Home Care for Individuals with Influenza

Individuals who have a sudden onset of influenzalike symptoms (for example, headache, fever, chills, cough, chest pain, sore throat, muscle aches, weakness, exhaustion) should do the following:

  • Remain at home until all symptoms have resolved (approximately four to five days).
  • Take medication as needed to relieve the symptoms of the flu.
  • Never give aspirin to children or teens who have flu-like symptoms (and particularly fever) without first speaking to your doctor. Giving aspirin to children and teens who have influenza can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome.
  • Drink lots of fluids (water and other nonalcoholic, noncaffeinated beverages).
  • Get plenty of bed rest.
  • Do not smoke.
  • Restrict visitors.

Individuals should seek medical attention at their physician’s office, urgent care facility, or hospital emergency department if they experience:

  • fever for more than four to five days
  • difficulty breathing or chest pain
  • onset of confusion or seizures
  • skin color changes (lips and hands)
  • persistent vomiting (two to three times in 24 hours). Vomiting is usually present in young children and elderly persons with influenza infection.

People age 65 and older, people of any age with chronic medical conditions, and very young children are more likely to get complications from influenza.

Pregnant women also have an increased risk for pneumonia, lung insufficiency, and death after an influenza infection.

Infection control measures that should be practiced to prevent the spread of influenza include:

  • Wash hands often with warm soap and water, scrubbing for 10 to 15 seconds.
  • People entering the home of a person who may have influenza should wash their hands after patient contact and before leaving the home.
  • Patients should cover their mouths and noses with tissue when coughing or sneezing, dispose of used tissues immediately after use, and wash hands after using tissues.
  • Family members should wash hands after contact with the patient.
  • Do not share eating utensils or drinks.
  • Do not rub eyes, and do not touch nose or mouth.
  • Wash hands or use waterless hand sanitizer after shaking hands with anyone.

People should plan ahead and think about what they need to have in case someone in their household were to become infected with influenza and would need to receive care at home.

If you live alone, are a single parent of young children, or are sole caregiver for a frail or disabled adult, the following are recommended:

  • Have enough fluids (water, juice, soup) available to last for one to two weeks.
  • Have enough basic household items (for example, tissues) to last for one to two weeks.
  • Have acetaminophen and a thermometer in the medicine cabinet. Do you know how to use and read a thermometer correctly? If not, ask someone to show you how.
  • Think of someone you could call upon for help if you became very ill with the flu, and discuss this possibility with him or her.
  • Think of someone you could call upon to care for your children if you were required to work and their school or day care was closed because of the influenza pandemic; discuss this possibility with him or her.