Home Care Guidance for ILI (Influenza-like Illness)

(Printable version)

You will probably be sick for several days with fever and respiratory symptoms. Students should inform their instructors of absence due to flu like illness, and should not need doctor verification/test results to have absences excused. Refer to the MSU H1N1 FAQ’s for additional information: http://special.news.msu.edu/h1n1/faq.php

Take Medications as Prescribed:

• Continue to cover your cough and wash your hands often, even if taking antiviral medications, to prevent spreading influenza to others.
• Call the Olin Phone Information Nurse at 517.353.5557 if you experience any side effects; i.e. nausea, vomiting, rash, or unusual behavior.
• Take medications for symptom relief as needed for fever and pain such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin ®), and cough medicine.  These medicines do not need to be taken regularly if your symptoms improve. 
• Do not give aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) or products that contain aspirin (e.g. bismuth subsalicylate – Pepto Bismol) to children or teenagers 18 years old or younger.

Seek Emergency Care
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

After Hours Care options are listed on the Olin web page at http://olin.msu.edu/afterhourscare.php

Follow These Home Care Recommendations:

• Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.)
• If you plan to go to your family home while ill, arrange to have someone drive you in a private car. Do not take public transportation (bus, train or airplane), and do not drive yourself while ill.
• Keep away from others as much as possible. This is to keep from making others sick.
• Drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from being dehydrated.
• Dishes can be done in dishwasher or with hot soapy water.
• Tissues and other disposable items used by the sick person should be thrown away in the trash. Wash your hands after touching used tissues and similar waste.
• Have everyone in the household wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.

For more detailed information about novel H1N1 home care, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu or call 1-800-CDC-INFO

September 2009 This information has been updated in accordance with the CDC Recommendations for the Amount of Time Persons with Influenza-Like Illness Should be Away from Others.

Guidance for Caring for Someone with ILI

Household Cleaning, Laundry, and Waste Disposal

• Tissues and other disposable items used by the sick person should be thrown away in the trash. Wash your hands after touching used tissues and similar waste.
• Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned separately, but these items should not be shared without washing thoroughly first.
• Wash linens (such as bed sheets and towels) by using household laundry soap and tumble dry on a hot setting. Avoid “hugging” laundry prior to washing it to prevent contaminating yourself. Clean your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub right after handling dirty laundry.
• Eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap.

Using Facemasks or Respirators

• Avoid close contact (less than about 6 feet away) with the sick person as much as possible.
• If you must have close contact with the sick person (for example, hold a sick infant), spend the least amount of time possible in close contact and try to wear a facemask (for example, surgical mask) or N95 disposable respirator.
• Facemasks and respirators may be purchased at a pharmacy, building supply or hardware store.
• Used facemasks and N95 respirators should be taken off and placed immediately in the regular trash so they don’t touch anything else.
• After you take off a facemask or N95 respirator, clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• For more information, see the Interim Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use

Placement of the sick person

• Keep the sick person in a room separate from the common areas of the house if possible. (For example, a spare bedroom with its own bathroom, if that’s possible.) Keep the sickroom door closed.
• Unless necessary for medical care or other necessities, people who are sick with an influenza-like-illness should stay home and keep away from others as much as possible, including avoiding travel, for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine). This is to keep from making others sick. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods. 
• If persons with the flu need to leave the home (for example, for medical care), they should wear a facemask, if available and tolerable, and cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
• Have the sick person wear a facemask – if available and tolerable – if they need to be in a common area of the house near other persons.
• If possible, sick persons should use a separate bathroom. This bathroom should be cleaned daily with household disinfectant.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hotline (1-800-CDC-INFO) is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention