Who can get Swine Flu and How to treat it at Home?

Influenza viruses infect the cells that line your throat, nose, and lungs. The virus enters your body when you inhale contaminated droplets or transfer the live virus from a contaminated surface to your eyes, nose or mouth. 

Swine farmers and veterinarians have the highest risk of exposure to true swine flu because they work with and are near pigs. If you have lived in or traveled to an area where many people are affected by swine flu, you may have been exposed to the virus. 

The Influenza complications include Worsening of chronic conditions, such as heart disease and asthma; Pneumonia; Neurological signs and symptoms, ranging from confusion to seizures and Respiratory Failure.

Prevention is Better than Cure - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone age 6 months or older. Flu vaccines for 2018-19 protect against the viruses that cause swine flu and one or two other viruses that are expected to be the most common during flu season. 

The vaccine is available as an injection or a nasal spray. The nasal spray is approved for use in healthy people 2 through 49 years of age who are not pregnant. The nasal spray isn't recommended for some groups, such as pregnant women, children between 2 and 4 years old with asthma or wheezing, and people who have compromised immune systems. 

These measures also help prevent flu and limit its spread: 

If you have the flu, you can give it to others. Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. 

Use soap and water, or if they're unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. Wear a face mask if you have one. To avoid contaminating your hands, cough or sneeze into a tissue or the inner crook of your elbow. 

Stay away from crowds if possible. And if you're at high risk of complications from the flu — for example, you're younger than 5 or you're 65 or older, you're pregnant, or you have a chronic medical condition such as asthma — consider avoiding swine barns at seasonal fairs and elsewhere. Get medical care right away if the sick person at  home. 

Here are some easy steps you can take to tackle a flu virus of any kind, including swine flu. It is not necessary to follow all the steps at once. You can pick and choose a combination of remedies that suit you best. However, if you are already suffering from flu, these measures can help only up to an extent.

1. Have five duly washed leaves of Tulsi (known as Basil in English; medicinal name Ocimum sanctum) every day in the morning?  

2. Giloi (medicinal name Tinospora cordifolia) is a commonly available plant in many areas. Take a one-foot long branch of giloi, add five to six leaves of Tulsi and boil in water for 15-20 minutes or long enough to allow the water to extract its properties. Add black pepper and sendha(salt used during religious fasts), rock or black salt, or Misri (crystallized sugar like lumps to make it sweet) according to taste. Let it cool a bit and drink this kadha (concoction) while still warm.  

3. A small piece of camphor (Kapoor) approximately the size of a tablet should be taken once or twice a month. It can be swallowed with water by adults while children can take it along with mashed potatoes or banana because they will find it difficult to have it without any aides.  

4. Can take garlic, must have two pods of raw garlic first thing in the morning. To be swallowed daily with lukewarm water.  

5. Take a glass of hot or lukewarm milk every night with a small measure of haldi (turmeric).  

6. A teaspoon gel of  Aloe vera (gwarpatha)  taken with water daily can work wonders for not only your skin and joint pains, but also boost immunity.  

7. Have citrus fruits, particularly Vitamin C rich Amla (Indian gooseberry) juice.