Health Area

Swine flu, or influenza A/H1N1 flu is a disease found in April 2009. Since it was first identified in Mexico, this flu has spread to the whole world with the number of people to hundreds of thousands. Until early August 2009, the flu has caused the death of more than 1100 people. In Indonesia, the swine flu sufferers have more than 300 people.

Swine flu symptoms similar to ordinary flu. In the swine flu was also found fever, cough, sore throat, headache, and muscle aches. Some people also reported experiencing symptoms of colds, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Because of the similarity of symptoms, is very difficult for a doctor or other medical practitioners to distinguish between the swine flu with the common cold, especially in the first-line treatment such as health centers, clinics, clinic, doctor’s office, etc..

For that, necessary laboratory tests. In summary, the examination stage include:

1. Throat swab sampling of patients suspected of suffering from swine flu
2. Extraction of genetic material carried the virus.
3. Genetic material is copied millions of times (amplification) through a process called Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
4. The results of amplification and then separated by gel electrophoresis.
5. The sequence of genetic code that dealt with the examination is called sequencing.
6. The sequence of the genetic code are then compared with the reference sequence of the genetic code in Gen Bank.

Because the procedure is quite complicated tests, tools and materials needed are relatively expensive, so only certain laboratories that have the ability to detect the virus that causes swine flu. In Indonesia, which has the ability to include R & D department of health laboratory, laboratory several government hospitals, etc..

With severe flu symptoms, immediately to the hospital / ER

For those of you who live in environments where it has identified have been spreading swine flu, or have a history of contact with high-risk people who suffer from swine flu, currently suffering from the flu, then you should stay at home and avoid contact with others, unless must go to the doctor or hospital for treatment.

If the accompanying symptoms of flu such as difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, pain or depression in the chest or abdomen, dizziness sudden, confusion, severe vomiting or continuously, flu-like symptoms improved, but is followed by fever and severe cough, then should immediately check into a hospital or emergency room.