WWYD? Flu issue...

Hooray2005

What, if anything, would you do in this situation?

DH, DS#1-2 (ages 3 and 4 months) and I are staying OOT at SIL's for the next 5 days (and have been for the past 4) and she now appears to have the flu (102.5 fever, chills, head/body aches, coughing, sneezing, lethargic, etc.)  Nice. (Yes, this is the same SIL who was crazy sick when she visited us earlier this year and got DS#1 and my 35-wk pg self super-sick with 104 fevers.) Nice.

Beyond investing in Lysol wipes, good handwashing and minimizing the kiddo's contact with her (ok, that's near impossible given the size of this house), would you ask her to call/see a doctor (swine flu?!!) or check with DSs' pedi?  Both boys have stuffy noses, but otherwise seem ok for now - just worried most about the boys getting it (esp. the 4-mo-old)

Gah - nice vacation.

crazynervous

If they are already there and have been in contact with her I would just have them be extra careful and if they start to come down with something then take your kids to the doc.

Hooray2005

cmeon_the_water:

If it's her place, I'd look for a hotel- to give her some rest! Nothing like houseguests when you feel like crap.

I so totally agree with this, and already suggested it to DH  - seems like it would be better for everyone! Sadly, she would be totally offended and hurt if we even hinted at the idea of "abandoning her" for a hotel.  She's already whining and bitching about how being sick is DESTROYING her visit, etc. (ah, family drama...)  Love her to death, but she can be a bit over the top.  Sigh...

A-baybride

I think I would ask her to get tested for the flu.  The swine flu doesn't scare me anymore than the regular flu, but I believe the flu treatment (flumist?) needs to be administered within 48 hours (I think... don't quote me on that!) of the onset of symptoms.  So if they start to show symptoms, you'll already know if it's the flu or not and get treatment ASAP.  Especially with a 4 month old... I'd really be pushing for the hotel!

ETA - Tamiflu is what I was thinking of, not FluMist.  Needs to be given within 12-48 hours of symptoms appearing, but the baby couldn't get it.

mlm1128

If you have been there for four days and you are going to catch it, it's already incubating.  I say stay where you are it's too late to change the outcome now. I would just call a doctor and see if there is anything you can do to combat it.

jen5-03

It's August and she has the flu? Regular flu isn't very common in the summer (unless you're in the Southern hemisphere?) So heck yeah I'd ask her to go to the doctor and get tested for swine flu and get the flu medicine if it's not too late.

GrowingFamily

cmeon_the_water:

If it's her place, I'd look for a hotel- to give her some rest! Nothing like houseguests when you feel like crap.

Definitely this. I would be out of there so fast their heads would spin!!