Flu season is here. Be prepared.

Download a brochure.
Special Health Care Needs and Kids H1N1 Fact Sheet.

For more information, visit:

This season there are 2 types of flu

There are 2 different types of flu this season. People will suffer symptoms at different times of the year:

Fall to early winter: H1N1 (swine flu) will be more common.
Early winter to spring: Seasonal flu will be more common.

How to tell if you have the flu

H1N1 (swine flu) has the same symptoms as the seasonal flu. Flu symptoms include:

Fever
Cough
Sore throat
Body aches
Headache
An upset stomach (for some people)

Some people are more vulnerable to the flu

Certain types of people are more vulnerable to swine flu. Contact your health care provider if you are suffering from flu symptoms and if you fall into one of the following categories:

You are pregnant.
You are 65 years or older.
You have chronic lung, heart, kidney, or liver disease, or diabetes.
You have a fever lasting more than 3 days.
You have severe respiratory problems, such as shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

What to do when you have the flu

Stay home as much as possible.
Rest as much as possible.
Drink plenty of clear liquids.
Avoid unnecessary contact with others to prevent spreading the flu virus.
Use fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), or naproxen (Aleve). Do not give aspirin to children or teenagers with the flu.

When to go to the emergency room

In most cases of the flu, you do not need to go to the ER.
If you do not have the flu, you risk catching it from someone in the ER. If you DO have the flu, you risk spreading it to someone in the ER.

You should go to the ER when you have these symptoms:

You have difficulty breathing or have chest pain
You are vomiting and unable to keep liquids down.
You experience seizures or dizziness when standing.

To help you decide what to do when you are sick, or to answer any questions about how to care for someone who is sick, call the free Nurse Advice Line:

Free NURSE ADVICE LINE
for Community Health Plan Members
Call 866-418-1002
TTY 866-418-1006 for speech or hearing impaired