What to Do When Someone at Home Has Swine Flu
How to Cope When a Family Member Becomes Ill With H1N1 Virus
Nov 3, 2009
As people become ill with swine flu (also known as the H1N1 virus), family members may have many questions about how to care for them safely. Here is a summary of the most up-to-date advice available from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about how to care for those who are ill with swine flu and how to protect other members of the household from contracting it.
Know the Emergency Warning Signs
Many people who contract H1N1 have mild cases and feel better after only a few days. During this time, they will normally experience cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, achy head and body, chills and fatigue. Many people also develop a fever, and some also experience diarrhea and vomiting. However, there are some more serious symptoms. If these should appear, consult a medical professional as soon as possible.
H1N1 Emergency Warning Signs in Children
Emergency warning symptoms to look for in children include:
- 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
H1N1 Emergency Warning Signs in Adults
Emergency warning symptoms to look for in adults include:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
Keep Other Household Occupants Healthy
There are a number of precautions that can be taken to prevent the spread of swine flu and lessen its severity in the home.
- If other household occupants are pregnant or have an underlying medical condition such as asthma, they should avoid contact with the sick person, and should contact their regular health professional to ask whether they should receive antiviral drugs as a protection.
- The sick person should be isolated as much as possible from other people. When they have to leave the home, they should wear a face mask or N95 disposable respirator if it’s possible and tolerable for them to do so.
- The primary caregiver should consider wearing a face mask or N95 disposable respirator if possible. If the patient is a small child, they should be held so as to avoid close face-to-face contact.
- No visitors should be allowed into the sickroom.
Cleanliness is Important
If someone in the household has H1N1, care should be taken to keep the virus from spreading to other people in the house.
- Any tissues and similar personal items used by the sick person should be thrown away promptly. Anyone who handles these items should wash their hands carefully afterwards.
- Surfaces used by the sick person such as sinks and bedside tables should be wiped down periodically with a household disinfectant.
- Family members should use paper towels (or designate one towel per person) so they are not exchanged.
- If possible, the sick person should use separate dishes and cutlery from the rest of the family; however, they can be washed together with other dishes.
- The sick person’s clothing and bedding should be washed in the normal way and tumbled dry on a hot setting. Anyone who handles the laundry before it is washed should try to touch it as little as possible and should wash their hands after touching it.
Should Family Members Quarantine Themselves?
If someone in the household is ill, other family members can still go out to school and work. However, they should pay careful attention to their own health, and stay at home if they develop H1N1 flu symptoms. They should also be extra careful to cover their noses and mouths when coughing or sneezing, and to wash their hands often.
For more information, contact your local health authorities. If H1N1 infection is suspected, consult an appropriate medical professional promptly.
For more information, read:
Source:
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 2009 H1N1 Flu
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