How does the H1N1 flu differ from the seasonal flu?

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How does the H1N1 flu differ from the seasonal flu?

     Flu (influenza) viruses are divided into three broad categories: influenza A, B or C. Influenza A is the most common type. H1N1 flu is a variety of influenza A.

Even though the H1N1 virus and the seasonal flu are the same in many ways, they are two different types of influenza.

What Makes Them the Same?
• Both flu 'symptoms include fever, body aches, headache, sore throat, cough,
runny / stuffy nose, chills, fatigue and possibly diarrhea and / or vomiting.
• Both viruses are spread mainly from person-to-person through coughing or
sneezing. Sometimes people can get the flu by touching something with flu
viruses on it and then touching their eyes, mouth or nose.
• Both types of flu are treated using fever reducing medication, plenty of fluids,
antivirals and rest.

What Makes Them Different?

•  The H1N1 virus is new, so not as many people are immune to it.
•  Unlike seasonal flu, people 65 and over are less likely to get the H1N1 flu.
•  The CDC reports the H1N1 virus has affected more people younger than 25 years old vs. the older population.
• Unlike seasonal flu, swine flu can be passed from person to person in warm weather and cold weather.
• Seasonal flu, which peaks during late December through early March, is most efficiently passed from person to person through droplets in the air when the weather is cold. "When it warms up in the spring, transmission stops
• Another significant way that the viruses differ is that in a third of the cases that have come to medical attention H1N1 affects the gastrointestinal tract as well as the respiratory system. "That's just something that we do not see in seasonal flu, which is really a respiratory virus," (www.newyorkpresbyterianhospital.com, 2009).
• Pregnant women are dramatically more affected by H1N1.

Seasonal flu: Typical influenza viruses infect the cells lining the main airway and nasal tract, according to Earl Brown, a virologist at the University of Ottawa. H1N1: The virus also infects the airway, but in some individuals, it continues to move down and infect the lungs. It's "very unusual" for seasonal flu viruses to infect lungs, Dr. Brown said. The H1N1 virus causes lung infection much more often and "more completely," he said, which is why some people have ended up in intensive care units or even dying from complications of the virus. (www.theglobeandmail.com, 2012). 

Read More What is H1N1 "Swine" flu?

Read More  Signs and Symptoms








































































































































References
- http://www.stfranciscare.org/uploadedFiles/H1N1_vs_Seasonal_web_final.pdf
- http://www.newyorkpresbyterianhospital.com/enews/whats-the-difference-h1n1-seasonal-flu.html
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swine-flu/expert-answers/influenza-a/faq-20058309
- http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/conditions/h1n1-v-seasonal-flu-how-to-tell-the-difference/article4290774/
- http://www.mtoliveboe.org/cmsAdmin/uploads/cold_flu_swine_flu-1_001.pdf