The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) expects both 2009 H1N1 influenza and seasonal influenza to cause illness, hospital stays and potentially death for high-risk patients this season. It's a viral infection of the respiratory tract and is spread from person to person by inhaling infected droplets from the air.
Reference Materials to Print & Keep on Hand
Reference Material to Read Online: Aultman Health Library Comprehensive Online Guide
Online Quick Tips
Prevention
Everyone should take these steps to prevent the flu from spreading:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away after using it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for 15-20 seconds, especially after you cough or sneeze. You may also use alcohol-based hand cleaners.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, to avoid getting infected by germs.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you do get sick, consider staying home from work or school for 7 days after your symptoms begin, or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.
- Wear a facemask, if possible, when sharing common spaces with other household members.
- Get a vaccination if you are a member of these groups:
| | Seasonal Vaccination | H1N1 Vaccination |
| Pregnant Women
(all trimesters) | X
(high-risk group) | X (high-risk group) |
| Children | 6 months to 18 years | X (high-risk group) | X (high-risk group) |
| Adults | 19-24 years old | | X |
| Adults w/underlying diseases* | X (high-risk group) | X (high-risk group) |
|
65 years and older | X (high-risk group)
| |
| Health Care Workers and Emergency Personnel | X | X |
| Household contacts of
(all ages):
· Children 0-59 months
· Those with underlying diseases* | X | X |
| People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age | | X |
* underlying diseases: cancer; blood disorders (including sickle cell disease); chronic lung disease [including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)]; diabetes; heart disease; kidney disorders; liver disorders; neurological disorders (including nervous system, brain or spinal cord); neuromuscular disorders (including muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis), weakened immune systems (including people with AIDS).
Feeling Ill?
Learn symptoms for cold, seasonal flu and H1N1.
| Symptoms | Cold | Seasonal Flu | Novel (New) Flu H1N1 |
| Onset | Gradual | Sudden | Sudden |
| Fever | Rare | Common, high & lasts 3-4 days | Common, high & lasts 3-4 days |
| Headache | Rare | Common | Common |
| General Aches, Pains | Slight | Usual, often severe | Usual, often severe |
| Fatigue, Weakness | Quite mild | Can last up to 2-3 weeks | Can last up to 2-3 weeks |
| Extreme Exhaustion | Never | Early and common | Early and common |
| Stuffy Nose | Common | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Sneezing | Usual | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Sore Throat | Common | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Chest discomfort, cough | Mild to moderate | Common, can become severe | Common, can become severe |
| Short of Breath | Rare | Rare | Common |
| Vomiting | Rare | Rare | Common |
| Diarrhea | Rare | Rare | Common |
| Complications | Sinus congestion or earache | Bronchitis, pneumonia, can be life threatening | Pneumonia, and other complications, can be life threatening |
If you think you are ill, contact your physician immediately for advice.
Members of the high-risk flu populations experiencing the below symptoms should go to the emergency room immediately:
- In children: Fast breathing or trouble breathing; Bluish skin color; Not drinking enough fluids; Not waking up or not interacting; Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held; Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough, and fever with a rash
- In adults: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen; Sudden dizziness; Confusion, and Severe or persistent vomiting.
For additional guidance, call Aultman's Health Line at 330-363-7600. A registered nurse is available to answer questions 24 hours a day.
A Stark County-based Web site will soon be available to provide local information about the flu season. For more information online now, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ or www.flu.gov.
