I Think I May Have H1N1 Influenza - Self-Screening Form

Please remember that whatever your condition or concern, you may always ask to speak, or schedule an appointment, with a Health Service clinician. For non-emergency H1N1 questions, please call the H1N1 Hotline ("SwineLine") at 847-467-4161; for general medical or other questions, please call 847-491-8100. As is always the case, however, appointments may be prioritized on the basis of urgency and severity of symptoms.

Questions

1. Do you have a fever (temperature of 100 degrees F/37.8 degrees C or greater)? If yes, proceed to Question 2; if no, proceed to Outcome 7.

2. Do you have either a sore throat or a cough? If yes, proceed to Question 3, if no, proceed to outcome 7.

3. Did your illness begin rapidly (e.g., within a day or two)? If yes, proceed to Question 4; if no, proceed to Outcome 11.

4. Have you recently developed a skin rash? If yes, proceed to Outcome 11; if no, proceed to Question 5.

5. Do you have any of the following symptoms? If yes, proceed to Outcome 9; if no, proceed to Question 6.

a. Difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath, either during physical activity or while resting
b. Turning blue (e.g. lips or fingers)
c. Bloody or colored sputum
d. Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
e. Dehydration (e.g. sudden dizziness, dizziness when standing, or absence of urination)
f. Low blood pressure
g. Severe or persistent vomiting
h. Seizures (convulsions)
i. Altered mental status (e.g., excessive drowsiness, confusion, coma)
j. High fever that persists beyond 3 days
k. Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

6. Do you have any of the following conditions? If yes, proceed to Outcome 10; if no, proceed to Outcome 8.

a. Age groups

i. Adults 65 years of age and older

b. Persons with the following conditions:

i. Chronic illness of the lungs (e.g. asthma or cystic fibrosis), heart, kidneys, liver, blood (including sickle cell disease), endocrine/glandular system (e.g., diabetes or thyroid disease), nervous system/brain/spinal cord, or neuromuscular system (e.g. muscular dystrophy or multiple sclerosis)

ii. Suppressed immune system (e.g., from medications or HIV disease)

iii. Pregnancy

iv. Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities

v. Children or adolescents (less than 18 years) on long-term aspirin therapy

Outcomes

7. On the basis of your answers, you likely DO NOT HAVE H1N1 INFLUENZA, although you may be suffering from another medical condition. If you feel that you should be evaluated for another illness, please use the Personal Health Portal or call the Health Service (847-491-8100 Press 0) to schedule an appointment. Remember that a change in symptoms may warrant another review, including using this triage protocol form again. Stop Here.

8. On the basis of your answers, you DO QUALIFY AS A “SUSPECT CASE” OF H1N1 INFLUENZA, although only laboratory testing can prove the diagnosis. It is also possible that you have other conditions with influenza-like symptoms (including seasonal—rather than H1N1—influenza). Because you are not an individual at high risk for H1N1 complications and do not have severe symptoms at this time, you do not need to be seen by a physician unless your symptoms change, worsen, or fail to resolve within 5-7 days.

• Student Reporting Form for Influenza-Like-Illness or H1N1 Influenza
  • It is very important that H1N1 illness among students be tracked in order to locate particular cluster outbreaks as well as alert others who may be at risk. You are strongly urged to go to https://www-evanston.nuhs.northwestern.edu/ili-self-report.html and provide the relevant information to allow disease tracking. In full compliance with FERPA, no personally identifiable information will be released to others unless medically necessary.
    • This form is the only mechanism by which you can request alternative (isolation) housing and/or sick trays. Such requests will be forwarded by the Health Service directly to the Office of Housing and Food Service.
• Isolate yourself and protect others from infection.
  • According to the CDC, people with fever (temperature of 100 degrees F/37.8 degrees C or greater) AND either a cough or sore throat should isolate themselves from others until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
    • Most persons with H1N1 infection have a fever that lasts 2-4 days; thus, self-isolation will typically require a 3-5 day period away from others.
    • It appears that there will be few open residence hall rooms this fall. Insofar as such rooms are available, students with suspected H1N1 influenza may be isolated in them. As an alternative, however, the University is seeking additional temporary housing in local hotels and elsewhere for roommates of infected students
  • Stay home and avoid close contact (e.g., within 6 feet) with others as much as possible.
  • Wear a face mask when around other people.
  • Avoid travel and do not go to school or work, even with a mask, unless it is absolutely necessary.
    • Masks are not a substitute for isolation, and students with suspected or proven H1N1 influenza should not attend classes.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then put the used tissue in a waste basket and clean your hands (after each cough or sneeze).
  • Clean your hands with soap and water or, if soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
    • Wash your hands often and especially after using tissues or after coughing, sneezing into your hands, or blowing your nose.
    • Use soap and warm water when washing your hands and do so for 15-20 seconds (e.g., sing “Happy Birthday” twice at a normal speed).

• Treat yourself for influenza
  • Get plenty of rest
  • Drink plenty of fluids
  • Use acetominophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g. Motrin) as directed on the package for fever or headache
    • Individuals 18 years of age or younger should not use aspirin with viral infections
  • Use throat lozenges or salt-water gargle for sore throat
  • Use cough medication judiciously

• If your condition worsens or new symptoms develop, return to the triage protocol or contact the Health Service. If any of the following symptoms develop and your condition appears life-threatening, you should call “911” or go to the nearest Emergency Room immediately; otherwise, you should immediately call the Health Service (847-491-8100 Press 0) for an urgent appointment.

   

  • Difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath, either during physical activity or while resting
  • Turning blue
  • Bloody or colored sputum
  • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
  • Sudden dizziness
  • Severe or persistent vomiting
  • Altered mental status (e.g., excessive drowsiness, confusion, coma)
  • High fever that persists beyond 3 days
  • Low blood pressure
  • Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

• Please go to http://www.nuhs.northwestern.edu/evanston/h1n1flu.aspx for additional information on H1N1 influenza, self-care, and caring for others.

• Stop Here.

9. On the basis of your answers, you DO QUALIFY AS A “SUSPECT CASE” OF H1N1 INFLUENZA, AND YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS THAT MAY INDICATE SEVERE DISEASE. If your condition appears life-threatening, you should call “911” or go to the nearest Emergency Room immediately; otherwise, you should immediately call the Health Service (847-491-8100 Press 0) for an urgent appointment. Stop Here.

10. On the basis of your answers, you DO QUALIFY AS A “SUSPECT CASE’ OF H1N1 INFLUENZA, AND YOU HAVE ONE OR MORE CONDITIONS THAT MAY INCREASE YOUR RISK OF SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS FROM H1N1 INFECTION. You should immediately either call your personal physician or call the Health Service (847-491-8100 Press 0) to schedule an urgent appointment to determine whether you should begin treatment with an antiviral medication (e.g., Tamiflu). It is important to speak with a physician as soon as possible, as Tamiflu is most effective if taken within 48 hours from the onset of symptoms (but it may be of some benefit if taken later as well). See Outcome 8, above, for instructions for self-care for influenza. Stop Here.

11. On the basis of your answers, IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER YOU HAVE H1N1 INFLUENZA, and you may be suffering from another medical condition such as strep throat or infectious mononucleosis (“mono”). Please use the Personal Health Portal or call the Health Service (847-467-4161) to schedule an appointment for further evaluation. Stop Here.