WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW….
1. As things stand now, the vast majority of children who develop
flu-like symptoms this fall will have a few miserable days, and nothing more. And those days are best spent
at home – not in the ER or a doctor’s office.
2. If you are worried, you should call your provider’s office first.
Don’t take your child in without calling. Two reasons: Your child may not
have H1N1, but could become exposed by being around sick children. And, after several hours of waiting,
you are still likely to be told the basics – plenty of fluids, rest and dose-appropriate acetaminophen for a fever.
After all, it is still the flu we are talking about.
3. Remove H1N1 from the equation. If your child had the
regular flu, would you take him to the hospital? If the answer is no, then don’t take him/her to
the hospital now.
4.
The numbers given out by the CDC
and the media indicating the possibility of 30,000 to 90,000 deaths from the flu are scary. BUT remember
about 40,000 people die from flu and complications from the flu every year. As things look now, H1N1 (swine
flu) is causing only mild to moderate illness, not the widespread deaths people are worried about.
5. There are some children who should be seen by their doctor.
Call your doctor if:
v
A baby younger than 12 weeks has
a fever greater than 100.4o Fahrenheit.
v A
child older than 12 weeks has a fever for more than three days.
v A child’s fever returns after a 12-24 hour time period.
v A child is not passing urine or making tears for more than six hours.
v A child does not smile or show interest in playing for several
hours.
Dial 911 if:
A child
cannot speak while trying to breathe.
Has a blue or dark purple color to the nail beds, lips or gums.
Is not responding to you because he is too tired or weak
The best place for a sick child is at home. And,
with regard to school—after 24 fever-free hours without the aid of medications, he or she can go back to school.
For adults, risk factors such as COPD, Asthma and other lung diseases should be taken into account when making
a decision to seek treatment. The flu shots that are available this year for both seasonal flu and H1N1
are highly recommended.
FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS
v Fever (usually high)
v Headache
v
Extreme tiredness
v Dry cough
v Runny or stuffy nose
v Muscle aches
v
Sore throat
v Vomiting
v Sometimes diarrhea
TAKE
EVERYDAY PRECAUTIONS
·
Cover your nose and mouth with
a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
·
Wash your hands often with soap
and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
·
Avoid touching your eyes, nose
or mouth. Germs spread this way.
· Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
·
If you are sick with flu-like illness,
CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities.
(Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible.
This is to keep from making others sick.
· While sick, limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
