Are You Sick?

When to Call for Flu exposure

Care Advice

Influenza Exposure and NO Close Contact in the Last 7 Days

What You Should Know about Flu Exposure:

• For most healthy people, the symptoms of influenza are like those of a bad cold.
• But, with flu, the onset is more abrupt. The symptoms are more severe.
• Feeling very sick for the first 3 days is common.
• The treatment of flu depends on your main symptoms. It is no different from treatment used for other viral colds and coughs.
• Most people with flu don't need to see their doctor.

Flu Symptoms:

• Flu symptoms include cough, sore throat, runny nose, and fever.
• Most often, fever is present. Exception: sometimes, no fever if the person has a weak immune system.
• Other common symptoms are muscle pain, headache and fatigue (tiredness).
• Some people also have vomiting and diarrhea, but never as the only symptom.

Flu Diagnosis and Flu Tests:

• During flu season, if you have flu symptoms, it is probably the flu.
• You don't need any special tests.
• You should call your doctor if you are High-Risk for complications of flu. These are people with chronic diseases. Examples of such diseases are asthma or a weak immune system.
• The High-Risk list in Causes. Also, adults 65 years and older are High-Risk.
• For Low-Risk adults, you don't need to see your doctor.
• If you develop a complication of the flu, then call your doctor. Examples of complications are an earache or trouble breathing. These problems are included in the "What to Do" section.

Flu Treatment:

• For most people, the treatment of flu is based upon symptom relief. It's no different than the treatment of other viral coughs and colds.
• Tamiflu is the main antiviral drug used to treat influenza.
• It is recommended for any patient with severe symptoms.
• It is also recommended for most High-Risk patients. See that list in Causes. Mainly, it is used for people with chronic diseases.
• Tamiflu is not recommended for Low-Risk people with normal flu symptoms.
• Most patients recover without taking Tamiflu.
• Antiviral treatment must be started within 48 hours of the onset of flu symptoms. After 48 hours of fever, starting the drug is not helpful.

Return to Work:

• Spread is rapid and the virus is easily passed to others. The time it takes to get the flu after contact is about 2 days. The range is 1-4 days.
• You can return to work after the fever is gone for 24 hours (CDC).
• The flu virus is spread in the air from sneezing and coughing.
• It also can be spread by the hands with flu germs on them.
• Make sure you wash your hands with soap and water often and throw used tissues in the trash. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer if you cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze and after blowing your nose.

What to Expect:

• The fever lasts 2 -3 days.
• The runny nose lasts 1-2 weeks.
• The cough lasts 2-3 weeks.

Call Your Doctor If:

• You have other questions or concerns

Flu Prevention

How to Protect Yourself from Getting Sick:

• Wash hands often with soap and water.
• Alcohol-based hand cleaners work very well.
• Avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth. Germs on the hands can spread this way.
• Try to avoid crowded places in flu season and close contact with sick people.
• Avoid ERs and urgent care clinics if you don't need to go. These are places where you are more likely to be exposed to flu.

How To Protect Others - Stay Home When Sick:

• Cover the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash hands often with soap and water. After coughing or sneezing are important times.
• Alcohol-based hand cleaners also work well.
• Throw used tissues into the trash after blowing your nose.
• Limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Stay home from work for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone (CDC).

Flu Shot:

• Getting a flu shot is the best way to protect your family from flu.
• Flu vaccines are strongly advised for all adults.
• The flu shot most often prevents the disease.
• Even if you get the flu, the shot helps to reduce the symptoms.
• A new flu shot is needed every year. Reason: flu viruses keep changing.
• After the flu shot, it takes 2 weeks to fully protect from flu. But then, the protection lasts for the full flu season. Antiviral medicine only protects from flu while taking it.

Antiviral Drug (such as Tamiflu):

• The drug Tamiflu may help prevent flu after close contact. But, it is only advised for some very High-Risk patients (CDC). See the High-Risk list.
• The CDC recommends early treatment if flu symptoms occur, not preventive treatment. Reasons: even after close contact, some people don't get flu. Also, Tamiflu is helpful only while you are taking it. It won't prevent flu once you stop taking it. To prevent flu, you would need to take the medicine every day for months.
• Most doctors also wait until flu symptoms start before treating with drugs.
• If you are High-Risk, call your doctor within 24 hours of exposure. Your doctor will decide if an antiviral is needed.
• The High-Risk adult group includes chronic disease, pregnant, or over 65.

Call Your Doctor If:

• You have other questions or concerns

Tamiflu Prescription Questions

Treating Influenza - Tamiflu:

• Antiviral drugs (such as Tamiflu) are sometimes used to treat the flu. They must be started within 48 hours of when flu symptoms start. After 48 hours of fever, starting the drug is not helpful.
• Experts recommend antivirals be used for any patient with severe symptoms. They also recommend the drugs for most High-Risk adults. See that list in Causes.
• If you have a chronic disease and get the flu, call your doctor. The doctor will decide if you need a prescription.
• Antiviral drugs are not recommended for Low-Risk people with normal flu symptoms.
• Their benefits are limited. They reduce the time you are sick by 1 to 1 ½ days. They reduce the symptoms, but do not make them go away.
• Side effects: nausea and vomiting can occur.
• Also, it is not used to prevent flu.

Influenza Close Contact Within the Last 7 Days but You Are Low-Risk

What You Should Know:

• Although you were exposed to flu, you will not have symptoms right away.
• Symptoms usually develop within 1-4 days of seasonal flu contact. 7 days is an outer limit.
• Even if you get the flu, the illness is not likely to be severe in most people and they will do fine. Anti-viral treatment (Tamiflu) is not needed for Low-Risk adults.
• Healthy people get better from flu by treating the symptoms with the simple self-care actions outlined above.

Call Your Doctor If:

• You have other questions or concerns

Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.