Bronson Flu Information for Patients Who Are Sick

How do I know I have the flu this season?
You may have the flu if you have a fever and one or more of the following: cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue and sometimes, diarrhea and vomiting. Most people with 2009 H1N1 have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs. The same is true of seasonal flu. Most people with flu symptoms do not need a test for 2009 H1N1.

Is there a test to tell me I have the flu?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects that most people with flu symptoms this season will not require testing for 2009 H1N1. The test results usually do not change how you are treated. None of the rapid tests currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are able to distinguish 2009 H1N1 flu from other flu viruses. Therefore, you could still have the flu, even though your rapid test result is negative. Your healthcare provider will decide whether testing is needed and what type of test to perform depending on their clinical judgment and your symptoms. Most testing will be done in people who are seriously ill (hospitalized patients), pregnant women or people with weakened immune systems. As of September 2009, more than 99 percent of circulating influenza viruses in the United States are 2009 H1N1. Therefore, at this time, if your healthcare provider determines that you have the flu, you most likely have 2009 H1N1.

What should I do if I’m sick?
Most people with 2009 H1N1 have mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs. The same is true of seasonal flu. If you have flu-like symptoms, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people. 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. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Wash your hands often to keep from spreading flu to others.

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.

Should I still get the H1N1 vaccine if I think I have already had the flu?
The CDC is recommending that people still get the vaccine against H1N1. This is especially true for people in one of the high-risk groups.

When should I call my doctor/visit the Emergency Department?
The Emergency Department (ED) should be used for people who are very sick. If you have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness, you should go to the ED. If you get sick with flu symptoms and are at high risk of flu complications or you are concerned about your illness, call your family doctor for advice.

Emergency Warning Signs

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

People at High Risk for Flu Complications

  • Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
  • Adults 65 years of age and older
  • Pregnant women
  • People who have:
    • Cancer
    • Blood disorders (including sickle cell disease)
    • Chronic lung disease [such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)]
    • Diabetes
    • Heart disease
    • Kidney disorders
    • Liver disorders
    • Neurological disorders (such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, brain or spinal cord injuries, moderate to profound intellectual disability [mental retardation] or developmental delay)
    • Neuromuscular disorders (such as muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis)
    • Weakened immune systems (such as people with HIV or AIDS or who are on medications that weaken the immune system )

For more information, call 1-800-CDC-INFO

 

 

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