豆知识 2009-10-04&10-10 甲型H1N1流感的治疗药物

 Hello, I’m Dr. Tony Fiore with CDC’s Influenza¹ Division. I’m here to speak with you today about antiviral drugs that can be used to treat or prevent human infections with a new type of H1N1 flu virus, which has also been called swine flu. 

 

Since March, 2009, this new virus has caused human illness in the United States and other countries. If you get sick with this flu, it’s important that you know about antiviral drugs that can make your illness milder, make you feel better faster, and potentially prevent serious influenza complications.

 

Antiviral drugs are prescription² medicines, such as pills, liquid, or an inhaler that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. They can also be used to prevent flu when they’re given to a person who is not ill. Use of antiviral drugs should be reserved, however, for certain situations, such as when a person at a higher risk for influenza complications is exposed to the virus. This includes persons 65 or older, infants and young children, and persons with chronic³ medical conditions. When used for prevention, the number of days antiviral drugs should be used will vary, depending on a person’s particular situation.

 

If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder, and help you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started within two days of symptoms, but treatment should still be considered after two days of symptom onset⁴, particularly for hospitalized patients, or people at higher risk for flu-related complications. These medications must be prescribed by a healthcare professional.

 

Flu antiviral drugs only work against flu viruses. They won’t help treat or prevent symptoms caused by infection from other viruses that can cause symptoms similar to the flu. The new H1N1 flu viruses that have infected people in the United States and Mexico are sensitive to oseltamivir and zanamivir. CDC recommends that clinicians consider using these drugs to prevent or treat infection with the new H1N1 flu viruses, focusing on patients at higher risk for influenza complications or those who are hospitalized. One or both of the drugs should be available at pharmacies⁵ or hospitals in your area, and both drugs are in the recently released federal stockpile. 

 

In addition to antiviral medications, it’s important to remember that there are basic things that people can do every day to help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like flu viruses.

 

First, wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Also remember to cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw the tissue in the trash afterwards. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you get sick with flu, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Avoid touching⁶ your eyes, nose or mouth, because germs can spread that way.

1 influenza   

n.流行性感冒，流感

参考例句：

• They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。

2 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

3 chronic   

adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的

参考例句：

• Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
• Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。

4 onset   

n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始

参考例句：

• The drug must be taken from the onset of the infection.这种药必须在感染的最初期就开始服用。
• Our troops withstood the onset of the enemy.我们的部队抵挡住了敌人的进攻。

5 pharmacies   

药店

参考例句：

• Still, 32 percent of the pharmacies filled the prescriptions. 但仍然有32%的药剂师配发了这两张药方。 来自互联网
• Chinese herbal pharmacies, and traditional massage therapists in the Vancouver telephone book. 中药店，和传统的按摩师在温哥华的电话簿里。 来自互联网

6 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。