Flu activity up: Know when to seek help

  • Published
  • By 56th Medical Group
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  H1N1 influenza activity is picking up in Arizona and on Luke Air Force Base. It's important for everyone to know how to determine if and when to seek medical care.

Symptoms of the flue include fever, cough, sore throat, running or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people experience diarrhea or vomiting. There are guidelines to follow when experiencing these symptoms:

1. Avoid panic. Most cases of H1N1 influenza are mild and resolve without treatment.

2. Stay home and avoid contact with other people. The only exception to staying home is to seek medical care. Avoid normal activities including work, school, travel, shopping, social and public gatherings.

3. In the case of the following emergency warning symptoms, go to an emergency room:

a. Children: emergency warning symptoms include fast or troubled breathing, bluish or grayish skin color, not drinking enough fluids, severe or persistent vomiting, not waking up or refusing to interact with others, refusing to be held or flu-like symptoms that improve but return with fever and a more severe cough.

b. Adults or adolescents: emergency warning symptoms include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, dizziness when standing up, confusion, severe or persistent vomiting, or flu-like symptoms that improve but return with fever and a more severe cough.

4. Contact a health care provider with questions if the illness becomes severe or if a family member is at high risk for flu complications.

High-risk categories include those younger than 5 and older than 65, pregnant, those with a weakened immune system, diabetes, asthma, COPD, heart disease or other chronic conditions, younger than age 19 and on chronic aspirin therapy, or residents of nursing homes or chronic care facilities.