Telegraph Herald - Dubuque, IA

In general, otherwise healthy people should be able to handle a case of influenza by remaining at home for a few days. "But it is a very fine line," said Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold. "There have been healthy people who have become very ill."

Here are some guidelines for when to seek emergency treatment for influenza:

* Fast or troubled breathing.

* Signs of breathing trouble, including lips with a bluish appearance.

* Children not waking up or interacting.

* Children being so irritable they do not want to be held.

* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen.

* Severe or persistent vomiting.

* Dehydration.

* Dizziness or confusion. "If you feel that this is something more than the flu, call your doctor," Arnold said.

Separate the sick

"The (ill) child should preferably be put in a bedroom by themselves," Quinlisk said.

The sick person should stay in a room separate from family members and away from the common areas of the house. Use a spare bedroom with its own bathroom, if possible. Keep the sick-room door closed.

"If someone is sick in the house, everybody should use separate towels," she said.

Designate a single caregiver

"Have only one person designated to take care of a child, so you don't have more than one person running in and out of the room," Quinlisk said. "The designated person should be of low risk of complications."

That means you should pick someone who does not have a chronic illness or diminished immune system and is not pregnant.

Keep your distance

"Try to stay three to six feet away from the person you're caring for," Quinlisk said. "That's how far the droplets can travel when a person coughs or sneezes."

If you're caring for an ill infant, hold the baby so that a cough or sneeze avoids hitting you directly in the face -- direct the cough over your shoulder, perhaps.

Push the fluids

"The body needs that lubrication to help it fight the flu," Quinlisk said.

Coughing and sneezing are ways the body rids itself of viruses. A dry nose or throat won't sneeze or cough as effectively.

"If kids are not interested in eating for a day, they will be OK," Quinlisk said, "but they need to keep up their fluids. Water is the best, but 7UP or Sprite, something like that, would be fine."

Avoid giving aspirin to kids

"Influenza in children plus aspirin can lead to a rare but deadly condition called Reye's syndrome," Quinlisk said.

Cooperative care OK

"If a lot of children are sick at home from school, you can have one adult person stay at a house with them," Quinlisk said. "Just don't have all the children right next to each other."

Here are some ways to tell the difference between a cold or influenza.

* Coughing and sneezing release respiratory droplets that contain the virus. Touching these respiratory droplets, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes without first washing your hands, will spread the virus.

* Although it has been referred to as "swine flu," you cannot get H1N1 from pork.

Most people can recover from H1N1 influenza at home.

Watch for these warning signs that you need professional care:

* You have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.

* You experience pain or pressure in your chest or abdomen.

* You experience sudden dizziness.

* You are vomiting persistently.

* Flu-like symptoms improve, but then return with a fever and a worse cough.

Source: Ann Burds, epidemiologist at Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque

Question: When should you receive a flu shot?

Answer: "Right now through winter, but the sooner the better," said Mary Rose Corrigan, public health specialist with the city of Dubuque.

The human body produces antibodies against influenza viruses after receiving a flu shot, but the antibodies can take 10 to 14 days before offering full protection.

Question: Where can you get one?

Answer: Pharmacies, many physicians' offices, Crescent Community Health Center and other health-care providers have vaccines in supply. Many employers offer flu shots at the workplace.

Question: How much will it cost?

Answer: "About $25 is the usual price this year," said Nan Colin, director of the Dubuque Visiting Nurse Association.

Prices can vary by location, and some employers are providing the vaccinations for free. "Even if your insurance doesn't cover it and you have to pay $25," Colin said, "getting a flu shot is cheaper than missing three or four days of work."

Question: Who should get a seasonal flu shot?

Answer: Anyone who wishes to protect themselves against influenza.

"The more people who get their flu shot, the more coverage (against influenza) we will have in the community," Colin said.

In particular, anyone at high risk for complications from seasonal flu should get a shot.

These high-risk people include:

* Children ages 6 months through 18 years.

* Pregnant women.

* Adults 50 and older.

* People of any age with chronic conditions.

* Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

People who live with or care for high-risk people also should get a seasonal flu shot, as should health care workers.

"You want to protect yourself as much as possible," Roth said.

Question: What are the types of vaccine?

Answer: The traditional "flu shot" is the vaccination given with a needle, usually in the arm. It contains an inactivated (killed) virus.

There also is a nasal-spray vaccine made with live, but weakened, flu viruses that do not cause influenza.

Both work by triggering the body to produce antibodies that protect against the virus.

Roth said it just makes sense to get a shot.

"Who wants to take their paid time off shivering and shaking and even having your eyeballs hurt," she said. "I'd rather be on a beach somewhere."

Question: What about the H1N1 flu?

Answer: "Some people -- young people and pregnant women -- will be needing a second shot," Viner said. "They will be needing the H1N1 vaccination. It's good for them to get their seasonal (vaccination) out of the way now and get their H1N1 later."