Fortunately, H1N1 is generally causing only mild illness. The VAST majority of people who have become ill can usually recover at home WITHOUT the use of medication To help make sure people are aware of how to manage their illness and when special care may be needed, the Ministry of Health recommends that everyone seek medical advice such as from the MOH hotline, or phoning your physician.
- Stay home from work to avoid spreading the illness, and reduce your close contacts with your household members.
- Do not return to work until seven days after your symptoms started, but if you still have symptoms after week, then continue to stay home until a day after your symptoms have gone away.
Rest and drink plenty of fluids and try to reduce your fever by taking medicines like paracetamol. (Note: If your child becomes sick, do not give him/her aspirin.)
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you are coughing or sneezing.
- Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly, especially after coughing or sneezing.
WHEN SHOULD SOMEONE WHO IS ILL AT HOME BE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL?
Most people can be cared for at home.
There are some people who need to be taken to hospital immediately if they are ill and have any of the following conditions:
- The person has a chronic health condition
- A woman is pregnant
- The person has shortness of breath while resting, difficult or painful breathing, or wheezing,
- The person is coughing up blood,
- The person has a fever after 5 days,
- The person feels better and then gets a new fever or the cough worsens, or
- The person is extremely drowsy, confused, or develops a severe headache.
Children should immediately be taken to hospital if they:
- Have a chronic health condition
- Have shortness of breath while resting, difficult or painful breathing, or wheezing,
- Have a temperature over 39°C,
- Are vomiting for more than four hours, or
- Are hard to wake up, unusually quiet, or unresponsive