Home > Health Hazards & Infectious Diseases > Infectious Diseases > Influenza - H1N1 and Seasonal Flu > Resources > Influenza -- What to do if you or someone in your home is sick Influenza -- What to do if you or someone in your home is sickBoth seasonal and H1N1 influenza (flu) have similar symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue.
If you are ill with flu:
- Limit your contact with others as much as possible
- Stay home. Don't go to work or school.
- Cough into a tissue or your sleeve. Throw away used tissues immediately.
- Wash your hands often and thoroughly. Use liquid soap and hot water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol hand sanitizer.
- Do not share anything that goes into your mouth, like utensils, drinking glasses, and toothbrushes.
- Keep common surfaces and items clean and disinfected.
- Follow the advice of your health care provider, or call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000, TTY 1-866-797-0007.
If someone in your home is ill with flu:
- Limit your contact with the ill person as much as possible.
- Remind the ill person to cough into a tissue or their upper sleeve and to dispose of used tissues immediately.
- Remind everyone in the home to wash their hands thoroughly and frequently.
- Keep common surfaces and items clean and disinfected.
- Do not give aspirin or products that contain aspirin to children and teenagers.
Medical care
If you do not start to feel better after a few days or if your symptoms get worse, you should contact your health care provider or call Telehealth.
Seek medical care right away if you have flu symptoms AND you:
- are pregnant
- have heart or lung disease
- have any other chronic health problem that requires regular medical care
- are elderly or frail; or
- have an illness or are receiving treatments – for example, for diabetes, cancer, or HIV/AIDS – that might affect your immune system.
Seek medical care right away for infants or young children if they:
- had flu symptoms that improved and then suddenly got worse again
- have bluish or dark-coloured lips or skin
- have fast or noisy breathing, possibly with grunting or wheezing sounds
- are drowsy to the point that you cannot easily wake them
- show signs of dehydration such as a decrease in the amount of urine or bowel movements (fewer wet diapers)
- are cranky or don't want to be held.
For general information about seasonal or H1N1 flu, call the Sudbury & District Health Unit at (705) 522-9200.  Print
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