Information courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. Your fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. There are two main types of influenza (flu) viruses: Types A and B. The illness is self-limited with severe symptoms, usually lasting 3-4 days and feeling back to normal within 1-2 weeks.
How do I know if I have the flu?
Symptoms of the flu include
- Sudden/rapid onset of symptoms
- Muscle, body aches, fatigue (tiredness)
- Headaches, cough, sore throat
- Fever or feeling feverish with chills
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Some people may have diarrhea and vomiting
What should I do if I get sick?
Most people with the flu have mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs. If you get sick with flu symptoms, you should stay away from others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. If you must leave home, for example to get medical care, wear a facemask if you have one, and cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your arm. Wash your hands often to keep from spreading flu to others.
Some self-care measures you can take are:
- Rest and drink plenty of non-alcoholic/non-caffeinated fluids
- Use saline nose drops to loosen mucus
- Use ibuprofen 400mg every 6-8 hours or acetaminophen 650mg every 6 hours as needed to reduce fever and discomfort
- Use oral decongestants (pseudoephedrine) for short-term relief of nasal congestion
- Garge with salt water and use throat sprays or lozenges (containing benzocaine) for your sore throat pain
- Use heated, humidified air. If you do not have a humidifier, try taking a hot shower
When should I seek care from a medical provider?
- If you’re high risk for complications (pregnancy, immunocompromised, chronic medical conditions or obesity)
- Fever over 102OF for more than three days or symptoms lasting over 10 days
- Shortness of breath, chest pain/pressure
- Confusion or disorientation
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Severe sinus pain
- Very swollen glands in the neck or jaw
Do I need to go the emergency room if I am 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.
If you have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness, you should go to the emergency room. If you get sick with flu symptoms and are at high risk of flu complications or you are concerned about your illness, call your health care provider for advice. 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.
What are the emergency warning signs of flu sickness?
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and a worsening cough
Are there medications that treat the flu?
Yes. There are medications your doctor may prescribe for treating the flu called “antivirals.” Antiviral medication (Tamiflu®) is only recommended for patients with serious underlying medical conditions who are at risk for severe complications (such as pregnancy, immunocompromised, chronic medical conditions, or obesity).
How long should I stay home if I’m sick?
CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or other necessities. 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.
When you return to normal activities, take added precautions for an additional five days. You can do this by wearing a mask, physical distancing, practicing hand hygiene, among others.