How do you know if you have the flu?

You may have the flu if you have some or all of these symptoms:

• fever *

• cough

• sore throat

• runny or stuffy nose

• body aches

• headache

• chills

• fatigue

• sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

What should you do if you get sick?

If you get sick with flu-like symptoms, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. Most people with flu including Influenza A(H1N1) have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs.

However, some people are more likely to get flu complications (“High Risk Group”) and they should seek medical treatment immediately They are:

• Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old

• People 65 and older

• Pregnant women

• People who have:

o Cancer

o Blood disorders (including sickle cell disease)

o Chronic lung disease [including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)]

o Diabetes

o Heart disease

o Kidney disorders

o Liver disorders

o Neurological disorders (including nervous system, brain or spinal cord)

o Neuromuscular disorders (including muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis)

o Weakened immune systems (including people with AIDS)

Also, it’s possible for healthy people to develop severe illness from the flu so anyone concerned about their illness should consult a health care provider.

There are emergency warning signs. Anyone who has them should get medical care right away.

What are the emergency warning signs?

In children

• 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

In adults

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

• Sudden dizziness

• Confusion

• Severe or persistent vomiting

Do you need to go the emergency room if you are only a little sick?

No. The emergency room should be used for people who are very sick. You should not go to the emergency room if you are only mildly ill. However, if you have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness, you should go to the emergency room. If you go to the emergency room and you are not sick with the flu, you may catch it from people who do have it.

If you get sick with flu symptoms and are at high risk of flu complications or you are concerned about your illness, seek medical advices from your health care provider, likes government hospitals or a Klinik Cegah dan Rawat Influenza A(H1N1) (KCRh1n1) located throughout Malaysia (visit www.h1n1.net.my).

Are there medicines to treat Influenza A(H1N1)?

Yes. There are drugs your doctor may prescribe for treating both seasonal flu and Influenza A( H1N1) called “antiviral drugs.” These drugs can make you better faster and may also prevent serious complications. Your health care provider will decide whether antiviral drugs are needed to treat your illness.

How long should you stay home if you are sick?

It is recommended that you stay home, except to get medical care or for other things you have to do and no one else can do for you, until at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®.) You should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.

What should you do while you are sick?

Be socially responsible:

Avoid the following:

• Avoid close contact with other people.

• Avoid taking public transport.

• Avoid attending large meetings or visiting crowded places.

• Refrain from air travel if possible.

If you need to go out for medical care, please wear a surgical mask.

 

What should you observe while staying and resting at home?

Drink plenty of clear fluids like water and clear soups to prevent dehydration.

Minimise physical contact with others including household members.

Where possible, keep yourself in a room separate from the common areas of the house, use a separate toilet, and avoid having meals with others.

If you need to come into close contact with anyone, both you and the uninfected person should wear surgical masks, and maintain a distance of at least two meters from each other. Dispose your used mask in a plastic bag, tie it up and throw it into a covered rubbish bin. Wash your hands thoroughly after disposal of the used mask.

If your condition deteriorates and develop symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, chest pain, severe and persistent vomiting etc seek immediate medical attention at nearest hospital for further treatment.

If you have been given medical leave, do not return to work or school before the end of the leave period.

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