H1N1 Flu (swine flu)
Know how to protect your family and when to seek medical care
Updated November 25, 2009
Where can I get the flu vaccines?
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is offering free H1N1 flu vaccine for Chicagoans at increased risk. Call 311 or visit the CDPH website for details and locations. You can also use the new Google flu shot locator to find where in your area the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines are available.
Please note: We are not a general flu vaccination site
for children at this time. If your child is a current patient at
Children’s Memorial, please call 1.800.KIDS DOC (1.800.543.7362) to make an appointment
for H1N1 flu vaccination.
How dangerous is the new H1N1 flu?
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The 2009 H1N1 flu has not been more dangerous than the regular seasonal flu.
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Children and young adults get sick with the new flu more than older people.
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Symptoms are similar to the seasonal flu – fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.
Who is at risk to get seriously sick from the flu?
Does the seasonal flu vaccine protect against the 2009 H1N1 flu?
No. Your child needs a separate H1N1 flu vaccine.
Should my child still get the seasonal flu vaccine?
Yes. We recommend it for children between 6 months and 18 years of age. Get your child the seasonal flu vaccine as early as possible.
Is the H1N1 flu vaccine safe?
Yes, says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The 2009 H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccines are made and tested the same way. The seasonal flu vaccines have a long record of safety and effectiveness.
Will there be 1 or 2 doses for the H1N1 flu vaccine?
- Children younger than 10 years of age will need 2 doses, at least 1 month apart.
- Children 10 years and older and adults will need 1 dose.
Who should get the H1N1 flu vaccine first?
- Children and young adults, 6 months-24 years old
- People who live with or care for children under 6 months of age
- Pregnant women
- Health care workers and emergency medical services workers
- People aged 25-64 years with chronic health disorders
What else can I do to protect my family from the flu?
Everyone in your family should:
- Wash their hands often with soap and water, especially after they cough, sneeze, or blow their nose. Alcohol-based hand cleaners also work well.
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue or into their elbow or shoulder if a tissue is not available. Throw the tissue in the trash after they use it.
- Avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
What should I do if my child has fever and other flu symptoms?
Most people should recover from the new H1N1 flu without needing medical care. Here’s what you need to do:
- Keep your sick child at home until at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever or signs of a fever (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine).
- Call the school or daycare to notify that your child has flu symptoms.
- Do not take your child to the mall, grocery store, or any place where he/she might expose others to the flu.
- Do not give aspirin or aspirin-containing products (like Pepto Bismol®) to children 18 years of age and younger. This increases the risk of Reye syndrome.
- Children older than 6 months can take acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin®) for relief of fever.
- Do not give over-the-counter cold medicines to children younger than 4 years of age.
What should I do if my child has a chronic illness and flu symptoms?
- A chronic illness (like asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and others) can make your child’s flu more severe.
- Contact your doctor or specialist immediately for advice about your child’s unique case. This is important because the antiviral medicines used to treat flu work best when started within the first 2 days of getting sick.
Does my child need to see a pediatrician for flu care?
- Call your pediatrician if your child’s flu symptoms get more severe or if you are worried about your child’s illness.
- Call your doctor if your child is younger than 2 years and not drinking enough fluids.
- Your child does not have to be tested for the new H1N1 flu unless he/she needs to stay in the hospital.
- Your doctor may prescribe a drug called Tamiflu.
When should I take my child with flu symptoms to the emergency room?
If you have a true medical emergency, then take your child to the nearest emergency room. If your child shows any of these warning signs, seek emergency medical care:
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish or gray skin color
- Not waking up or not interacting
- Being so irritable that he or she does not want to be held
- Not urinating or no tears when crying
Do I need a doctor’s note to get my child back to school after being out sick with the flu?
The Chicago Public Schools are NOT requiring a doctor’s note for your child to return to school. If you live outside of Chicago, contact your school to see what it requires.
One of my family members is sick with flu-like symptoms. Do I need to keep my child out of school? Does my whole family need treatment?
- If your child is not sick, then he/she can go to school.
- Family members who are not sick usually do not need treatment.
- The best thing you can do is to limit contact with the sick person as much as possible.
- Make sure everyone in your family washes his/her hands often, especially after coughing, sneezing, or blowing his/her nose.
Do I need to cancel an outpatient appointment at Children’s Memorial?
Where can I find the latest information on H1N1 flu?