Swine flu

Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff

Swine flu symptoms in humans are similar to those of infection with other flu strains:

■Fever
■Cough
■Sore throat
■Body aches
■Headache
■Chills
■Fatigue
■Diarrhea
■Vomiting
Swine flu symptoms develop three to five days after you're exposed to the virus and continue for about eight days, starting one day before you get sick and continuing until you've recovered.

When to see a doctor
See your doctor immediately if you develop swine flu symptoms, such as fever, cough and body aches, and you have recently traveled to an area where H1N1 swine flu has been reported. Be sure to let your doctor know when and where you traveled.

Also see your doctor if you develop what appear to be swine flu symptoms after you've been in close contact with someone who may have been exposed to H1N1 swine flu.

Doctors have rapid tests to identify the flu virus, but there is no rapid test to differentiate swine influenza A H1N1 from other influenza A subtypes.