MIT Flu Central:
Think you have the flu?

Symptoms

Symptoms of H1N1 and seasonal flu are similar. They include:

fever
cough
sore throat
body aches
fatigue
headache
chills

Some people have also reported diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

Like seasonal influenza, symptoms of H1N1 can range from very mild to quite severe. To date, however, most cases in the U.S. appear to be no more medically serious than the annual seasonal influenza that moves through our community every winter. Most patients experience a moderate respiratory illness and recover completely without medical intervention.

Treatment

Self-isolation—To avoid spreading the illness to others, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health recommends that individuals who become sick with the flu should avoid close contact with other people until 24 hours after a fever has resolved and body temperature has remained normal without the use of fever-reducing drugs such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
Take fever-reducing drugs such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
There’s no need for prescription antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu or Relenza unless you are severely ill or have a medical condition that puts you at risk for serious complications from the flu.

When to seek medical help

1. Worsening or serious symptoms

Seek medical advice if your symptoms become worse or are serious. Students and MIT Health Plans members can call 617-253-4481, 24 hours a day, to speak with a clinician at MIT Medical. Serious symptoms include:

Fever higher than 101º for more than two days
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Yellow or green discharge from the nose or produced with a cough
Pain or pressure in the abdomen
Sudden dizziness, confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting

In children, serious symptoms include:

Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Irritability to the point of not wanting to be held
Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough.

2. If you’re at risk for complictions from H1N1 or seasonal flu

Some higher-risk patients should always see a doctor when they have flu-like symptoms. These include:

Pregnant women
Patients with a chronic medical condition such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease
Patients who are older than 65 or younger than 2
Patients whose immune systems are suppressed due to medications or medical conditions