Influenza cases on the rise in SC

Health officials say there is still time to get vaccinated

More flu cases reported across state

Most cases reported in children, the elderly

Published: January 05. 2011 2:00AM

• checkwith their health care provider about any special care they might needif they are pregnant or have a health condition such as diabetes, heartdisease, asthma, or emphysema
• check with their health care provider about whether they should take antiviral medications
• keep away from others as much as possible. This is to keep from making others sick. Do not go to work or school while ill
• stayhome for at least 24 hours after fever is gone, except to seek medicalcare or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use ofa fever-reducing medicine.)
• get plenty of rest
• drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from being dehydrated
• covercoughs and sneezes. Wash hands often with soap and water.  If soap andwater are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.* 
• weara facemask – if available and tolerable – when sharing common spaceswith other household members to help prevent spreading the virus toothers. This is especially important if other household members are athigh risk for complications from influenza.  For more information, seethe Interim Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use
• be watchful for emergency warning signs (see below) that might indicate you need to seek medical attention.

Medications to Help Lessen Symptoms of the Flu

Check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist for correct, safe use of medications

Antiviralmedications can sometimes help lessen influenza symptoms, but require aprescription. Most people do not need these antiviral drugs to fullyrecover from the flu. However, persons at higher risk for severe flucomplications, or those with severe flu illness who requirehospitalization, might benefit from antiviral medications. Antiviralmedications are available for persons 1 year of age and older. Ask yourhealth care provider whether you need antiviral medication. Influenzainfections can lead to or occur with bacterial infections. Therefore,some people will also need to take antibiotics. More severe orprolonged illness or illness that seems to get better, but then getsworse again may be an indication that a person has a bacterialinfection. Check with your health care provider if you have concerns. Warning! Do notgive aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to children or teenagers who havethe flu; this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’ssyndrome. For more information about Reye’s syndrome, visit the National Institute of Health website. 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. Thesafest care for flu symptoms in children younger than 2 years of age isusing a cool-mist humidifier and a suction bulb to help clear awaymucus. Fevers and aches can be treated with acetaminophen(Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin®) or nonsteroidalanti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Examples of these kinds ofmedications include: Generic Name Brand Name(s) Acetaminophen Tylenol® Ibuprofen Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin® Naproxen Aleve Over-the-countercold and flu medications used according to the package instructions mayhelp lessen some symptoms such as cough and congestion. Importantly,these medications will not lessen how infectious a person is. Checkthe ingredients on the package label to see if the medication alreadycontains acetaminophen or ibuprofen before taking additional doses ofthese medications—don’t double dose! Patients with kidney disease orstomach problems should check with their health care provider beforetaking any NSAIDS. Check with your health care provider orpharmacist if you are taking other over-the-counter or prescriptionmedications not related to the flu. For more information on productsfor treating flu symptoms, see the FDA website.

Steps to Lessen the Spread of Flu in the Home

Whenproviding care to a household member who is sick with influenza, themost important ways to protect yourself and others who are not sick areto:

• keepthe sick person away from other people as much as possible (see“placement of the sick person”) especially others who are at high riskfor complications from influenza
• remind the sick person tocover their coughs, and clean their hands with soap and water often. If soap and water are not available, they should use an alcohol-basedhand rub*, especially after coughing and/or sneezing
• have everyone in the household clean their hands often, using soap and water (or an alcohol-based hand rub*, if soap and water are not available). Children may need reminders or help keeping their hands clean
• askyour health care provider if household contacts of the sickperson—particularly those contacts who may be pregnant or have chronichealth conditions—should take antiviral medications such as oseltamivir(Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (Relenza®) to prevent the flu
• If you are in a high risk group for complications from influenza,you should attempt to avoid close contact (within 6 feet) withhousehold members who are sick with influenza. If close contact with asick individual is unavoidable, consider wearing a facemask orrespirator, if available and tolerable.  Infants should not be caredfor by sick family members.  For more information, see the Interim Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use

Placement of the sick person

• Keepthe sick person in a room separate from the common areas of the house.(For example, a spare bedroom with its own bathroom, if that’spossible.) Keep the sickroom door closed.
• Unless necessary formedical care or other necessities, people who are sick with aninfluenza-like-illness should stay home and keep away from others asmuch as possible, including avoiding travel, for at least 24 hoursafter fever is gone except to get medical care or for othernecessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducingmedicine). This is to keep from making others sick. Children,especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longerperiods. 
• If persons with the flu need to leave the home (for example, for medical care), they should wear a facemask, if available and tolerable, and cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
• Havethe sick person wear a facemask – if available and tolerable – if theyneed to be in a common area of the house near other persons.
• Ifpossible, sick persons should use a separate bathroom. This bathroomshould be cleaned daily with household disinfectant (see below).

