I think I have been exposed to H1N1....what to do?

Sarah&Kirk · October 2009

My mom babysits for a little girl who now has H1N1. I have not had direct contact with the little girl but I have been with my mom. Am I at risk? Anyone know what I do? I am nervous about getting the shot since no one knows the results to the baby. What should I do?

IrishBrideND · October 2009

Eh, I think being with someone who was with someone who now has it is a bit of a stretch to be worrying so far. Wait to see if your mom gets ill.

Getting the shot now won't protect you if you are already exposed. It takes a week or so to be fully effective.

GL!

rhannan · October 2009

Just try to relax, since you weren't around the girl it is just indirect contact fm your mom. If you do not wish to get the shot (which I live in Chicago too and I'm not sure that many places even have it yet here), then just wait it out. If you get flu symptoms: fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, body aches, etc, then call your dr right away. You can explain to your dr then that you may have been exposed so they can test you. There is a more likely chance that nothing will happen and you won;t get sick. Also, just to be safe and to not spread any chance of infection stay away from mom and also from crowds and others as much as you can for a few days.

mrsain1105 · October 2009

like pp said, if you do start to have flu-like symptoms call your doc right away. They can give you Tami-flu which will help if taken soon enough.

dunvilles · October 2009

Chances are, if you go to the grocery store, mall, bank, work, doctor's office... etc.. etc.. etc... you've come in contact with someone already who has H1N1 or has been exposed to it.

The best thing to do to protect yourself is wash your hands FREQUENTLY and make it a habit not to touch your face (nose, eyes, mouth etc). Just watch yourself for a high fever, cough and so on. If you have any of those symptoms call your doc & they'll swab your nose to see if you have the flu. I had this done last week & was negative.

Just don't freak out about it!!

Anna&Matt · October 2009

I wouldn't worry about it unless your mom comes down with h1n1. But if she does, call right away to get Tamiflu as a preventative measure. You can take one a day for like 10 days or something if you were exposed to it to avoid getting the flu.

Shana051008 · October 2009

I was exposed to someone who had H1N1 at my work. I called my OB and they called in a prescription for Tamiflu and I just took that for 10 days and I am fine!

ABColeslaw · October 2009

Of friend of DH's came over last week and a few days later was diagnosed with H1N1. I called my Dr. to get some info and was told that unless I started showing symptoms that there was nothing to worry about or that I could do about it. If you start getting symptoms, then you need to call your Dr. asap and they will start you on medicine that will lessen the symptoms.

haloheathr · October 2009

In addition to what everyone else has said, make sure you get plenty of sleep and drink lots of fluids. I find when I've been exposed to the flu or someone with a cold, getting enough good sleep helps keep me from getting it.

jenny1980 · October 2009

That's not exposure. Your mom has to have H1N1 for you to be exposed to it. Beyond that, I can promise you most of us will come into direct contact with people with the virus since it's becoming so widespread.

I have an employee who was out with it last week (so, direct exposure). I just made sure to do a lot of hand washing and so far so good.

sioraigra · October 2009

Someone I work with tested positive for H1N1 last week. I was pretty nervous..but no one else I worked with or me had any symptoms. Just keep your hands washed and stay looking out for symptoms. Mainly a fever. If you don't have a fever you are probably fine.

megpie6 · October 2009

If you get sick, call your Dr. I am a nurse at an Urgent Care clinic and I have been being exposed to H1N1 consistently, every day for proably the past 3 wks. I have yet to come down with it. Just use good precautions to protect yourself. Like a pp said, a lot of people you come in contact with out in public probably have it too, and they themselves might not even know that is what they are sick with.

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