Influenza A(H1N1)v resembles seasonal flu and most people are unlikely to need medical care. However, it is expected that the A(H1N1)v flu virus will cause illness in a larger proportion of the population than the seasonal flu.
The risk of infection can be reduced by these steps:
The symptoms of the A(H1N1)v influenza are similar to the symptoms of regular flu. The most common symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, and a runny nose. Other influenza symptoms include body aches, headache, chills and tiredness. In some cases, the symptoms may also include diarrhoea or vomiting. Children may suffer stomach ache.
Home care instructions for influenza A(H1N1)v
If your symptoms are mild and you don’t belong to a high-risk group for influenza (see below) you do not necessarily need to see a doctor or take antiviral drugs. Home care is enough. Avoid close contact with others and stay at home for as long as you have flu-like symptoms.
Get plenty of rest and drink fluids. Take over-the-counter drugs for fever and aches. Most people get over the flu within a week.
Do not go to work or school while ill, or take care of small children. If possible, have someone else run errands for you while you are ill.
Monitor yourself for flu symptoms and contact a health care provider if your symptoms get more severe. If you have to leave home for a doctor’s appointment, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or wear a face mask, if available.
When a person with influenza is being cared for at home, the persons providing the care and others in the household can reduce the risk of spreading the disease by avoiding close contact with the patient. This is especially important for those belonging to a high-risk group for influenza (see below).
Make sure that everybody living in the household practices good hand hygiene and washes their hands often with soap and water. Children may need reminders about keeping their hands clean. Washing hands is important especially after one has touched or been in a common area in the house with the sick person, or after handling used tissues or laundry.
In addition to the above, the risk of infection can be reduced by these steps:
Monitor the household members for flu symptoms and contact a health care provider if the symptoms get more severe.
If possible, only one adult should care for the patient. A person belonging to a high-risk group for influenza should not be the sick person’s principal carer.
The instructions above apply for taking care of a sick child. Make sure that the child gets enough fluids. If the child is not willing to eat e.g. due to sore throat, they will get energy from sugary drinks.
Monitor the child’s condition and contact a health care provider if the symptoms get more severe.
In children, symptoms requiring immediate medical attention
If a child has caught influenza and has one or more of the following symptoms, you should take the child to a doctor as soon as possible:
See a doctor as soon as possible if you fall ill and experience any of the following symptoms of influenza:
High-risk groups seek medical care sooner
If you or your child develop a sudden fever (38 °C or higher), accompanied by sore throat, cough, or a runny nose, and you belong to any of the following high-risk groups for influenza:
please contact the nearest health centre by phone or see a doctor who will evaluate the need for care.