Analyzing the data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US, the scientists from Imperial College, London, and CDC have found that children below the age of 18 years show more chances of catching swine flu from an infected person in the house, as compared to the adults.

The study noted that children below 18 have a two-fold greater likelihood of catching swine flu infection, or H1N1, from a patient from within the house, vis-à-vis adults aged 19 to 50 years.

It also specified that none of the particular symptoms of the H1N1 infection – including cough, fever, runny nose, sore throat, vomiting and diarrhea - have been found to be more associated with the virus being transmitted within an infected household than the others.

The study, which involved an observation of 216 people infected with the swine flu virus and 600 people living in their households, suggested that it may be pointless for patients to stay at home for more than four days after they are diagnosed of H1N1 symptoms.

Commenting on the findings, lead author, Simon Cauchemez of Imperial College, said: “People infected with swine flu might not need to stay at home as long as we previously thought – if they are only likely to transmit the virus to other people for the first few days of their illness.”