The only thing worse than having a child who has become sick with influenza (the flu) is learning that the illness has spread to additional family members in your home. Judy Ward, RN, Answer Line nurse for St. Louis Children’s Hospital, offers tips on how to cope.
A child with the flu should generally remain in a particular area in the home that is clean, quiet and full of natural light. By preventing him from spreading germs throughout other areas of the home, you can decrease the chances of additional family members becoming infected.
“Researchers from Yale University suggest that revisiting the concept of a ‘sick room’—which can be seen in many old western films—could be greatly beneficial to families who are dealing with the flu,” Ward says. “Having this room is a practical way to give family members a clean, relaxing place to recover from the flu while preventing it from spreading to others.”
If the virus does spread to other family members, it is important for the caregiver to stay organized since taking care of multiple sick family members can become confusing.
“I always recommend keeping notes that detail when each person received cough medicine or other symptom relievers,” Ward says. “Having this information on hand can greatly reduce stress and help you keep a feeling of control over what can seem like a chaotic situation.”