How long are you bed bound with the flu?
Expect to be floored for three to five days (followed by a few weeks of fatigue). Stronger flu strains tend to break out every few years, so see your GP if your symptoms are particularly acute. Stronger forms of flu can keep you bedridden for around seven days, and make complications more likely.
How do you care for someone with influenza?
Stay at home and rest. Avoid close contact with well people in your house so you won’t make them sick. Drink plenty of water and other clear liquids to prevent fluid loss (dehydration). Treat fever and cough with medicines you can buy at the store.
Should I sleep in the same bed as someone with the flu?
Sleeping in the same bed will increase your chances of contracting your spouse’s illness but often can’t be avoided, Dr. Thompson said. “You can’t move out of the house.” Regularly cleaning counters and frequently touched spots (like the fridge handles) may also cut down on germs.
How long is a flu patient contagious?
People with flu are most contagious in the first three to four days after their illness begins. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.
Can flu make you bed ridden?
Unlike other 48-hour illnesses, a proper whack of the flu can leave you bedridden for up to two weeks. Where most people run into dangerous territory, however, is the assumption that the flu is something you can bounce straight back from, in the same way you might recover from a stomach bug.
How can I recover from flu faster?
Here are 12 tips to help you recover more quickly.
- Stay home. Your body needs time and energy to fight off the flu virus, which means that your daily routine should be put on the backburner.
- Hydrate.
- Sleep as much as possible.
- Ease your breathing.
- Eat healthy foods.
- Add moisture to the air.
- Take OTC medications.
- Try elderberry.
How can I prevent the flu from spreading in my house?
By practicing a few simple rules at home, you can help keep your family healthy and prevent the flu from spreading.
- Get vaccinated.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Wash your hands often.
- Limit contact with family members who are ill.
- Clean your home.
- Practice healthy habits.
Should I shower when I have the flu?
Taking a hot shower or a bath can really help to quell your various pains. The warmth from the bath can help soothe your lungs, and the steam will moisturize your throat and nasal passages that have been dried out from your sickness.
Is it safe to be around someone with the flu?
The flu is a very contagious virus. An infected person often becomes contagious, or capable of spreading the virus to other people, even before they begin to show symptoms. Also, it’s possible to spread flu germs to others for up to seven days after becoming ill.
Should I wash my sheets while I’m sick or after?
Bedding. When you’re sick, you spend a lot of time in bed. Well, those sheets, blankets, and comforters you’ve been lying on need to be disinfected, too, so throw them in the washing machine and set it on a hot cycle. And if your mattress has been soiled, give it a good cleaning.