How long does it take for H1N1 to be gotten out with a cotton swab?

Answer 1

If you have the Swine Flu (A-H1N1/09) and a doctor or other medical professional uses a long cotton swab (long "Q-tip" swab) in your nose, they are not doing it to treat your flu. There is no effective flu treatment that would be done this way. What they are doing with the swab is taking some of the mucous material from your nose to use it in a lab test to see if you have the flu.

Some people are recommending using cotton swabs and normal saline or salt water in your nose to stop or prevent the swine flu. This is not effective. It may, however, make your irritated nose feel better because saline is soothing to mucous tissue like the lining of your nose and throat. For best results in using saline this way, you can get a spray bottle over the counter at the drug store or most grocery stores in the health aisle made for using as a nasal spray. It can be very soothing during colds and flu as well as in winter when the humidity levels of your house are too low due to the dry air from furnaces. Follow the label directions.

Do not share the spray bottle, each person should have her own for individual use.