Protect other persons in the home

• The sick person should not have visitors other than caregivers. A phone call is safer than a visit.
• If possible, have only one adult in the home take care of the sick person. People at increased risk of severe illness from flu should not be the designated caretaker, if possible.
• Ifyou are in a high risk group for complications from influenza, youshould attempt to avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with householdmembers who are sick with influenza. If close contact with a sickindividual is unavoidable, consider wearing a facemask or respirator,if available and tolerable. For more information, see the Interim Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use.
• Avoidhaving pregnant women care for the sick person. (Pregnant women are atincreased risk of influenza-related complications and immunity can besuppressed during pregnancy).
• Avoid having sick family members care for infants and other groups at high risk for complications of influenza.
• Allpersons in the household should clean their hands with soap and waterfrequently, including after every contact with the sick person or theperson’s room or bathroom.
• Use paper towels for drying handsafter hand washing or dedicate cloth towels to each person in thehousehold. For example, have different colored towels for each person.
• If soap and water are not available, persons should use an alcohol-based hand rub.*
• Ifpossible, consideration should be given to maintaining good ventilationin shared household areas (e.g., keeping windows open in restrooms,kitchen, bathroom, etc.).
• Antiviral medications can be used toprevent the flu, so check with your health care provider to see if somepersons in the home should use antiviral medications.

If you are the caregiver

• Avoid being face-to-face with the sick person.
• When holding small children who are sick, place their chin on your shoulder so that they will not cough in your face.
• Cleanyour hands with soap and water after you touch the sick person orhandle used tissues, or laundry. If soap and water are not available,use an alcohol-based hand rub*
• Talk to your health care provider about taking antiviral medication to prevent the caregiver from getting the flu.
• If you are at high risk of influenza associated complications, you should not be the designated caretaker, if possible.
• Ifyou are in a high risk group for complications from influenza, youshould attempt to avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with householdmembers who are sick with influenza. Designate a person who is not athigh risk of flu associated complications as the primary caretaker ofhousehold members who are sick with influenza, if at all possible. Ifclose contact with a sick individual is unavoidable, consider wearing afacemask or respirator, if available and tolerable. For moreinformation, see the Interim Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use
• Monitoryourself and household members for flu symptoms and contact a telephonehotline or health care provider if symptoms occur.

Using Facemasks or Respirators

• Avoid close contact (less than about 6 feet away) with the sick person as much as possible.
• Ifyou must have close contact with the sick person (for example, hold asick infant), spend the least amount of time possible in close contactand try to wear a facemask (for example, surgical mask) or N95disposable respirator.
• An N95 respirator that fits snugly onyour face can filter out small particles that can be inhaled around theedges of a facemask, but compared with a facemask it is harder tobreathe through an N95 mask for long periods of time. More informationon facemasks and respirators can be found at H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) website.
• Facemasks and respirators may be purchased at a pharmacy, building supply or hardware store.
• Wearan N95 respirator if you help a sick person with respiratory treatmentsusing a nebulizer or inhaler, as directed by their doctor. Respiratorytreatments should be performed in a separate room away from commonareas of the house when at all possible.
• Used facemasks and N95respirators should be taken off and placed immediately in the regulartrash so they don’t touch anything else.
• Avoid re-usingdisposable facemasks and N95 respirators, if possible. If a reusablefabric facemask is used, it should be laundered with normal laundrydetergent and tumble-dried in a hot dryer.
• After you take off a facemask or N95 respirator, clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• For more information, see the Interim Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use

Household Cleaning, Laundry, and Waste Disposal

• Throwaway tissues and other disposable items used by the sick person in thetrash. Wash your hands after touching used tissues and similar waste.
• Keepsurfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, and toysfor children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectantaccording to directions on the product label.
• Linens, eatingutensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to becleaned separately, but importantly these items should not be sharedwithout washing thoroughly first.
• Wash linens (such as bedsheets and towels) by using household laundry soap and tumble dry on ahot setting. Avoid “hugging” laundry prior to washing it to preventcontaminating yourself. Clean your hands with soap and water rightafter handling dirty laundry. If soap and water are not available, usean alcohol-based hand rub.*
• Eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap.

For More Information

TheCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hotline(1-800-CDC-INFO) is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7days a week.

TheArmy released a statement Thursday saying 23-year-old Army SpecialistChristopher Hogg of Dayton, Florida initially died of pneumonia, butautopsy reports confirm the death was the result of complicationscaused by the H1N1 virus.

Hogg was a basic training recruit inhis fifth week of training in Fort Jackson when he was taken to thehospital on September 1st for a fever and respiratory issues.

He was set to graduate from basic training on October 15th.

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