What to Do If You Get Flu-Like Symptoms

Symptoms

The symptoms of novel H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Fatigue
• A significant number of people who have been infected with novel H1N1 flu virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.  

 

Avoid Contact With Others

If you are sick, you may be ill for a week or longer. You should:

• Stay home and keep away from others as much as possible (including avoiding travel and not going to work or school) for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities
  
  
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue
  
  
• Avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness, especially people at increased risk of severe illness from influenza

 

Emergency Warning Signs

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• 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

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Helpful Hints

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with a flu-like illness, 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 fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible. This is to keep from making others sick.