What to do if you think you Might have the flu

 

What should I do if I think I have H1N1?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends this approach to dealing with the flu:

Self isolation – it’s central to coping with the flu. Stay away from work, school or crowds until you recover from the flu.

That isolation period should continue until you are free of fever (100 degrees F) for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-lowering medications. In many cases this will require an isolation period of three to five days. It could be longer for some people.  Isolation helps the ill person recover faster and helps to prevent the spread of the flu.

It’s important to note that most of those who become ill are getting mild to moderate cases of the flu and they are recovering fully in a week or less, without any medical intervention.

 

At what point should I seek medical attention?

If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider or seek medical care. If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, the CDC recommends that you seek emergency medical care immediately.

• Warning signs for children: Fast breathing or troubled breathing; bluish or gray skin color; not drinking enough fluids; severe or persistent vomiting;  not waking up or not interacting; being so irritable that the child does not want to be held; flu-like symptoms improve, but then return with fever and worse cough.

• Warning signs for adults: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen; sudden dizziness; confusion; severe or persistent vomiting; flu-like symptoms improve, but then return with fever and worse cough.

 

Treatment for the flu:

• Stay away from work, school or crowds.

• Rest and take plenty of fluids.

• Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when coughing and sneezing, and dispose of the used tissues properly.

• Wash your hands with soap and water often and thoroughly, especially after coughing or sneezing.

• Inform family and friends about your illness and try to avoid contact with people.

• Avoid travel.

• Treatment of ill individuals with the prescription drug Tamiflu is recommended only if there is an underlying health condition (severe asthma, diabetes, HIV disease, immune deficiency) or the individual is considered high risk (pregnant, over age 65). University Health Service physicians will not prescribe Tamiflu for patients who do not meet the CDC guidelines.