Caregivers

• Special precautions are necessary if you are taking care of a sick person, especially if the person is an infant or child.
• Check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist for correct, safe use of medications.
• Keep the sick person in a separate room and keep the sickroom door closed.
• Protect other people in the home from infection.
• Protect yourself if you are taking care of someone at home who has H1N1 flu.
• Throw away disposable items used by the sick person, and keep bedside tables and bathroom surfaces clean using household disinfectant.
• For Clinicians: See additional guidance for clinicians and state and local public health agencies.

Caring for a Sick Person at Home

Special precautions are necessary if you are taking care of a sick person at home, especially if the person is an infant or child. People from 6 months to 24 years of age have been identified as a priority group to receive the H1N1 flu vaccination. See CDC’s vaccination recommendations.

• Ask the person’s health care provider about any special care that might be needed, especially if the person is pregnant or has a health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or emphysema.
• Ask the patient’s health care provider whether the patient should take antiviral medications.
• Keep the sick person away from other people as much as possible, especially others who are at high risk of complications from influenza.
• Remind the patient to cover coughs, and clean his/her hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often, especially after coughing and/or sneezing.
• Make sure everyone in the household cleans their hands often, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Ask your healthcare provider if household contacts of the sick person—particularly those contacts who may have chronic health conditions—should take antiviral medications such as oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (brand name Relenza®) to prevent getting the flu.
• Get medical care right away if the patient
  • Has difficult breathing or chest pain
  • Has purple or blue discoloration of the lips
  • Is vomiting and unable to keep liquids down
  • Shows signs of dehydration, such as feeling dizzy when standing, being unable to urinate, or (in infants) crying without shedding tears
• Has seizures (for example, uncontrolled convulsions), or
• Is less responsive than normal or becomes confused