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Self Care and Seasonal Influenza

What to do if you think you have the fluBelow is information on how to look after yourself and others if they have influenza.

Here are some tips to help you look after yourself if you get the Seasonal flu

  • Rest
  • Avoid contact with others while contagious (5 days) if possible
  • Drink extra fluids
  • Gargle with warm salt water
  • Use throat lozenges, saline nose drops, a humidifier
  • Don't smoke. Avoid second hand smoke
  • Talk to others about concerns and ask for help if needed. Keeping in touch by phone or email can help with feelings of aloneness when sick
  • Treat symptoms with over-the-counter (non-prescription) medication with careful attention to the following guidelines:
    • To prevent adverse reactions or taking extra medication that will have little or no effect, use an OTC remedy that treats only one symptom and/or has only one active ingredient
    • If you are taking more than one medication at a time, check the labels to avoid taking the same ingredient twice
    • Try "regular strength" products before "extra strength"
    • Follow instructions on the label. Note possible side effects or drug/health conditions when the medication should not be used
    • Check the expiry date on medications in your home. Take outdated medications to a pharmacy for disposal
    • Keep all medications out of reach of children

To treat:

Muscle pain and fever

  • Use acetaminophen (the best choice for older adults), for example Tylenol. If you take acetaminophen for a long time or in high doses, it can affect the liver and kidneys; or
  • Ibuprofen, for example Advil or Motrin. Ibuprofen can irritate the stomach.
     

Cough

  • Try a medication with Dextromethorphan (DM) for a dry cough that prevents you from sleeping or causes chest discomfort.

Stuffy nose

  • Use a decongestant. Nose drops or sprays act quickly and have fewer side effects than medications you take by mouth but should only be used for 2 Ð 3 days to avoid rebound congestion. If stuffy nose continues, consider an oral medication such as pseudoephedrine. Decongestants may cause dry mouth, sleep problems, rapid heartbeat or other side effects. People who have long-term health problems or who are on other medications should not take decongestants without talking to a health-care provider.

Sore throat

  • Try lozenges or throat sprays. Dyclonine works best to numb the throat. Products containing honey, herbs or pectin soothe the throat.

Complementary medicines

There is some research that shows the following complementary medicines may help to shorten influenza illness or lessen its severity. Find out all you can about any complementary medications you are thinking of or are taking. For example, echinacea is unsafe for people with autoimmune disease (including type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis), suppressed immune systems, and certain allergies. Follow the guidelines for OTC medications.

Tell your health-care provider about any OTCs or complementary medicines you are taking.

Adults with influenza should seek medical care if they have heart or lung disease or any other chronic condition that requires regular medical attention. They should also seek care if they are frail, or if they have an illness or are on treatments that suppress the immune system.

See a physician immediately if you, or a person in your care, have any one of the following symptoms:

  • shortness of breath while resting or doing very little
  • difficult or painful breathing
  • coughing up bloody sputum
  • wheezing
  • chest pain
  • fever for 3 to 4 days without improvement
  • feeling better then suddenly having a high fever or becoming ill again
  • extreme drowsiness and difficulty awakening
  • disorientation or confusion
  • severe earache
  • sudden inability to function in a normally independent elderly person
  • constant vomiting, especially in an elderly person
  • Antibiotics are not normally prescribed for influenza but your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic for complications such as pneumonia.

Antiviral medications can decrease the length and severity of the illness. However, antivirals must be started within 48 hours after the first symptoms appear in order to be effective.

Caring for children with influenza

Influenza is more severe in children, especially between the ages of six and 12 months. Children with influenza may have the same symptoms as adults, but there are some differences in babies and toddlers.

For example:

  • A fever can be the only symptom of influenza in babies
  • Seizures, or other central nervous system symptoms, may appear in some infants. Children may also have headache, vomiting, irritability and sensitive eyes
  • Young children usually have higher temperatures, often over 39.5°C (103.1°F)
  • About half of children three years old or younger have symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain
  • Influenza viruses can cause croup, pneumonia or bronchitis in young children
  • Ear infections and red, sore eyes are more frequent in young children. Sore muscles are also common
  • Note: Very young children and infants may be irritable and eat poorly. They sometimes have a hoarse cry and barking cough. Children over five years old and adolescents have the same symptoms as adults.

Use acetaminophen (for example Tylenol) for fever and muscle pain. Take the child's temperature first. Do not wake a child to give medication. Ibuprofen (for example Motrin) is another option, but it should not be used for infants less than four months old.

Children under 18 should NOT take acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) for example Aspirin or any products containing ASA. Combined with influenza, ASA can cause Reye's Syndrome, a very serious condition affecting the nervous system and liver.

Dress a child in lightweight clothing and keep room temperature at 20°C children with influenza have fever. So whether or not a child has a fever is not helpful as a sign of how severe their illness is.
 

Seek medical care if a child has influenza and any one of the following conditions:

  • is less than three months old
  • has heart or lung disease or any chronic illness requiring regular medical care
  • has a disease or treatments that weaken the immune system
  • takes ASA regularly for a medical condition
  • has a change in breathing (such as breathing fast) or difficulty breathing
  • is very listless and loses interest in playing, watching TV, eating or drinking
  • is very irritable and cries a lot
  • urinates less than usual, for example less often than every six hours while awake; or has a dry diaper for more than three hours if younger than six months, or longer than six hours if six to 23 months old
  • looks very ill and the caregiver is worried


Go to emergency right away if the child:

  • has severe trouble breathing and it is not caused by a stuffy nose
  • has blue lips or hands, suddenly becomes pale, or has cold legs up to their knees
  • is droopy or unable to move
  • is so sleepy they don't respond when you try to get them up
  • shows signs of pain, such as headache or stiff neck, especially if they also have fever, are listless and their eyes are sensitive to light
  • seems confused
  • has a seizure

Important Links

H1N1 Influenza (Human Swine Flu)

What is the Seasonal flu/influenza?

Information on Seasonal Influenza Vaccination and Vaccination Clinic Dates

Prevent Seasonal Influenza

Pandemic Influenza



For more information on influenza, refer to the Yukon Health Guide or visit www.ykhealthguide.org.