Clinical features of swine flu

• Patients with disease may present with
  • flu like symptoms - fever{ >=38 degC ] or history of fever
  • flu-like illness (two or more of the following symptoms: cough, sore throat, rhinorrhea, limb/joint pain, headache)
    
    
  • additionally some patients may present with vomiting and diarrhoea (1,2)
    
    
  • in young children typical influenza symptoms (e.g., fever and cough) may be absent. Fever and lethargy might be the presenting symptoms in infants and may not have cough or other respiratory symptoms or signs (3)
    
    
  • Severe disease in children may present with:
    • apnoea
    • tachypnoea
    • dyspnoea
    • cyanosis
    • dehydration
    • altered mental status
    • extreme irritability (3)

Reference:

• 1. . Human Swine Influenza: information for health professionals http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1240812234677 (02/05/09)
• 2 CDC Interim Guidance for Clinicians on Identifying and Caring for Patients with Swine-origin Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/identifyingpatients.htm (02/05/09)
• 3 CDC Interim Guidance for Clinicians on the Prevention and Treatment of Swine-Origin Influenza Virus Infection in Young Children.http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/childrentreatment.htm (02/05/09)