Easy Ways to Prevent the Flu From Spreading at Home

Uh oh. Your husband has come down with the flu! After you express your heartfelt sympathies and get him to bed with a nice cup of tea, you’re faced with the inevitable dilemma. How do you care for him without catching the bug?.. (or as my husband would say, “the dreaded lurgy”). What’s worse, he’s now at home all day, so how do you prevent the flu from spreading to the rest of the precious residence of your home?

This year there’s a seasonal flu vaccine to protect against seasonal flu viruses and a 2009 HINI vaccine to protect against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (sometimes called “swine flu”). While a flu vaccine is the first step in protecting against flu infection, not everyone gets it in time. Some people choose not to get it, and some say it’s only as good as last year’s flu strain. As of the writing of this post (Oct 23rd, 2009), The H1N1 is still unavailable to the general public in many US states.

Sometimes you can prepare for the flu in other ways. Make sure you have over-the-counter flu medications in place, (more on that later) and stock up on anti-bacterial wipes, paper towels and paper cups.

All that aside, this Hub will focus mostly about dealing with the spread of the flu once you or someone at home as contracted one of those nasty viruses.

It’s most likely you’ll know when someone is coming down with the flu because they’ll begin to complain about not feeling well. The flu starts off with one or two symptoms such as a sore throat, burning sinus, headache, and fatigue. As it progresses, the affected person may begin running a fever, developing a cough, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, sweats, chills, and lots more fatigue. Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea.

In severe cases a patient will need emergency medical attention or hospitalization.→

To protect yourself and other members of your household, follow these tips gathered from the CDC’s websites, other medical websites and from my seasoned knowledge on how to keep the virus at bay.

• Drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, chicken soup (my favorite), sports drinks, electrolyte beverages (for infants) to keep from being dehydrated. Don’t get them yourself….let your loving parent or partner bring them to you in bed or wherever you’ve been “set up”.
  
• Let one person wait on you hand and foot! It’s the only advantage to having the flu. It also keeps your germy hands off the clean dishes, refrigerator door, ect.
• When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with a tissue and toss it in the trash or toilet after you use it. Covering your sneezes with your hand allows you to spread germs to everything you touch.
• Use a waterless, alcohol based hand sanitizer when in bed, otherwise wash your hands often with soap and water. Hand washing should take 15- 20 seconds.

• Make sure the infected person stays isolated in a room away from other members of the family – except of course, from the primary care giver.
• Keep your loved one as comfortable a possible. Bring in his or her cell phone, computer, books and lots of tissues. The CDC recommends that the patient stay at home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone. The exception would be if you don’t have help and you need medicine, supplies or if you need to get medical attention.
• Prepare food and beverages for the patient and if possible, serve them in their isolated area.
• Remove and wash all infected dishes, glasses and tableware in the dishwasher using the hottest water available.
• Use disposable (paper) cups and/or plates if possible.
• Everyone should wash his or her hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• When you wash your hands, do so for 20-30 seconds. Dry them with a paper towel, then turn off the faucet with the paper towel and throw the towel away.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Wipe doorknobs and drawer handles several times a day with disposable disinfectant wipes.
• Use your elbows or feet rather than your hands to open and close doors when possible.
• Wear a facemask – if available and tolerable
• Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands.

Yes. There are drugs your doctor may prescribe for treating both seasonal and 2009 H1N1 called anti-viral drugs.

These drugs can make you better faster and may also prevent serious complications; however, antiviral drugs are being used mainly to treat people who need to be hospitalized and sick people who are more likely to get serious flu complications.

Since virus’ do no respond to antibiotics, the best thing for the patient to do is to rest, drink lots of liquids and take aspirin* or Tylenol for fever and aches and pains.

Homeopathic remedies for colds and the flu are most effective when taken at the first signs of illness although these medications are safe to take at any time. Here are some popular remedies for colds ad flu:

Natrum Muriaticum
Oscillococciinum
Collicoidal silver
Eccinacea
Vitamin C – 1000 mg powders
Liquid phyto –caps- anti-oxidants

If you are not familiar with Homeopathic, natural remedies here’s a good link:
http://abchomeopathy.com/homeopathy.htm

Do not give aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to children or teenagers who have the flu; this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome. For more information about Reye’s syndrome, visit the National Institute of Health’s site. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/reyes_syndrome/reyes_syndrome.htm

•    Check ingredient labels on over-the-counter cold and flu medications to see if they contain aspirin.
•    Children 5 years of age and older and teenagers with the flu can take medicines without aspirin, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin®), to relieve symptoms.
•    Children younger than 4 years of age should NOT be given over-the-counter cold medications without first speaking with a health care provider.
•    The safest care for flu symptoms in children younger than 2 years of age is using a cool-mist humidifier and a suction bulb to help clear away mucus.
•    Fevers and aches can be treated with acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin®) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).

Not everyone gets a fever with the flu, but it’s usually quite common.

Depending on the individual, a fever maybe broken by “sweating it out”.
Sometimes a high fever can be controlled with cool washcloths. Consult your physician first!

You don’t have to be a Reiki Master to send healing energy to a loved one! Healing thoughts can be very powerful. Even if you’re a bit skeptical, the person with the flu has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

When you’re in a quite space, take a few deep, calming breaths. Focus your thoughts on your ailing loved one, but visualize them as being completely well, happy, up and about brimming with energy. Hear them saying “ I feel great!” Continue these thoughts for as long as you feel comfortable. Finally, surround this healthful mental picture with a lovely pink bubble and send it off to the universe. That’s all you have to do. Creative visualization is one way you can turn your wishes and thoughts into reality.

Health and Happiness to you all! If You Found This Hub Helpful, Please Rate It "UP". You may also enjoy my other Hubs all listed on THIS page. Thanks! - Green Lotus

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