Influenza
What can you do about influenza?
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What can you do to protect yourself and others
from influenza?
These simple steps will help prevent the spread of influenza, as well
as other serious respiratory diseases:
- Vaccinate.
- Be alert for symptoms of the flu.
- Symptoms can include fever, chills, headache, extreme
tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and
muscle aches
- These symptoms tend to come on very suddenly.
- Symptoms usually last at least three days, sometimes longer.
- Flu symptoms do not typically include vomiting, diarrhea, or
muscle cramps. Flu is a respiratory disease, not a
gastrointestinal disease. There is no such thing as
"stomach flu."
- Stay at home from school or work if you have a respiratory
infection. Avoid exposing yourself to others who are sick with a
flu-like illness.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue whenever you cough or
sneeze; then throw the tissue away.
- Clean your hands often – with soap and water, or with an
alcohol-based, waterless hand sanitizer.
- If you have an infant, don't expose him or her unnecessarily to
large crowds when influenza is in your community. And avoid close
contact (holding, kissing) of the baby with family members who may
have influenza (fever, muscle aches, runny nose, cough) or other
respiratory tract infections.
- Do not share anything that goes into the mouth, such as drinking
cups and straws.
- Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces (doorknobs,
refrigerator handle, phone, water faucets) if someone in the house
has a cold or flu.
- Do not smoke.
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What if you or your child has the flu?
- Take care of yourself. Stay at home if you are ill and encourage
others to do so as well.
- Rest and drink lots of fluids. This will help your body recover
from the infection.
- You probably won't be given any medication for your illness.
Antibiotics only work on bacteria, and influenza is caused by a virus.
Anti-viral medicine is an option for some, but not all.
- Call your doctor or clinic about what to do if you are concerned.
- Follow your child’s doctor’s instructions about keeping your
child's fever under control. Children often need help with this.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue whenever you cough or
sneeze; then throw the tissue away.
- If you visit a clinic or emergency room while you are sick, you
may be asked to wear a surgical mask--to protect others.
- Clean your hands often – with soap and water, or with an
alcohol-based, waterless hand sanitizer.
When should you be concerned enough to
seek medical care?
If the person:
- Is breathing rapidly or with difficulty
- Has bluish skin color
- Is not drinking enough and becomes dehydrated
- Is not waking up or interacting with others
- Is a child so irritable that he or she doesn't want to be held
- Gets better only to become sick again, with fever and a more
severe cough
If you are concerned that something does not seem right with your
child, call your health care provider.
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What about anti-viral medicines?
Anti-viral medicines can benefit some individuals in some situations,
but there are risks in taking them and serious side effects for some
people. Anti-virals are more often used to help contain influenza
outbreaks in settings such as nursing homes or to protect a high risk
person who is in direct contact with someone who has influenza.
Antiviral medication administered within two days of onset of illness
may reduce the length of illness by one to two days. Talk to your health care provider if you have
questions.
For seasonal influenza information in your
community,
contact local
health department or
Thomas Haupt
Influenza Coordinator
WI Division of Public Health
Bureau of Communicable Diseases & Emergency Response
608-266-5326 - Phone
608-261-4976 - Fax
Last Revised: June 25, 2009 |
