Is this your symptom?
- Exposure (Close Contact) to a person with influenza (flu)
- You have NO symptoms of flu (no fever, cough, sore throat, or runny nose)
Flu Exposure (Close Contact) Definition
- Household Close Contact. Lives with a person with flu.
- Other Close Contact. The CDC defines 6 feet as how far coughing can spread the flu virus. How long the close contact lasts is also important. Close contact includes kissing, hugging or sharing eating and drinking utensils. It also includes close conversations. Direct contact with secretions of a person with flu is also close contact. Includes being in the same office or car pool.
- In Same Building - Not Close Contact. Walking by a person or sitting in a room briefly is not close contact. Being in the same workplace, church, school or building also is not close contact.
- In Same Town - Not Close Contact. Living in a town where there are people with the flu is not close contact. Living in the same state or country carries no added risk.
High-Risk People for Complications From Influenza
Adults are considered High-Risk for complications if they have any of the following:
- Lung disease (such as asthma)
- Heart disease (such as a congenital heart disease)
- Stroke
- HIV/AIDS
- Cancer or weak immune system conditions
- Neuromuscular disease (such as muscular sclerosis)
- Diabetes, sickle cell disease, kidney disease or liver disease
- Diseases needing long-term aspirin therapy
- Pregnancy or severe obesity
- Adults 65 years and older are considered High-Risk (CDC)
- Racial and ethnic minority groups
- Note: all other adults are referred to as Low-Risk
When to Call for Influenza (Flu) Exposure
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
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Self Care at Home
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Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Influenza Close Contact within last 7 days and you are High-Risk. See the list of High-Risk in Causes.
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- You need a flu shot
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- Influenza questions and no Close Contact in the last 7 days
- Influenza prevention questions
- Tamiflu questions
- Influenza Close Contact within the last 7 days, but Low-Risk or healthy person
Care Advice for Stomach Pain
What You Should Know About Stomach Pain:
- Mild stomach pain can be caused by something simple. It could be from gas pains or eating too much.
- Sometimes, stomach pain signals the start of a viral infection. This will lead to vomiting or loose stools.
- Watching your child for 2 hours will help tell you the cause.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lie Down:
- Have your child lie down and rest until feeling better.
Clear Fluids:
- Offer clear fluids only (such as water, flat soft drinks or half-strength Gatorade).
- For mild pain, offer a regular diet.
Prepare for Vomiting:
- Keep a vomiting pan handy.
- Younger children often talk about stomach pain when they have nausea. Nausea is the sick stomach feeling that comes before they throw up.
Pass a Stool:
- Have your child sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool.
- This may help if the pain is from constipation or diarrhea.
- Note: for constipation, moving a warm wet cotton ball on the anus may help.
Do Not Give Medicines:
- Any drug (like ibuprofen) could upset the stomach and make the pain worse.
- Do not give any pain medicines or laxatives for stomach cramps.
- For fever higher than 102° F (39° C), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can be given.
What to Expect:
- With harmless causes, the pain is most often better or gone in 2 hours.
- With stomach flu, belly cramps may happen before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. These cramps may come and go for a few days.
- With serious causes (such as appendicitis), the pain worsens and becomes constant.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Constant pain lasts more than 2 hours
- Mild pain that comes and goes lasts more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Extra Help - Worried Stomach:
- Help your child talk about events that trigger the stomach pain. Talk to your child about how to cope with these the next time around.
- Help your child worry less about things she can't control.
- To treat the pain, help your child get very relaxed. Lying down in a quiet place and taking slow deep breaths may help. Make the belly go up and down with each breath. Then try to relax all the muscles in the body. Think about something pleasant. Listening to audios that teach how to relax might also help.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomach pains. Stressed children tend to want to stay home when the going gets rough.
- Caution: your child should see her doctor for an exam. Do this before concluding frequent stomach pains are from worrying too much.
