Difference Between Flu and Swine Flu Symptoms

Flu vs Swine Flu Symptoms

During the past hundred or so years, the word flu was aligned, with terrible amounts of casualties and emerging forms of new serovars of viruses, which jump species to cause havoc amongst the human populace. As they are viruses, we are yet to create specific antiviral and for the time being, we have to depend on the use of vaccinations against the flu virus. Even the vaccines need to be upgraded to changes and the mutations experienced by these viruses. Flu is an infection of the respiratory system with extra respiratory symptoms, which could be lethal for those individuals who are at the extremes of life with poor immunity or already debilitated due to another illness.

Flu Symptoms

Flu is caused by orthomyxo virus family having RNA for genetic material. The influenza viruses are sub classified into A, B and C, and these promote direct transmission through being in contact with infectious material or through inhalation of the aerosolized material. The patients who are affected usually present with fever, which is usually lasting 4 days duration, stuffy nose with sneezing, and sore throat. There are also symptoms of blocked nose, unproductive cough, headaches, body aches and fatigue. There are rarely any symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting.

Swine Flu Symptoms

The swine flu is known as “the novel influenza virus”, or the H1N1 virus. The symptoms of swine flu are the same as flu in most instances. The symptoms are most of the time fever, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, etc. Small infants are affected in their developmental stages causing, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophies, etc. In adults, the disease leads to shortness of breath, chest pain, low temperature, dizziness, and vomiting. In children, it can lead to irritability, cyanotic features as well as pneumonia.

What is the difference between Flu and Swine Flu Symptoms?

Most of the time flu and swine flu have common symptoms and signs, but there are disparities in the frequency and the commonality between them.

– There are episodes of fever; in flu, it would be for about 3-4 days, but in swine flu, the fever is not always present.

– In flu, there would be times of stuffy nose, sore throat and cough, but in swine flu, these are not always present, and would be absent at times.

– The flu does not have major extra respiratory manifestations like diarrhea or vomiting, but in patients with swine flu, they are a very common site.

There are overlaps in the symptoms and signs, but the complications of swine flu have a greater impact. In healthy adults, it may not be a problem, but in people who are afflicted with other illnesses, or those who are immune compromised would have problems like encephalitis, respiratory distress, pneumonia and even can lead to death.

In summary, the syndromic presentations of flu and swine flu are indistinguishable, but the intensities of these symptoms vary, and the complications of swine flu are the most drastic. The importance in discerning the two diseases is important in managing as flu gives a better outcome than swine flu, in general.