Worried about influenza and H1N1 flu?
What should you do?
If You Are |
And You Have |
Please |
Not at High Risk** |
Influenza-like symptoms*. |
Stay home until your fever is gone without using medicine for 24 hours. Don’t go to a hospital. |
High Risk** |
Influenza-like symptoms*. |
Call your doctor to discuss the need for flu medicine. Don’t go to a hospital. |
Anybody with severe illness, like difficulty breathing |
Influenza-like symptoms*. |
Get to a hospital right away. If you call 911, tell them you may have severe influenza. |
*Influenza-like symptoms: Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, fatigue and chills.
**High Risk Populations: People with certain health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and heart or kidney disease may face special medical challenges during flu season. Learn More.
Women who are pregnant during flu season should take additional precautions. Learn More.
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE:
How do I know if I have H1N1 (swine flu)?
Why isn't my doctor testing me for the H1N1 or swine flu?
Why is my doctor not giving me medication to treat the flu?
If my loved one is diagnosed with the flu, shouldn't I be given medication to prevent me from getting sick?
Should I get the flu vaccine or the H1N1 vaccine?
How should I take care of a person with the flu at home?
When should I seek emergency care?
How does H1N1 flu spread?
How long is a person with H1N1 contagious?
How do I know if I have H1N1 (swine flu)?
The symptoms of H1N1 are very similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu. However, H1N1 flu tends to infect people younger than 25 years of age than older people. At this time, there are few cases and few deaths reported in people older than 64 years old, which is unusual when compared with seasonal flu. However, previously recognized high risk medical conditions from seasonal influenza appear to be associated with increased risk of complications from this 2009 H1N1. These underlying conditions are listed below.
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Why isn't my doctor testing me for the H1N1 or swine flu?
At this time, no rapid test can accurately determine if you have the H1N1 or swine flu. Confirmatory testing may take up to 7 days, and by that time, a decision would need to be made if you need to be treated. In most cases, the test result would not be available until you were over your infection.
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Why is my doctor not giving me medication to treat the flu?
This could be due to a number of reasons.
- Typically, flu treatment is only effective if given within the first 48 hours of symptoms.
- You most likely do not need flu treatment if you are already getting better.
- At this time, flu treatment is only recommended for patients at high risk for severe disease
- Overuse of flu treatment will likely result in these medications not working to treat the flu in the future.
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If my loved one is diagnosed with the flu, shouldn't I be given medication to prevent me from getting sick?
You may not receive treatment to prevent the flu unless you are at high risk for severe flu complications and are a close contact of a person infected with influenza. Close contact means: having cared for or lived with someone with influenza, direct contact with respiratory droplets of someone with influenza (includes kissing, sharing cups or silverware), does not include walking by or sitting near an infected person.
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Should I get the seasonal flu vaccine or the H1N1 vaccine? Possibly both!
Who should get the
seasonal flu vaccine? |
Who should get the
H1N1 vaccine? |
- Children 6 months to 19 years of age
- People 50 years and older
- People with chronic diseases such as diabetes or asthma or
- Women who are pregnant
- Health care providers
- People living with anyone in a high risk group
|
- Children 6 months to 24 years of age
- People caring for infants
- People with chronic diseases such as diabetes or asthma
- Women who are pregnant
- Health care providers
|
Please see www.cdc.gov/flu for more detail regarding these recommendations.
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How should I take care of a person with the flu at home?
People with novel H1N1 flu who are cared for at home should:
- Check with their health care provider about any special care they might need if they are pregnant or have a health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or emphysema
- Check with their health care provider about whether they should take antiviral medications
- Keep away from others as much as possible. This is to keep from making others sick. Do not go to work or school while ill
- Stay home for at least 24 hours after fever is gone, except to seek medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
- Warning! Do not give aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to children or teenagers who have the flu; this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome.
- Get plenty of rest
- Drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from being dehydrated
- Cover coughs and sneezes. Clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often and especially after using tissues and after coughing or sneezing into hands
- Wear a facemask – if available and tolerable – when sharing common spaces with other household members to help prevent spreading the virus to others. This is especially important if other household members are at high risk for complications from influenza.
- Be watchful for emergency warning signs (see below) that might indicate you need to seek medical attention.
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When should I seek emergency care?
Get medical care right away if the sick person:
- has difficulty breathing or chest pain
- has purple or blue discoloration of the lips
- is vomiting and unable to keep liquids down
- has signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing, absence of urination, or in infants, a lack of tears when they cry
- has seizures (for example, uncontrolled convulsions)
- is less responsive than normal or becomes confused
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How does H1N1 flu spread?
H1N1 flu appears to spread the same way that the seasonal flu spreads. Viruses such as the flu are spread from person to person through the coughing or sneezing of people with the flu. People may also become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
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How long is a person with H1N1 contagious?
People with H1N1 flu should be considered contagious for as long as they are showing symptoms of H1N1 flu. Children - especially younger children - may be contagious for longer periods. Current recommendations indicate that persons are no longer contagious 24 hours after fever resolves without fever-reducing medicines.
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