Key points
- Minimize contact and avoid being face-to-face with the sick person.
- Wash your hands often, especially after touching the sick person or their tissues or laundry.
- Wearing a mask is an additional prevention strategy that you can choose to further protect yourself and others.
- People who experience emergency warning signs of flu complications should obtain medical care right away.
Caring for someone sick
Other questions about flu
Steps to take if you get flu
- If you get very sick or are at higher risk of flu-related complications, call your doctor. Your doctor might prescribe antiviral drugs to treat flu.
- Stay at home and rest.
- Avoid close contact with well people in your house so you won't make them sick.
When caring for people who have flu:
- Avoid being face-to-face with the sick person. If possible, it is best to spend the least amount of time in close contact with a sick person.
- Wearing a mask, especially when face-to-face with a well person, is an additional prevention strategy that you can choose to further protect yourself and others.
- When holding sick children, place their chin on your shoulder so they will not cough in your face.
- Wash your hands often and right way.
- If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Make sure to wash your hands after touching the sick person. Wash after handling their tissues or laundry.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects.
- Take steps for cleaner air.
- You can improve air quality by bringing in fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors. Cleaner air can reduce the risk of exposure to viruses.
Emergency Warning Signs of Flu Complications
People experiencing these warning signs should obtain medical care right away.
In children
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish lips or face
- Ribs pulling in with each breath
- Chest pain
- Severe muscle pain (child refuses to walk)
- Dehydration (no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, no tears when crying)
- Not alert or interacting when awake
- Seizures
- Fever above 104 degrees Fahrenheit that is not controlled by fever-reducing medicine
- In children younger than 12 weeks, any fever
- Fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen
- Worsening of chronic medical conditions
In adults
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Persistent dizziness, confusion, inability to arouse
- Seizures
- Not urinating
- Severe muscle pain
- Severe weakness or unsteadiness
- Fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen
- Worsening of chronic medical conditions
These lists are not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptom that is severe or concerning.