Authors
S Aswini Kumar, MD1
1Professor, Department of General Medicine, Nodal Officer for H1N1, Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram; Chairman, State Level Expert Committee for Study of H1N1 in Kerala State.
Abstract
‘Influenza’ is the respiratory infection resulting from an infection of the respiratory system by a virus specific for the system. H1N1 Influenza is a novel virus introduced to the word for the first time in April 2009. H1N1 spread to many parts of the world and is a pandemic now. It is different from the seasonal flu occurring every year in many parts of the world during winter and early spring seasons. It is the same in terms of the signs, symptoms and the clinical course. But it is different in terms of the infectivity. Because of the fact that the virus is new, the general population at large has no resistance against the virus.
The clinical spectrum of the disease is explained.
The World Health organization published the new recommendations for the treatment of H1N1 based on the prevailing drug sensitivity and drug resistance across the world, in February 2010.
Keywords: Influenza, Pandemic, Pigs, Oseltamivir, WHO Recommendations