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What can I do to help my family (and myself) feel better when we have flu or flu-like symptoms?

There are a variety of symptoms that affect us when we are feeling ill. The CDC has recommended the following:

Dry Cough

  • Ask the pharmacist about which cough medicines are best to treat a dry cough. Do not give children younger than 4 years of age cough or cold medicines.
  • Set up a humidifier. That's a machine that puts tiny drops of water (moisture) into the air. This extra moisture can make it easier for the sick person to breathe.
  • Offer adults a cough drop or hard candy to soothe their throat and lessen the urge to cough.

Fever

To treat a fever without medicine:

  • Put a cool, damp washcloth on their forehead.
  • Wash their arms and body with a cool cloth.
  • Give the person a slightly warm bath.

To treat a high fever with medicine:

  • Use a medicine with the ingredients "acetaminophen" or "ibuprofen" on labels.
  • These medicines may take 30 to 45 minutes to start working. They may not bring fevers down to normal temperature.

If a fever causes a seizure:

  • Call the doctor or get medical help for seizures. Any child younger than 3 months who has a fever should see a doctor.
  • A seizure makes you have jerky spasms and can also make you pass out. In rare cases, a fever can bring on a seizure, called a "febrile seizure." Seizures brought on by fever are more common in young children.

Dehydration or Fluid Loss

Check for fluid loss:

  • Make sure babies have wet diapers. Check that wet diapers
    are as frequent and heavy as normal.
  • Look for tears when the baby or toddler is crying.
  • Check to see how wet the child’s mouth is. The inside of the mouth should be wet. Wash your hands after you do this.
  • Check to see that children, teens, and adults are making frequent trips to the bathroom to urinate.
  • Check the urine color. Clear or light yellow-colored urine means the person is getting enough fluid. Dark yellow urine signals the person is dehydrated.

Preventing Dehydration

Give plenty of liquids at the first sign of flu. Sick people with the flu need to drink extra fluids to keep from getting dehydrated. Mild fluid loss can most often be treated at home. Yet, severe dehydration is VERY serious and must be treated in the hospital. 

  • If the sick person is not eating well, encourage them to drink liquids. Avoid alcohol or drinks with caffeine in them such as colas, tea, and coffee.
  • Older adults and people with kidney problems should check with their doctor about safe amounts of liquid to drink when sick.
  • Offer clear fluids such as water, broth, or sports drinks.
  • Use a squeeze bottle or a straw for people too weak to drink from a cup. Or offer ice chips or frozen ice pops to suck on.
  • Continue to nurse or bottle feed your baby. Babies get all the fluid they need from breastfeeding or formula.
  • If your baby refuses to breastfeed or take formula from the bottle, call the doctor. Your doctor may recommend you give your child a special drink like Pedialyte®, which is meant to prevent dehydration.

Sore Throat

  • Use a medicine with the ingredients "acetaminophen" or "ibuprofen" on labels.
  • Ice chips or frozen ice pops to numb the throat and get fluids into the body.
  • Sometimes gargling with salt water helps -- mix 1 cup  of warm water with 1 teaspoon of salt. Gargle and spit out.

Chills, Aches, and Pains

  • Use a medicine with the ingredients "acetaminophen" or "ibuprofen" on labels.
  • Be sure to follow package instructions.
  • A light blanket can help with chills.

Congestion

  • Use a medicine with the ingredients "acetaminophen" or "ibuprofen" on labels.
  • Decongestants (Talk to your pharmacist about the kind you should buy. Do not give cough or cold medicine to children younger than 4 years of age.)
  • A humidifier. That's a machine that puts tiny drops of water (moisture) into the air. This extra moisture can make it easier for the sick person to breathe.
  • A warm washcloth on the face to ease sinus pain

Stomach Problems

People with the flu may have stomach pain. They may even throw up or have loose stools (diarrhea). Anyone with severe stomach pain should call the doctor.

Offer the person:

  • Plain foods that are easy on the stomach
  • Clear liquids to drink
  • Medicines to help adults treat loose stools

Last Reviewed: 01/05/2010

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