Union Government issued guidelines to tackle increasing number of H1N1 cases

Union Government on 12 February 2015 issued new guidelines for the States to combat the H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak. It asked the States to categorise cases for screening, isolation and hospitalization.  

Health workers have been asked to screen people with symptoms of the flu on the basis of their severity and categorise them.

Under the new guidelines, the disease has been categorised into three categories, and they are  
• Category A: For those who do not require testing for H1N1. This category includes patients with mild fever, cough and sore throat, body ache, headache, nausea and diarrhoea. These patients will be monitored for 24 to 48 hours and will be advised to stay at home and not mingle with other people. They will not need testing for H1N1 and no treatment with Oseltamivir.
• Category B: For those who have all the symptoms mentioned in Category A, but have high-grade fever and are in the high-risk category. They will need treatment with Oseltamivir and will have to be confined at home. High-risk category includes children with mild illness, pregnant women, and persons over 65, patients with lung, liver, heart, kidney, blood or neurological diseases or has been on long-term cortisone therapy.
• Category C: For those who have all the signs and symptoms of Category A and B. They will be hospitalised depending on their health condition. If the patients have breathlessness, chest pain, drowsiness, fall in blood pressure, sputum mixed with blood, bluish discolouration of nails they will need to be immediately started on the medicine and hospitalised.

Category C will also include children with influenza-like illness, high and persistent fever, inability to feed, convulsions and difficulty in breathing.