Individuals, Parents and Caregivers
Two types of contagious flu viruses are active in South Carolina this year — seasonal flu and novel H1N1 flu (swine flu). Both types can cause mild to severe respiratory illness and can even lead to death.
While the flu is different from the common cold, symptoms of seasonal flu and novel H1N1 flu are very similar. With flu, one or more of these symptoms may come on suddenly — about 48 to 72 hours after contact with the virus:
- Fever (usually high)
- Headache
- Extreme tiredness
- Dry cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle aches
- Occasionally, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Urgent Warning Signs
If you or loved are sick and you have any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately:
In children:
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish skin color
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Not waking up or not interacting
- Being so irritable that the child does not 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 abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting.
Flu Vaccines
Flu vaccines are your best protection against seasonal and novel H1N1 flu. To protect yourself from both strains, you’ll need a separate vaccine for each type of flu.
Fortunately, drug makers have recently developed a vaccine for novel H1N1 flu.
People who are in greater danger of life-threatening health problems from novel H1N1 flu or seasonal flu should get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Remember, babies younger than 6 months of age can’t be vaccinated for seasonal flu or novel H1N1 flu. If you live with a young child, we urge you to get vaccinated against both types of flu to protect the child as well as yourself.
These Groups Need Flu Vaccines the Most
The CDC recommends that these groups get flu vaccines as soon as possible.
The list for seasonal flu is different from the list for novel H1N1 flu.
These People Should Get a Seasonal Flu Vaccine ASAP |
These People Should Get a Novel H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Vaccine ASAP |
| Those age 50 and older | Pregnant women |
| Pregnant women | Household contacts and caregivers for babies younger than 6 months of age |
| Children 6 months to 18 years of age | Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel |
| People of any age who have chronic medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes, congestive heart failure, lung disease) | All children from 6 months to 17 years of age |
| People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities | Young adults 18 to 24 years of age |
| People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu. | People 25 through 64 years of age who have health conditions that put them at higher risk of medical complications from flu. |
Get updates on vaccine availability in South Carolina, learn more about vaccine safety, and find a flu vaccine clinic in your local area.
Additional Information on Flu Vaccines from the CDC:
- Flu Myths and Realities
- General Questions and Answers on H1N1 Vaccine Safety
- Children, the Flu, and the Flu Vaccine
- General Questions and Answers on Thimerosal
- 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine and Pregnant Women
- H1N1 Flu Vaccination Resources
- Asthma Information for Patients and Parents of Patients
Everyday Flu Prevention
Wash your hands often with soap and water. Wash them for as long as it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song twice.- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Stay home if you are sick until you have been symptom-free without taking fever reducing medicine for 24 hours.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- Eat a healthy diet and get plenty of rest.
Treating Seasonal Flu and Novel H1N1 Flu
If despite your best efforts you get the flu, but your symptoms are mild and you don’t fall into a high risk category, you may not need to visit your healthcare provider.
If you have more severe symptoms, are at risk of complications or have close contact with someone in a high risk group, your healthcare provider has antiviral medications to help you recover faster and lower your risk of passing the virus on to others.
If you're caring for someone who has the flu:
- Never give aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to children or teenagers who have the flu; this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome.
- Frequently wipe down commonly touched surfaces like stairway railings, telephones, and door handles. Other than that, follow your normal housekeeping routine.
- See “Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home” from the CDC.
- Get additional information on environmental disinfection to prevent flu from the CDC.
- Also see the CDC’s What Should Pregnant Women Know About 2009 H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)?
Medicines for Novel H1N1 Flu from the Food and Drug Administration
- Zanamivir (Relenza) Fact Sheets
- Tamiflu Fact Sheets
- Informe De Zanamivir (Relenza)
- Informe De Tamiflu
Information for Parents:
- Questions and Answers: Opening and Mixing Tamiflu Capsules with Liquids if Child Cannot Swallow Capsules (CDC)
- Frequently Asked Questions about Novel H1N1 Flu for Parents (pdf)
- Novel H1N1 flu (swine flu) letter to parents of children in child care (pdf)
- Novel H1N1 flu (swine flu) letter to parents of children in school (pdf)
- For Kids (En Español)
- Information on staying well while traveling from the CDC.
School Closings
For information on school closings, contact your local public school district or private school.
If, after reading the information available here, you have questions about the 2009 H1N1 vaccine,
please call 1-800-27SHOTS (1-800-277-4687).
