Management of Influenza in the Home

Influenza is a contagious virus that affects the respiratory system. It can cause mild to severe symptoms.

What to do if you have influenza

Most people with influenza do not need medical care or antiviral drugs. If you become sick, you should stay home and rest until you are fever free for 24 hours. Health care providers who are sick should stay home until all symptoms are resolved (except for a mild cough), typically five to eight days. Some tips for managing the flu include:

• Try to avoid contact with other members of the household. Use a separate bedroom and bathroom if available. If the bathroom must be shared, ensure that you have your own towel.

• If possible, wear a surgical mask when interacting with others or leaving the house.
• Clean hands often using alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water.
• Cough into a tissue or sleeve, and wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, or touching your mouth or face.
• Do not share anything that goes into your mouth, such as eating utensils, drinking glasses, and toothbrushes.

• Drink plenty of clear liquids such as water, broth or sports drinks to prevent dehydration.
  Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine.

• Consult your health care provider or pharmacist about over-the-counter medications for managing symptoms.

Caring for someone with influenza

If possible, only one person should care for a sick person. Pregnant women should avoid providing care if possible. If space is available, use a separate room for the sick person and ensure they have everything they may need available in the room.

• Try to stay at least two meters (six feet) away from the sick person.
• When holding an infant or small child who is sick, place their chin on your shoulder so they do not cough in your face.
• Wear a surgical mask for direct contact with a sick person. Do not re-use masks.
• Clean hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water before and after providing care, after leaving the sick person's environment, and after removing your mask. Try not to touch your mouth or face.
• Perform extra cleaning for surfaces and high-traffic areas (table tops, door handles, keyboards, counters, remote controls, light switches, and phones). Dishes and laundry may be done as usual, but remember to wash your hands after touching anything that has been in contact with the sick person.

Instructions for household contacts

If someone in your household has influenza, limit your activities in the community to only what is essential. Clean your hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer; especially if coming into contact with the sick person. Remember that you may be able to spread infection before symptoms appear. Watch for symptoms of influenza: fever, cough, sore throat, sore muscles, joint pain, fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting. At the first sign of illness, stay home to prevent spreading the infection.

Call a health care provider if a sick person:

• Is pregnant,
• Has heart, liver or kidney disease,
• Has lung disease or a chronic respiratory illness such as asthma or COPD,
• Has a chronic illness such as diabetes, blood disorders, etc.,
• Lives in a remote or isolated community,
• Is elderly or frail, or
• Has an illness or is receiving treatment that may affect the immune system.

Seek immediate medical attention if a sick person has:

• Difficulty breathing or chest pain,
• Purple or blue discoloration of the lips,
• Severe or persistent vomiting,
• Signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing, confusion or absence of urination,
• (Infants) a decrease in number of wet diapers per day, refuses to eat, dry inside of the mouth, or cries with few or no tears,
• Reduced responsiveness,
• Seizure, or severe illness with other symptoms.

You should not go to the emergency room if you are mildly ill. You can call your health care provider or call Health Connect Ontario for advice at 811. Remember to wear a mask if leaving the house while sick so you do not spread the infection to others.

For more information, contact KFL&A Public Health at 613-549-1232 or 1-800-267-7875.

Revised: 2014-07-16