H1N1 Information

H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) 

How Flu Spreads 

 People with H1N1 flu 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
• If you are sick with any flu-like illness, try to stay home as much as possible (except to get medical care) for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. Try to keep away from others as much as possible

• Get plenty of rest
• Drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from getting dehydrated
• Cover any coughs or 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 your hands.
• Avoid close contact with others - do not go to work or school while sick
• Be watchful for emergency warning signs that might indicate you need to seek medical attention

Get emergency medical care right away if the sick person:

• Has difficulty breathing or has 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 such as uncontrolled convulsions
• Is less responsive than normal or becomes confused

Protect other persons in the home:

• The sick person should not have visitors other than caregivers. A phone call is safer than a visit.
• If possible, have only one adult in the home take care of the sick person.
• Avoid having pregnant women care for the sick person. Pregnant women are at increased risk of influenza-related complications and immunity can be suppressed during pregnancy.
• All persons in the household should clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub frequently, including after every contact with the sick person or the person's room or bathroom.
• Use paper towels for drying hands after hand washing or dedicate cloth towels to each person in the household. For example, have different colored towels for each person.
• Antiviral medicine can be used to prevent the flu, so check with your healthcare provider to see if some persons in the home should use antiviral medications.

If you are the caregiver:

• Avoid being face-to-face with the sick person.
• When holding small children who are sick, place their chin on your shoulder so that they will not cough in your face.
• Clean your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub after you touch the sick person or handle used tissues, or laundry.
• Caregivers might catch the flu from the person they are caring for and then the caregiver might be able to spread the flu to others before the caregiver shows symptoms. Therefore, the caregiver should wear a mask when they leave their home in case they are in the early stages of infection.
• Talk to your health care provider about taking antiviral medication to prevent the caregiver from getting the flu.

Household Cleaning, Laundry, and Waste Disposal:

• Throw away tissues and other disposable items used by the sick person in the trash. Wash your hands after touching used tissues and similar waste.
• Keep surfaces, especially bedside tables, bathrooms, and toys for children clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant.
• Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned separately, but should not be shared without washing first.
• Wash bed sheets and towels using household laundry soap and tumble dry on a hot setting. Avoid "hugging" laundry prior to washing it to prevent contaminating yourself. Clean your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub right after handling dirty laundry.
• Eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with hot water and soap.

Medications to Help Lessen Symptoms of the Flu: 

Influenza infections can lead to or occur with bacterial infections. Therefore, some people will also need to take antibiotics. More severe or prolonged illness or illness that seems to get better, but then gets worse again may be an indication that a person has a bacterial infection. Check with your healthcare provider if you have concerns.

Warning! Do not give aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to children or teenagers who have the flu. Aspirin can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye 's syndrome.

• Check ingredient labels on over-the-counter cold and flu medications to see if they contain aspirin.
• Over- the-counter medications may help lessen some symptoms such as cough and congestion. Remember that these medications will not lessen how infectious a person is.
• Children greater than 2 years old and teenagers with the flu can take medicines without aspirin, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin®) to relieve symptoms.
• Children younger than 2 years of age should not be given over-the-counter cold and flu medication without first talking to your healthcare provider.
• Symptoms can be treated with acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin®). Check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are taking other medications before starting any flu medication.

Examples of these kinds of medications include: