今年的流感病人比较多。今天接到一位101岁的长寿老太太。她现在还能够一个人住在家里。自己走路到一个街区远的超市买菜，自己煮饭。 可是昨天发烧不舒服了，自己又打911让EMS一早送她进ER。老太太瘦，5英尺2英寸高，体重才87.5磅。育有一儿两女，小儿子和二女儿还健在。中饭时厨房为她送来了她点的chicken noodle soup，可她直抱怨难喝，说没她自己做的好喝。脑子还非常清楚啊，戴上眼镜和用她包里备着的放大镜，知道第一剂量的tamiflu是什么药和做什么用的，我们都很喜欢她。两点钟时楼上的住院部有床位了，她说她有个要求，让我送她上去。我说好，百岁老人不多见，她点名了，是该送她上楼。交代同事帮忙看着其他病人，送她到Pulmonary/Vascular Unit里。哇，32位病人，住着12位流感病人。Unit的医生/护士/PCT都戴着口罩，怕自己传染上再传染给非流感病人。真快成Flu Unit了。分别时老太太在我戴着口罩的脸颊上送了一个香吻，说她知道流感病毒会传染人，但是吻在口罩上不会有问题的。接收的护士乐了，直夸她懂的东西真多。真的，活到101岁，还能如此头脑清醒，真是上天的一种恩赐与祝福。我要是能活到101岁，不见得会像她这样。明天休息，星期三上班时会抽空上楼看她。以下是CDC关于流感的科普短文，帮助你了解如何对付发烧、干咳及其它流感症状。
- Treat Fever
- Treat Dry Cough
- Treat Other Symptoms
- Medicine Safety & Children
- Prevent Fluid Loss
- Medicine Safety & Children
Treat Fever
About Fever
Bringing down a fever will make the person feel better and help patients rest.
Treating a fever without medicine
- Put a cool, damp washcloth on their forehead.
- Wash their arms and body with a cool cloth.
- Give the person a slightly warm bath.
Treating a high fever with medicine
- Look for the ingredients “acetaminophen” or “ibuprofen” on labels.
- These medicines may take 30 to 45 minutes to start working. They may not bring fevers down to normal temperature.
When a fever causes a seizure
A seizure makes you have jerky spasms and can also make you pass out. In rare cases, a fever can bring on a seizure, called a “febrile seizure.” Seizures brought on by fever are more common in young children. Call the doctor or get medical help for seizures.
Any child younger than 3 months who has a fever should see a doctor.
Treat Dry Cough
About coughs
Coughing can help clear out mucous and congestion from your lungs. Yet, dry coughs when there is no mucous can make your airways, throat, or chest sore. Treating a dry cough can stop this sore feeling and also help you get rest.
Treating a dry cough
- Ask the pharmacist about which cough medicines are best to treat a dry cough. Do not give children younger than 4 years of age cough or cold medicines.
- Set up a humidifier. That’s a machine that puts tiny drops of water (moisture) into the air. This extra moisture can make it easier for the sick person to breathe. 使用加湿器, 帮助呼吸.
- Offer adults a cough drop or hard candy to soothe their throat and lessen the urge to cough.
Treat Other Flu Symptoms
Treating sore throat (咽痛)
Offer the person:
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the pain
- Ice chips or frozen ice pops to numb the throat and get fluids into the body
Some people find gargling with salt water helps soothe a sore throat.
- Mix 1 cup of warm water with 1 teaspoon of salt.
- Gargle and then spit out.
Treating chills, aches, and pain
Offer the person:
- A light blanket for chills
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for aches and pain. Make sure to read the label for the right amount.
Treating congestion
The flu can cause the body to make more mucous. The nose, sinuses, ears, and chest can get stuffy. This congestion can cause pain.
Offer the person:
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the pain
- Decongestants (Talk to your pharmacist about the kind you should buy. Do not give cough or cold medicine to children younger than 4 years of age.) 不要给4岁以下的儿童用止咳或其它感冒药.
- A humidifier. That’s a machine that puts tiny drops of water (moisture) into the air. This extra moisture can make it easier for the sick person to breathe. 使用加湿器, 帮助呼吸.
- A warm washcloth on the face to ease sinus pain
Treating stomach problems
People with the flu may have stomach pain. They may even throw up or have loose stools (diarrhea). Anyone with severe stomach pain should call the doctor.
Offer the person:
- Plain foods that are easy on the stomach
- Clear liquids to drink
- Medicines to help adults treat loose stools
Medicine Safety & Children
About medicines for children
- Store all medicines out of reach of children. Place them in a locked cabinet where children can’t reach them.
- Buy pain and fever medicines that say “children’s” on the label. Also, look for the words “acetaminophen” or “ibuprofen” on the label.
- Call the doctor if your child is very small or very large for his or her age so you will be sure to give the right amount of medicine. The dose you give your child depends on the child’s age and weight.
- Use a special medicine spoon, dropper, or the cap that came with the medicine. Wash the cap, dropper, or spoon with soap and water after each use.
- Don’t give cough or cold medicines to children younger than 4 years of age.
Warning
Think your child age 18 or younger might have the flu?
Never give them aspirin or products with aspirin in them. 不要给小于18岁的孩子服用阿司匹林, 防止瑞氏综合征.
Check all medicine labels to make sure they do not contain aspirin, also called salicylate. Although it mostly affects people age 18 or younger, Reye’s Syndrome can strike anyone who takes aspirin products when they have the flu.
Reye’s Syndrome is a rare, serious illness than can affect the blood, liver, and brain of someone who has recently had a flu virus. This illness can cause confusion, seizures, or coma. Talk to your child’s doctor about signs and symptoms of Reye’s Syndrome.
