The common symptoms of the swine flu are: fever, cough, sore throat, aches, headaches, chills, fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting.  However, in some cases, the swine flu can grow worse and cause complications in conditions such as heart problems, diabetes, and asthma; as well as cause pneumonia and respiratory failure in the worst cases.  These complications progress very quickly and have to be treated immediately in order to prevent permanent damage or death.

The symptoms of swine flu become apparent between three and five days after exposure to the virus and persist for about a week.  You are contagious for around eight days; from the day before your symptoms are apparent until the symptoms clear up.  During this time, it’s best to quarantine yourself to the best of your ability in order to prevent further spread.

The swine flu is perfectly treatable with some care, plenty of fluids, some over the counter drugs such as Tylenol, and common sense about staying home.  The symptoms are very uncomfortable-you may feel as though you’ve had the worst flu of your life-but there is no reason for this influenza to be fatal or even damaging with a little care and forethought. You should still see your doctor if you have these symptoms and have recently traveled to a place where the swine flu is prevalent; your doctor can test you for the flu and give you advice on what to do in order to get better faster and keep it from spreading.  Your doctor can also make sure that you will have no complications from the illness.  Anyone should see their doctor about this illness if they are worried, for it has been known to strike young, healthy adults as badly as it hits elders and children.  In the end however, the best thing you can do for yourself is to have some common sense while you are ill and stay home to take care of yourself for the duration.