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West Michigan is experiencing a rapid increase in the number of people exposed to and experiencing influenza. Spectrum Health offers simple guidelines for how to avoid the flu and how to seek care when necessary. These guidelines reflect the recommendations of the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

“People have a lot of questions about getting the flu vaccine and when to seek medical services,” said David J. Dobbie, MD, infectious disease specialist, Spectrum Health Medical Group. “Most symptoms can and should be treated at home. Only the most severe illnesses should require a visit to an urgent care center or emergency room. These guidelines should help people who are concerned and want to do the right thing.”

To avoid getting the flu, Spectrum Health recommends:

• Get your seasonal flu shot. Check with the Michigan Department of Community Health for the latest information about the availability of the season flu and H1N1 vaccines in your county.
• As it becomes available, get your 2009 H1N1 vaccine if you are in a high risk category.
• Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly.
• Avoid contact with people who have flu-like symptoms.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet.

Symptoms include:

• Cough
• Sore throat
• Fever (sometimes) – a temperature greater than 100° F or 37.8° C
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Headache
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea (sometimes)
• Vomiting (sometimes)

It appears that 2009 H1N1 will be the predominant strain of flu this year, said Dobbie. With the early onset of flu season this year, people experiencing any of the above symptoms should stay home to avoid spreading the flu.

“It will take anywhere from five to 10 days for the illness to run its course. For most people, they should try to stay home, rest, drink plenty of liquids and take acetaminophen or an anti-inflammatory medicine,” Dobbie added.

Individuals experiencing these symptoms who become concerned about their illness should call their primary care physician for advice. Urgent Care Centers and emergency rooms should be used only for people experiencing the following:

In children:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• So irritable the child doesn’t even want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

In adults:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or stomach
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

The CDC recommends that individuals stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone. The fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine. If a person must go out in public while sick, they should wear a facemask if possible, wash their hands to keep from spreading germs, and cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue or cloth (not their hands).

More information can be found at spectrum-health.org/flu

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan that offers a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, a collection of seven hospitals and more than 140 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group and mmpc, multispecialty physician groups with more than 400 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with nearly 500,000 members. Spectrum Health’s 16,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members and 2,000 volunteers are committed to delivering the highest quality care. The organization provided $111.1 million in community benefit during its 2008 fiscal year. As a system, Spectrum Health has earned more than 100 awards during the past 10 years.