According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, the flu sickens five to 20 percent of the U.S. population every year. Of these, only about 200,000 require admission to the hospital. Most people with the flu recover at home, without medical care or even prescription antiviral drugs. A person should see a doctor for symptoms that last longer than a few days or seem to improve but then worsen.
Separation
Step 1
Set up a separate bedroom and bathroom for people who are ill, if possible, advises the CDC. This protects healthy household members from exposure to the virus and protects ill household members from noise and activity that can interfere with rest.
Step 2
Keep the home comfortably cool and provide fresh air by opening a window or adding a fan, if necessary. Do not allow the ill person or other household members to smoke in the home or outside near doors and windows.
Step 3
Give each sick person his own water glass with a straw or squeeze bottle, towel and washcloth.
Step 4
Stock the room with the ill people with tissues, a trash can with a lid and plastic liner, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, thermometers and a pitcher or cooler with cold drinks. If you have one, place a humidifier in the room to make breathing easier.
Step 5
Purchase face masks. A sick person should wear the masks whenever he leaves his room. A healthy person should wear the masks when visiting the room where the ill people are. A 2009 study in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" found that N95 respirator masks prevented more infections than standard surgical masks, but both masks were better than no protection at all.
Comfort Care
Step 1
Dress a person with the flu in light, breathable clothing. Have fresh clothes ready to replace ones soiled by sweat, spills or secretions.
Step 2
Treat fever by bathing the sick person's face, neck, trunk and arms with a cool cloth or offering a tepid bath to someone who feels well enough to be out of bed.
Step 3
Treat dry cough in an adult by offering a lozenge or hard candy to suck on. This can soothe sore throat and diminish the urge to cough. For children, consider frozen treats or ice chips and supervise their consumption, due to the risk of choking.
Step 4
Prevent dehydration which can make all symptoms worse by encouraging frequent fluid consumption. Good choices, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, include diluted juice, broth and clear sodas. The CDC adds sports drinks and oral rehydration solutions to that list.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Step 1
Treat fever, headache or muscle pain that interferes with rest with ibuprofen or acetaminophen. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, both are good choices for children six months and up, but parents should give the appropriate dose according to the child's weight and height.
Step 2
Treat dry cough with antitussives or cough suppressants that contain the active ingredient dextromethorphan. Avoid expectorants such as guaifenesin because they combat productive cough. Never give any cough medication to a child younger than four years old, except as directed by the child's doctor.
Step 3
Wait four to six hours, or as directed by a doctor, before repeating the dose of any over-the-counter medication.
Things You'll Need
- Fan (optional)
- Squeeze bottle or glass of water with a straw
- Washcloth
- Tissues
- Trash can with a lid and plastic liner
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Thermometer
- Pitcher or cooler with cold drinks
- Humidifier (optional)
- Face masks
- Lozenges or hard candies
- Frozen treats such as ice pops or ice chips
- Clear liquids such as soda, juice or broth
- Ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- Cough suppressant
