{"id":5033,"date":"2009-08-23T12:10:15","date_gmt":"2009-08-23T11:10:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/moomango.co.uk\/htb\/?p=5033"},"modified":"2009-08-23T12:10:15","modified_gmt":"2009-08-23T11:10:15","slug":"hiv-and-swine-flu-patient-leaflet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/5033","title":{"rendered":"HIV and swine flu \u0096 patient leaflet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Q. What is swine flu?<\/strong> A. Swine flu is a new strain of flu (influenza). The medical name for this strain is H1N1v. It has been called a ‘pandemic’ because of the speed with which it spread to many different countries in a short time.<\/p>\n

Q.\tWill I still get my HIV meds?<\/strong> A.\tIf the flu outbrteak is severe this could limit routine services. To prepare for this KEEP AT LEAST ONE MONTH\u0092S SUPPLY of HIV meds at home. Some clinics will give you an additional month supply or ask you to return earlier for a new prescription. Arrange during August or September to have enough meds to last you through to January. Avoid visiting your clinic in October or November when the flu outbreak is likely to be at it\u0092s peak<\/p>\n

Q.\tWhat do I do if I think I have symptoms?<\/strong> A.\tIf you have internet access see: www.direct.gov.uk\/pandemicflu<\/a><\/p>\n

If you have symptoms call: 0800 15 13 100<\/p>\n

This is the number to access flu meds. You should get these if you are HIV-positive.<\/p>\n

Do not visit your GP, hospital or clinic unless you have been advised to. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Q. \tAre HIV-positive people more at risk of catching swine-flu?<\/strong> A.\tNo. Generally, as with other strains of flu, having HIV does not increase your risk of catching swine flu.<\/p>\n

Q. \tAre HIV-positive people at risk of becoming more ill from swine flu?<\/strong> A.\tNot generally. It may be more serious if you have a low CD4 count (less than 200 cells\/mm3<\/sup>). This is mainly because symptoms of other serious infections could be mistaken for flu. If you have flu symptoms and either a low CD4 count, other health complications or are pregnant, please call your HIV clinic<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Q.\tHow is swine flu different from regular seasonal flu?<\/strong> A. Because this is a new strain of flu virus, no-one is currently immune. Researchers are already working to produce a vaccine, and this may, or may not, be ready in time for the next flu season.<\/p>\n

Q.\tHow is swine flu spread?<\/strong> A. Swine flu is spread by person-to-person contact, just like regular flu – specifically through not covering your mouth when sneezing and not washing your hands. Catch-it, Bin-it, Kill-it. (www.nhs.uk<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Q.\tWill flu meds work in people who are HIV-positive?<\/strong> A. Antiviral medications used to treat flu (for example, oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza ) will work in HIV-positive people. The main reson to take them is to reduce how infectious you are.<\/p>\n

Q.\tWill flu treatments interact with my HIV drugs? <\/strong> A. There is a potential for interactions between Tamiflu, boosted PIs and some nukes (3TC, FTC and tenofovir) but the benefits outweigh this small risk. Your pharmacist will advise you on this. *<\/p>\n

Q.\tWhen does seasonal flu occur?<\/strong> A.\tThe risk period for flu, including swine flu, is during the autumn and winter, especially from September to December.<\/p>\n

Q.\tWhat is the risk that this years’ flu will be swine flu and be more severe?<\/strong> A.\tThis is difficult to predict. Hopefully, there is only a small chance of such a serious outbreak this year.<\/p>\n

Q.\tShould I have the flu vaccine?<\/strong> A. HIV-positive people are routinely recommended to have the seasonal flu vaccine. You need to be registered with a GP to get this and any new vaccinations. Your clinic can help with this or see: http:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/servicedirectories\/Pages\/serviceSearch.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n

Q.\tWhere can I get more information?<\/strong> A.\tThe NHS website will provide updates. Your doctor and clinic will have specific information too.<\/p>\n

See also:<\/p>\n

i-Base:<\/strong> 0808 800 6013 (Mon, Tues, Wed 12- 4pm). www.i-Base.info<\/a><\/p>\n

NHS direct:<\/strong> 0845 46 47 (24 hours) www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

THT direct:<\/strong> 0845 12 21 200 (Mon-Fri 10am- 10pm; Sat\/Sun 12noon-6pm) www.tht.org.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

Please also see information on NHS direct web site: <\/strong> www.nhs.uk\/AlertsEmergencies\/Pages\/Pandemicflualert.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n

* Ref: A technical summary is on the Liverpool interactions website document: http:\/\/www.hiv-druginteractions.org\/new\/Uploaded_Attachment\/76_Flu_Chart_update.pdf<\/a> 440 Kb<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Q. What is swine flu? A. Swine flu is a new strain of flu (influenza). The medical name for this strain is H1N1v. It has been called a ‘pandemic’ because of the speed with which it spread to many different …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5033","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-special-reports","category-other-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5033","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5033"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5033\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5033"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5033"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5033"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}