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Tips for staying well
Personal Hygiene and Cough Etiquette - Protecting yourself and others against respiratory illness
- Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
- Use a tissue and dispose of this once used in the waste
- Always wash hands after coughing and sneezing or disposing of tissues
- Keep your hands away from your mouth, nose and eyes
- Avoid contact with individuals at risk (eg small children or those with underlying or chronic illnesses such as immune suppression or lung disease) until influenza-like symptoms have resolved.
- Avoid contact with people who have influenza-like systems.
- Ask people to use a tissue and cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and to wash their hands afterwards
Hand washing and Hand hygiene
The most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands!
- Hand washing is the single most important measure to reduce the risks of transmitting infection from one person to another
- Hand washing with soap and water, alcohol-based hand rub, or antiseptic hand was should be performed regularly. Hands should be thoroughly dried, preferably using disposable tissues or towels.
- Hand washing and drying should always be done after coughing, sneezing or handling used tissues or after touching objects, materials or hard surfaces that may have been contaminated by someone else with infectious illness
- Hand-to-face contact such as can occur during eating, normal grooming, or smoking presents significant risks because of the potential for transmission of influenza from surfaces contaminated with wet respiratory droplets. Hand washing should always be carried out before and after eating, grooming, smoking or any other activity that involves hand-to-face contact
Tips for the differences between seasonal influenza and the common cold
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Symptom
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Seasonal Influenza
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Common Cold
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Fever
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Usual, sudden onset >38°
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Rare
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Headache
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Usual and can be severe
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Rare
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Aches and pains
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Usual and can be severe
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Rare
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Debilitating fatigue
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Usual, early onset can be severe
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Rare
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Fatigue and weakness
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Usual and can last 2-3 weeks or more after the acute illness
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Sometimes, but mild
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Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
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In children <5 years old
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Rare
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Watering of the eyes
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Rare
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Usual
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Runny, stuffy nose
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Rare
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Usual
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Sneezing
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Rare in early stages
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Usual
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Sore throat
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Usual
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|
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Chest discomfort
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Usual and can be severe
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Sometimes, but mild to moderate
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Complications
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Respiratory failure; can worsen a current chronic condition; can be life threatening
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Sinus congestion or ear-ache
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Fatalities
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Well recognized
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Not reported
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Prevention
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Influenza vaccine; frequent hand-washing; cover your cough
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Frequent hand washing; cover your cough
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Important - please remember to:
- At the onset of flu like symptoms contact your doctor.
When you are ill, stay at home
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Maintain good health hygiene practices to reduce getting the flu and passing it on to others
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Tips for staying well
