Influenza (Adult)

Home care

Follow these guidelines when caring for yourself at home:

• Stay away from cigarette smoke, whether it's yours or other people’s.

• Acetaminophen or ibuprofen will help ease your fever, muscle aches, and headaches. Do not give aspirin to children or teens unless your child’s doctor says it is safe. Aspirin can put your child at risk for Reye syndrome, a rare but serious condition.

• Nausea, loose stools, and loss of appetite are common with the flu. Eat light meals. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of liquids every day. Good choices are water, sport drinks, soft drinks without caffeine, juices, tea, and soup. Extra fluids will also help loosen secretions in your nose and lungs.

• Over-the-counter cold medicines will not make the flu go away faster. But the medicines may help with coughing, sore throat, and congestion in your nose and sinuses. Don’t use a decongestant if you have high blood pressure.

• Stay home until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without using medicine to reduce fever.

• Drink enough fluids so that you don't become dehydrated.

• Take warm, steamy showers to help soothe your cough.

• If you have a sore throat, gargling with warm salty water, sucking on an ice cube, drinking hot water with honey and freshly squeezed lemon juice can help.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your doctor, or as advised, if you're not getting better over the next week.

If you're age 50 or older, talk with your doctor about getting a pneumococcal vaccine. You should also get vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumoniae at other ages if you have a weak immune system, chronic asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder), or certain other conditions. With very few exceptions, all adults should get a flu vaccine every fall. September and October are generally good times to get vaccinated. Ask your doctor about this.

When to contact your doctor

Contact your doctor right away if you have the flu and any of these happen:

• You have a cough with lots of colored mucus (sputum) or blood in your mucus.

• You have chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, or trouble breathing.

• You have a severe headache or face, neck, or ear pain.

• You have a new rash with fever.

• You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your doctor.

• You have confusion, behavior change, or a seizure.

• You have severe weakness or dizziness.

• You get a new fever or cough after getting better for a few days.

Also contact your doctor if you have flu symptoms and have a weakened immune system or are taking medicines that can weaken your immune system. These include steroids and certain anti-inflammatory medicines.