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What to Do if Sick

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Symptoms of flu

Flu symptoms may include fever, coughing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, body aches, chills and fatigue. In H1N1 (Swine) flu infection, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur.

Illness with the H1N1 (Swine) flu virus has ranged from mild to severe. While the vast majority of people who have contracted H1N1 (Swine) flu have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths have occurred.

Most healthy people recover from the flu without problems, but certain people are at higher risk for serious complications.

The groups at risk for complications from the flu are slightly different from the groups prioritized to receive H1N1 vaccine. Those at highest risk for complications from the flu include:

  • Children younger than 2 years-old
  • Pregnant women
  • Adults age 65 and older
  • People with underlying medical conditions (such as asthma, heart failure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, HIV)

Should I get a prescription for antivirals

If you fall into one or more of these groups and you have signs of the flu, contact your health care provider as soon as possible to get a prescription for antiviral medications (such as Tamiflu®). If you fall into one of more of these groups, you have not gotten an H1N1 vaccination yet, and and you live with someone who has the flu, contact your health care provider. In some cases, your doctor may want to prescribe antiviral medications before you show symptoms. The state’s stockpile of these medicines is available to those who do not have adequate insurance and cannot afford the costs.

Mixing Tamiflu® with Sweet Liquids, a short video that demonstrates how to prepare a sweet liquid mixture if your doctor prescribes Tamiflu® capsules for your child and your child cannot swallow them, is now available at www.cdc.gov/CDCTV/MixingTamiflu and is posted on YouTube.

Although most people can stay home to recover without seeing a health care provider, it is possible for healthy people to develop severe illness from the flu. Anyone with the flu should seek medical attention for:

  • Dehydration
  • Trouble breathing
  • Getting better, then suddenly getting a lot worse
  • Any major change in condition

What you should do if you’re sick:

  1. Stay home. If you have to go out to get medical care or other necessities, wear a mask.
  2. Contact your health care provider to get a prescription for antiviral medications (such as TamifluŽ) if you fall into one of more of the groups at risk for complications from the flu. (see below)
  3. Watch for signs that you need immediate medical attention (listed below).

Could I have H1N1 flu (swine flu)? - a self-assessment of the flu with recommendations on what you should do

Do I need to go the emergency room if I am only a little sick?

No. The emergency room should be used for people who are very sick. You should not go to the emergency room if you are only mildly ill.
If you have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness (see the list below) you should contact your doctor or go to the emergency room. If you get sick with flu symptoms and are at high risk of flu complications or you are concerned about your illness, call your health care provider for advice. If you go to the emergency room and you are not sick with the flu, you may catch it from people who do have it.

Warning signs that you may be getting worse:

Most people with the flu (including H1N1 flu) will get better over a few days. However, some people may get sicker and should see their doctor if they get worse. Some warning signs that should make people consider calling their doctor or seeking emergency care:

  1. Hard time breathing or short of breath.
  2. Pain or pressure in the chest or stomach.
  3. Feeling dizzy all of a sudden.
  4. Being confused.
  5. Not being able to stop throwing-up.
  6. Flu-like symptoms that were getting better – but then came back with a fever and worse cough.

If your child is sick:

If your child has any of these signs, call a doctor or seek emergency medical care right away:

  1. Fast breathing or trouble breathing
  2. Bluish or gray skin color
  3. Not drinking enough fluids
  4. Severe or persistent vomiting
  5. Not urinating or no tears when crying
  6. Not waking up or not interacting
  7. Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
  8. Fever with a rash
  9. Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

When to keep your child at home (Word*) (PDF*)”

Are you pregnant?

There are certain things pregnant women with the flu should do right away for their health and the health of their baby. You should:

  1. Call your doctor right away.
  2. Tell your doctor you are pregnant and are worried you might have the flu.
  3. Ask your doctor if you need medicine for the flu.

If you can't get in touch with your doctor, you should go to a walk-in clinic or the emergency room right away.

How do I take care of someone who is sick?

There are things you can do to take care of a sick person at home, and also steps you can take to protect others from getting sick. The CDC has recommendations here: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm

Are there medicines to treat 2009 H1N1?

Yes. There are drugs your doctor may prescribe for treating both seasonal and 2009 H1N1 called “antiviral drugs.” This flu season, antiviral drugs are being used mainly to treat people who are very sick, such as people who need to be hospitalized, and to treat sick people who are more likely to get serious flu complications. Your health care provider will decide whether antiviral drugs are needed to treat your illness. Remember, most people with 2009 H1N1 have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs and the same is true of seasonal flu.

How long should I stay home if I’m sick?

CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other things you have to do and no one else can do for you. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®.) You should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.

What should I do while I’m sick?

Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making them sick. If you must leave home, for example to get medical care, wear a facemask if you have one, or cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. And wash your hands often to keep from spreading flu to others. CDC has information on “Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home” on its website at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm