- With Mayo Clinic internist
James M. Steckelberg, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
James M. Steckelberg, M.D.
James Steckelberg, M.D.
Dr. James Steckelberg is a consultant in the Division of Infectious Diseases and a professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School.
A native of Fremont, Neb., Dr. Steckelberg was a Rhodes Scholar and graduated from the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine as a resident in internal medicine and a fellow in infectious diseases, and is board certified in both. He is the former director of the Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory at Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Steckelberg belongs to numerous professional organizations. He is a founding member of the Musculoskeletal Infection Society and a fellow of the American College of Physicians and of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. He has served on many Mayo Clinic committees and is a member of the Department of Medicine Leadership Committee and of the executive committee of the Division of Infectious Diseases. He also served on the editorial boards of "Mayo Clinic Proceedings" and "Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy" and has been an editorial reviewer for more than a dozen publications.
Dr. Steckelberg's research interests include experimental models of infection, epidemiology of infection, and antimicrobial resistance and therapy of bacterial infections.
Definition (3)
- H1N1 flu (swine flu): How serious is the global threat?
- H1N1 flu (swine flu) pandemic: What does it mean?
- What's the difference between H1N1 flu and influenza A?
Symptoms (2)
- H1N1 flu (swine flu) symptoms: Self-care for the flu
- H1N1 flu (swine flu) symptoms: Is fever always present?
Complications (1)
- H1N1 flu (swine flu) and pregnancy: Are special precautions necessary?
Prevention (5)
- Flu school closing: Any benefit?
- Flu vaccine: Safe for people with egg allergy?
- Flu mask: Should I wear one?
- see all in Prevention
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Question
H1N1 flu (swine flu) symptoms: Self-care for the flu
What are the usual swine flu symptoms? What should I do if I start to have them?
Answer
from James M. Steckelberg, M.D.
Swine flu symptoms are pretty much the same as seasonal flu symptoms, experience so far has shown. The illness starts one or two days after your exposure to the virus, and symptoms may seem to hit you suddenly. Among healthy people, seasonal flu and swine flu symptoms vary in severity. Swine flu symptoms include:
- Fever, which is almost always present and which may rise above 103 F (39.4 C) in the first 12 hours of illness
- Chills
- Muscle aches
- Loss of appetite
- Extreme fatigue
- Eye redness and burning
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Dry cough
- Sore throat
With swine flu, some people also report nausea and vomiting.
Swine flu symptoms can make you feel awful, but if you're basically healthy and you're not pregnant, take care of yourself at home rather than going to your doctor. Try these remedies:
- Take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) to reduce fever and muscle aches. Don't give products containing aspirin to children or young adults, as these drugs may cause Reye's syndrome.
- Drink clear fluids, such as water, broth or sports drinks.
- Rest as long as you continue to feel tired, and sleep as much as you can.
H1N1 flu (swine flu) symptoms: Is fever always present?
- Flu FAQ: What are the initial symptoms of swine flu? How do we get it cured? http://answers.flu.gov/questions/4280. Accessed Sept. 22, 2009.
- Questions and answers: H1N1 flu and you. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm. Accessed Sept. 22, 2009.
- Treanor JJ. Influenza virus. In: Mandel GL, et al., eds. Mandel, Douglas and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/161597129-4/0/1259/1331.html?tocnode=51381165&fromURL=1331.html#4-u1.0-B0-443-06643-4..50165-3_5561. Accessed Sept. 22, 2009.
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