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October 7 , 2009

H1N1 Rarely Requires Hospital Care

Reports of flu-like illness are on the increase across the nation and in Idaho. Most people suffering from the flu don’t need to see a doctor and will recover completely with proper care at home. The Central District Health Department, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center and St. Luke’s urge community members to arm themselves with information, stay home if they become ill, and visit their physician or an emergency department only if you have severe complications such as listed below.

Both seasonal flu and the novel H1N1 (swine) flu have similar symptoms that include: fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, aches and extreme fatigue for up to a week. Some people with H1N1 flu also complain of vomiting and diarrhea.

Home care involves getting lots of rest and drinking plenty of fluids (i.e. water, soups, juices or sports drinks). Avoid drinking coffee, alcohol, and other caffeinated beverages that may dehydrate you. You can use over-the-counter medication to relieve flu symptoms. In some cases, a doctor or other health care professional may prescribe anti-viral drugs to help treat the flu.

“The best thing to do when you’re ill with the flu is stay home,” Said Nikki Sakata, Program Manager for Communicable Disease Control at the Central District Health Department, “Isolate yourself from others so you don’t spread the illness. And stay home for a full 24 hours after your fever is gone.”

In the interest of protecting public health and reducing the strain on hospital emergency departments, health professionals are urging schools and employers not to require a doctor’s note for absences due to flu-like illness.

However, some people are more likely to get flu complications and they should talk to a health care provider about whether they need to be examined if they get flu symptoms this season. These people include pregnant women, everyone between the ages of 6 months and 24 years and people between the ages of 25 and 64 who have health problems such as asthma, diabetes, heart or lung disease or other conditions that weaken the immune system. These are the same people that are recommended for getting the H1N1 flu vaccine when it becomes available.

While most people recover from H1N1 without medical help, a call to the doctor is warranted when symptoms grow severe. In children, medical care is needed when:

• They’re breathing fast or having trouble breathing.
• Their skin is bluish or gray
• They’re not drinking enough fluids
• They’re having severe or persistent vomiting
• They’re not waking up or interacting
• They’re being so irritable they don’t want to be held
• They have flu-like symptoms that improve and then return with fever and a worse cough.

Otherwise healthy, non pregnant adults should seek medical attention when, in conjunction with other flu-like symptoms:

• They’re having difficulty breathing
• They’re having pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• They’re suddenly dizzy or confused
• Their vomiting is persistent or severe
• Their flu-like symptoms improve but return with fever and a more severe cough.

The best protection against the flu is the flu vaccine. This year full protection will mean getting the seasonal flu vaccine, which is widely available in the community now, and the H1N1 flu vaccine when it becomes available.

Good hand hygiene, avoiding people who are sick, eating a balanced diet, exercise, and getting plenty of sleep will also help keep you healthy during this unusual flu season.

The flu can be a serious disease, especially for those with certain medical conditions. But for most normal, healthy people rest and recovery at home is the best option. It frees up hospital space for those who are truly ill and helps contain the spread of disease.

For more information about the flu contact:

Central District Health Department www.cdhd.idaho.gov

Central District Health Department H1N1 Flu Hotline: 208-321-2222

US Department of Health & Human Services: www.flu.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu