What To Do If You Get Sick with the Flu

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How do I know if I have the flu?

You may have the flu if you have some or all of these symptoms:

  • fever
  • cough
  • sore throat
  • runny or stuffy nose
  • body aches
  • headache
  • chills
  • fatigue
  • sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

What should I do if I get sick?

Most people will not need anything beyond home care to recover from the flu.

They don't need to be tested; they don't need to see their doctor and they don't need prescription medicine to treat the flu.

If you get sick with flu-like symptoms this flu season, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. Most people with H1N1 influenza have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs and have recovered at home.

Flu can make you feel really miserable with fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, coughing, and sometimes, with this new flu virus, some diarrhea and vomiting.

It's a good idea to learn how to take care of someone with flu at home and recognize the symptoms that mean it's time to get medical care. Make sure you have the supplies you need to care for them (thermometer, fever reducing medicines, fluids like sports drinks or Pedialyte, throat lozenges, hand sanitizer, disinfectant, etc.) Consider a loose paper facemask for the patient if he/she can tolerate it. If not, the care provider could wear one while also trying to limit contact between the sick person and other household members.

Unless you are experiencing a medical emergency (see below), call your health-care provider first before going to a clinic, doctor's office or hospital.

Some people DO need to talk to or see a health care provider.

Some people are at high risk of complications from the flu. These risks can be reduced if they take prescription antiviral medicines (Tamiflu or Relenza), especially if they start within 48 hours of feeling ill. People in the following groups should talk to a physician as soon as they have flu symptoms to ask if a prescription is needed:

  • pregnant women,
  • children under 5 (especially under 2 yrs old),
  • people over 65, and
  • those of any age with a chronic disease

Call the health care provider's office on the phone before going in, to see if a visit is necessary and what precautions they may want to take.

Sometimes flu can make even healthy people very sick, so anyone concerned about their illness should consult a health care provider.

It's important to recognize the emergency warning signs when medical care is very important:

Warning signs requiring immediate attention

Anyone with these symptoms should get medical care right away.

In children

  • Fast breathing or trouble breathing
  • Bluish skin color
  • Not drinking enough fluids
  • 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
  • Fever with a rash

In adults

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
  • Sudden dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Severe or persistent vomiting

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

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends:

  • Stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings while you have a fever.
  • Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®.)
  • Exception: to get medical care or for other things you have to do and no one else can do for you.
  • Health care workers should stay home for 7 days after the symptoms begin or 24 hours after fever is gone (off fever-reducing medicine), whichever is longer.
  • Check with your employer to see if specific guidelines have been established at your workplace.

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, bring a facemask (if you have one) or ask to use one if they have them at your destination.
  • Always cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow or with a tissue.
  • Throw used tissue away and wash your hands often to keep from spreading flu to others.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has excellent resources on caring for sick persons at home.

The Colorado Home Healthcare Guide includes tips on when to call the doctor, what supplies to have on hand, use of masks and other protective measures, cleaning and disinfecting the home, preventing and treating dehydration and reducing fevers, among others. The guide is useful for any situation requiring home health care, not just H1N1. Now is the time to review the guide so that you are ready if the time comes for you to care for someone who is ill.

The Centers for Disease Control also offers guidance on caring for sick persons at home.

For updated reliable information on H1N1 influenza, visit www.flu.gov