for five days. - Prevention of influenza (initiated within two days after contact with someone with the flu): One dose taken once daily for at least 10 days after contact with an infected person. - Epidemic influenza: a dose of Tamiflu may be taken for a maximum period of six weeks.
The dose of Tamiflu ® is 75 mg for an adult or child over 40 kg. For a child under 40 kg, the dose is adjusted according to weight using low-dose capsules (30 or 45 mg) or suspension (if the child can not swallow capsules).
Administrative Procedures:
Oral
Caution:
Tamiflu ® should not be used in children under one year. Doses should be reduced in patients suffering from kidney problems.
Drug Interactions:
Tamiflu ® should not be used in people who are hypersensitive (allergic) to oseltamivir.
Side effects:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting and diarrhea (especially children)
Policy Statement:
The active ingredient of Tamiflu ®, oseltamivir, acts specifically on the virus of influenza by inhibiting certain enzymes present on its surface, called neuraminidase. When neuraminidase is inhibited, the spread of infection is halted. Oseltamivir acts both on the neuraminidase of virus influenza type A (most common) and those of virus influenza type B.
Pregnancy and lactation:
There are no adequate data on the use of oseltamivir in pregnant women. Oseltamivir should be used during pregnancy only if the benefit to the mother justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Oseltamivir should be used during breastfeeding if the benefit to the mother justifies the potential risk to the breastfed infant.
Studies to date: - Treatment:The effects of Tamiflu ® were first tested in experimental models before being studied in humans. In it, Tamiflu ® was compared with placebo (a dummy treatment) in studies evaluating the treatment of influenza (2 413 adults and adolescents, 741 patients and 1 033 children). Efficacy was measured using a scorecard on which the patients recorded their symptoms (feeling of fever, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, cough, malaise and runny nose). - Prevention of influenza:Tamiflu ® has been studied in people who were exposed to the disease after a family member had contracted the flu (962 cases) or during an epidemic (1 562 individuals aged 16 55 years and 548 elderly people in nursing homes). The study measured the incidence of influenza as demonstrated by laboratory tests. One study also examined the use of Tamiflu ® in a family (277 families), both for treating the person with the flu for the treatment or prevention of influenza among persons in contact with the patient.
The effects shown to date: - Treatment in adults: the use of Tamiflu ® has reduced the duration of illness of 4.2 days against 5.2 days for patients on placebo. Among children aged one to six years, duration of disease was reduced by 1.5 days. - Prevention: Tamiflu ® reduced the incidence of influenza among persons in contact with a person sticking. In the study during an epidemic, 1% of people taking Tamiflu ® have developed the flu after contact, against 5% of those on placebo. In families with a person with the flu, 7% of household members have developed the flu after receiving preventive treatment with Tamiflu ®, as against 20% among those who did not receive preventive treatment.
Why Tamiflu ® has been approved?
The flu is seasonal normally handled through vaccination. The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) concluded that the benefits of Tamiflu ® outweigh its risks for treatment and prevention of influenza, as a complementary method used in a pandemic or when vaccines against the flu are not effective against the virus of avian origin with seasonal epidemics.
More information on Tamiflu:
The European Commission has granted a permission marketing valid throughout the European Union for Tamiflu ® Roche Registration Limited June 20, 2002. Permission marketing was renewed June 20, 2007.
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