The key difference between swine flu and ordinary flu is that swine flu is particularly due to an infection caused by a subtype of influenza A virus, while ordinary flu is particularly due to an infection caused by influenza A, B, or C virus.
Flu is a common respiratory illness people get from influenza viruses. The common symptoms of this virus may include fever, headaches, body aches, coughing, and stuffy or runny nose. Sometimes people may get serious complications such as pneumonia. Swine flu and ordinary flu are two different types of flu caused by influenza viruses.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Swine flu
3. What is Ordinary flu
4. Similarities – Swine flu and Ordinary flu
5. Swine flu vs Ordinary flu in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Swine flu vs Ordinary flu
What is Swine Flu?
Swine flu is particularly due to an infection caused by a subtype of the influenza A virus. This subtype is called H1N1. The H1N1 flu strain or subtype first emerged in the spring of 2009 in the United States. It is completely caused by a new virus that has never spread before. Therefore, at that time, no one was thought to have any resistance to the H1N1 subtype. The signs and symptoms of swine flu include coughing, a sore throat, fatigue, a runny nose, stuffed nose, headaches, diarrhoea, vomiting, trouble breathing, trouble waking up, not drinking enough fluids, fever with rash, and confusion. This flu spreads from person to person through coughs and sneezes or droplets in the air. Moreover, people may contract swine flu by inhaling the virus while breathing as well. Other than that, people can also get the infection when they touch a contaminated surface and then touch their mouth, nose, or eyes.
Figure 01: Swine Flu
Swine flu can be diagnosed through physical examination and rapid flu tests. Furthermore, treatment options for swine flu may include getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids, eating a light diet, staying at home till getting rid of the flu, pain relievers (acetaminophen), antiviral drugs (oseltamivir and zanamivir), and flu vaccine (flu shot for influenza A subtype HINI).
What is Ordinary flu?
Ordinary flu is particularly due to an infection caused by influenza A, B, or C viruses. Ordinary flu is most common in winter months. The symptoms of ordinary flu may include fever, chills, body aches, cough, headache, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, tiredness, or feeling run down. The severe symptoms of ordinary flu may be due to influenza A or B infections. Influenza C does not cause severe symptoms. Moreover, ordinary flu can be transmitted from person to person by someone nearby coughing, sneezing, or talking, by touching a surface that is contaminated by the flu virus, and by touching the hands or face of someone who has the flu and then touching the face, nose, mouth or eyes.
Figure 02: Ordinary Flu
Ordinary flu can be diagnosed through physical examination, laboratory tests such as testing a sample of mucus from the nose, and PCR testing. Furthermore, ordinary flu can be treated by getting plenty of rest, drinking fluid like water or broth, taking acetaminophen or NSAIDs, using spray or oral decongestants, taking cough suppressants (dextromethorphan), using expectorants (guaifenesin), antiviral medications such as oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu), zanamivir, peramivir, and baloxavir marboxil, and flu vaccines (flu shots for influenza A, B or C).
What are the Similarities Between Swine flu and Ordinary flu?
- Swine flu and ordinary flu are two different types of flu caused by influenza viruses.
- Both flu types may be caused by the influenza A virus.
- Their causative agents belong to the family.
- Both causative agents have a negative sense RNA as genetic material.
- Both flu types can have similar symptoms, such as fever, headaches, body aches, coughing, and stuffy or runny nose.
- They can be diagnosed through physical examination and laboratory tests.
- They are treated by getting plenty of rest, antiviral medications, and flu vaccines.
What is the Difference Between Swine flu and Ordinary flu?
Swine flu is particularly due to an infection caused by a subtype of influenza A virus, while ordinary flu is particularly due to an infection caused by influenza A, B, or C viruses. This is the key difference between swine flu and ordinary flu. Furthermore, swine flu is a less common flu type, while ordinary flu is a more common flu type.
The following table summarizes the difference between swine flu and ordinary flu.
Summary – Swine flu vs Ordinary flu
Flu is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs, which are part of the respiratory system. The influenza virus is the most common causative agent of the flu. Swine flu and ordinary flu are two types of flu illnesses caused by different strains of the influenza virus. Swine flu is particularly due to the infection caused by a subtype of influenza A virus, while ordinary flu is particularly due to the infection caused by influenza A, B, or C virus. This is the key difference between swine flu and ordinary flu.
Reference:
1. “Swine Flu.”NHS Choices, NHS.
2. “Flu Symptoms & Complications.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Diagram of swine flu symptoms” By Digestive_system_diagram_en.svg: Mariana Ruiz Villarreal(LadyofHats) (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Woman, blow, blowing, nose, hand chief, grey, blond” (CC0) via Hippopx