Information on How to Care for Someone Home with the Flu
You or your child has been diagnosed with influenza (the flu). You or your child will probably be sick for several days with fever and respiratory symptoms. Tiredness and cough may last longer. Follow the recommendations below to take care of yourself or your child and to reduce the spread of flu in your home.
Take Medications as Prescribed
- Most people do not need antiviral medications (such as Tamiflu® or Relenza®) to recover from the flu. However, some people may be prescribed antiviral medications if they are at higher risk for flu complications or if their symptoms are severe. If antiviral medications are prescribed, take all of the medication as directed.
- Call your health care provider if you (or your child) experience any side effects from the medication, such as nausea, vomiting, rash or unusual behavior.
- Over-the-counter medications can be used to treat your symptoms, if needed. These medicines do not need to be taken regularly if symptoms improve. Fevers, aches and pains can be treated with acetaminophen (Tylenol®), ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin ®) or naproxen (Aleve®). Over-the-counter cold and flu medications may help lessen some symptoms, such as cough or congestion.
- Do not give aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) or products that contain aspirin (for example, bismuth subsalicylate – Pepto Bismol) to children or teenagers 18 years old or younger.
- Children younger than 4 years of age should not be given over-the-counter cold medications without first speaking with a health care provider.
- Check the ingredients on the package label to see if the medication already contains acetaminophen or ibuprofen before taking additional doses of these medications – don't double dose! (Many products already contain acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen, for example: Advil Multi-Symptom Cold®; Theraflu Severe Cold®; Triaminic Cold, Cough and Fever®.)
- Check with your health care provider or pharmacist before taking over-the-counter medications if you have kidney problems, stomach problems or high blood pressure, or if you are taking other medications not related to the flu.
When to Call the Doctor's Office or Seek Emergency Care
Call your doctor or seek emergency care immediately if you or your child have any of the following symptoms:
Children
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish or gray skin color
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- 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
Adults
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
If your (or your child's) symptoms worsen, call your doctor
Be Sure to Drink Plenty of Fluids
- Make sure you or your child drinks plenty of fluids to keep from being dehydrated.
- Give the sick person small sips of water, diluted juice, broth or sports drink.
- For infants, use over-the-counter rehydrating solution such as Infalyte, Kao Lectrolyte, Naturalyte, Oralyte or Pedialyte.
Follow These Home Care Recommendations
If you are the sick person
- Limit your contact with other people in your household, especially others who are at high risk for flu complications (pregnant women, children younger than 5 years, persons with underlying medical conditions and persons older than 64 years).
- If possible, stay in a room separate from the common areas of the house or apartment. If possible, also use a separate bathroom.
- If you need to be in common areas of your house or apartment or around other people, wear a facemask (if you can tolerate wearing them).
- Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your arm when sneezing or coughing.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Always wash your hands after using tissues and after coughing or sneezing.
- Stay home until you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours.
If you are the caregiver
- If possible, just one person should be assigned to provide care to the family member who is ill. Ideally, this person should not be pregnant or have an underlying medical condition that puts them at higher risk for flu complications.
- If you are at high risk for flu complications and cannot avoid contact with the sick person, you may consider wearing a facemask (e.g., surgical mask).
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand gel. Wash your hands after every contact with the sick person or the person's bedroom, bathroom or dirty laundry.
- Keep the ill family member's eating utensils, drinking glasses, towels or other personal items separate. Wash them either in a dishwasher, washing machine or by hand with soap and water. Utensils and personal items should never be shared.
- 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.
- Wash frequently touched hard surfaces, such as doorknobs, refrigerator door handles, telephones, bedside tables in sick rooms and bathroom surfaces. Wash with soap or detergent and rinse with water. For added protection, these surfaces should then be disinfected and rinsed. If registered disinfectants are not available, a chlorine bleach solution may be used – add about 1 tablespoon of bleach to a quart (4 cups) of water. Smaller batches can be made by adding one teaspoon of bleach to a pint (2 cups) of water.
- Have everyone in the household wash their hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Monitor yourself and others in your household for the development of illness. If you or a family member develops symptoms of the flu, call your doctor if the symptoms are severe or if you have an underlying medical condition.
