Swine Flu Symptoms and Treatments for Families

The good news is that the very same simple techniques that keep you healthy in the face of seasonal colds and flus work for swine flu, too.

• Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. Use a tissue, if possible, and be sure to throw the tissue away and wash your hands. You can also sneeze or cough into your inner elbow instead of your hands.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water (Alcohol-based hand sanitizers also work).
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• Stay home if you are sick. If you are sick with a flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.

• fast and/or labored breathing
• pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• sudden dizziness
• confusion
• severe or persistent vomiting
• flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

• bluish or gray skin color
• not drinking enough fluids
• difficulty waking up or not responding to interaction
• being so irritable that the child does not want to be held