The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studies have shown that those younger than 60 and younger children do not have existing antibodies against the H1N1 variety of influenza but about 1/3 of adults older than 60 have antibodies because they were exposed as a child. However, the risk of severe illness with H1N1 flu virus is higher in individuals who are younger than 25 than older which is significantly different than the seasonal flu virus.
The techniques used to prevent the spread and infection with seasonal flu will also work with H1N1 or swine flu. These precautions include using soap and water to wash your hands frequently throughout the day, using alcohol based hand rub when soap and water aren’t available, keeping your hands away from your own mouth and nose, avoid close contact with sick people, wipe surfaces in public that you must touch – such as shopping carts. If you are sick, stay away from others to prevent spreading the germ, take care to get 8 hours of rest and good nutrition to bolster your immune system.
Symptoms are serious enough to seek medical attention if a person is breathing quickly or has trouble breathing, skin is bluish, they are getting dehydrated or not drinking enough, are very irritable, have a fever with a rash or have flu symptoms that improve but then return with fever and a worse cough, dizziness, confusion, severe or persistent vomiting or pain in the chest or abdomen.
There is no real way to predict what will become a mild disease and who may suffer from a more severe case of the flu. It is important to maintain good preventative methods and supportive care if you contract the illness.
Resources:
(1) American College Health Association: H1N1 Flu
http://www.acha.org/Topics/H1N1flu.cfm
(2) MSNBC.com: Legal Immunity Set for Swine Flu Vaccine Makers
(3) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: How Flu Spreads
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm
(4) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: People at High Risk of Developing Flu-Related Complications
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/highrisk.htm
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