Common questions about H1N1 flu

Going to the hospital to test for H1N1, although there is only a fever, buy vitamin C to drink or a mask to prevent disease . Many people are equipping themselves to prevent epidemics. Experts of Hanoi Department of Health answered questions about this disease prevention.

1. When there are flu symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, headache ., suspected of being infected with H1N1, where should people visit?

- People can go to any medical facility for examination and will be fully consulted by medical staff. If this person is at risk, such as going from the epidemic zone, contacting people with H1N1 flu will be isolated and tested. If not, just treat as normal flu and follow up at home.

In particular, people with chronic diseases (cardiovascular disease, asthma, tuberculosis, diabetes, obesity, malnutrition, AIDS patients .), pregnant women, the elderly, children need special care about your health, avoid contact with people who are suspected of getting sick. When there are signs of disease, they need to go to a medical facility immediately to be examined and treated promptly, limit serious complications and death.

Students at Nguyen Khuyen School, Ho Chi Minh City, wear masks during class hours.(Photo: Thien Chuong)

2. Where does an ordinary person want to test for H1N1 flu?

- The testing of H1N1 influenza is not performed by any hospital, and it is very expensive, so not everyone has a suspicion that the flu wants to be tested. Only people who see high risk will be isolated and get free samples.

3. Do you buy some supportive medications like vitamin C for drinking?

- In fact, whether or not the disease becomes severe or not depends heavily on the health and resistance of the patient. Therefore, the health sector still recommends that people should strengthen themselves to prevent disease, taking vitamins is also a way to improve the body's resistance.

However, people should not arbitrarily buy and use antiviral drugs (Tamiflu) when there is no indication of medical staff to avoid drug resistance and serious changes.

4. What are the measures to prevent disease at home?

- People need to comply with the recommendations of the health sector in this period such as: regularly washing their hands with soap or antiseptic solution, sanitation, cleaning surfaces, utensils, living things with common antiseptic chemicals, cover your mouth when coughing, don't spit indiscriminately.

At home or work, the air conditioner should not be opened, but a window should be opened for ventilation because the H1N1 virus can live for a long time in a cold environment, but only lasts a few hours if there is a severe sun.

5. What kind of respirators should people buy to prevent flu infection?

- You can buy medical masks, 3-layer types at pharmacies, where medical equipment is sold. This is a disposable mask only, but if you only buy it for individuals to use alone, not in the epidemic area, there is no need to replace the new one. This is a paper mask, not washable.

6. Do people who have been in buildings with staff infected with influenza without wearing a mask need to self-isolate at home?

- This building has been disinfected so it greatly limits the spread. Those who enter the building only need to follow up on their own.

7. Staff working in a building with a flu patient wears a mask at the agency. Do you need to wear a mask when you return home?

- This is not necessary, except for those who have close contact with the sick person, they should wear it.