How can you avoid getting sick when someone in your household is ill. What are the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs at home. Which precautions should you take when sharing a living space with a sick person. How often should you clean and disinfect surfaces when someone is ill.

Understanding the Risks of Living with a Sick Person

When someone in your household falls ill, the risk of infection for other family members increases significantly. Common illnesses like the seasonal flu, common cold, stomach flu, and COVID-19 can spread rapidly between individuals sharing living spaces. These viruses typically transmit through infectious respiratory droplets or contaminated hands. Additionally, viral particles can linger on frequently touched surfaces, creating a potential infection pathway for others in the home.

To maintain your health while cohabiting with a sick person, it’s crucial to implement specific preventive measures and adjust your daily routines. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce your risk of contracting the illness and help contain its spread within your household.

Creating a Sick-Free Zone: Separation and Isolation Strategies

One of the most effective ways to prevent illness transmission is to create physical distance between the sick person and other household members. Here are some strategies to implement:

• Designate a separate room for the sick person
• Use a separate bathroom if possible
• Avoid sharing common spaces
• Refrain from sharing personal items such as towels, bedding, and dishes
• Ensure the sick person is not responsible for meal preparation

In cases of highly contagious illnesses like COVID-19, additional precautions may be necessary. For instance, the infected individual should wear a cloth face covering when common spaces cannot be avoided due to limited living space.

Can isolation measures be effective in small living spaces?

While complete isolation may be challenging in smaller homes or apartments, even partial separation can help reduce transmission risks. Consider using room dividers, designating specific areas for the sick person, and implementing strict hygiene protocols in shared spaces.

The Power of Proper Hand Hygiene

Hand washing remains one of the most effective methods to prevent the spread of illness. It’s essential to wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after interacting with the sick person or touching potentially contaminated surfaces.

To ensure maximum effectiveness, follow these five steps of proper hand washing:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water
2. Apply soap and lather well
3. Scrub all surfaces of your hands for at least 20 seconds
4. Rinse thoroughly under running water
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry

When should you wash your hands?

In addition to regular hand washing occasions, be sure to clean your hands:

• Before and after caring for the sick person
• After touching shared surfaces or objects
• Before preparing or consuming food
• After using the bathroom
• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose

Mindful Face Touching: A Simple Yet Crucial Habit

While it may seem trivial, avoiding face touching is a significant factor in preventing illness transmission. Viruses can enter your body through the mucous membranes of your eyes, nose, and mouth. By consciously reducing how often you touch your face, you can decrease your risk of infection.

How can you break the habit of touching your face?

Breaking this habit can be challenging, but here are some strategies to help:

• Keep your hands occupied with stress balls or fidget toys
• Use scented hand lotion to make you more aware of hand movements
• Set reminders on your phone or computer
• Practice mindfulness techniques to increase body awareness
• If you must touch your face, wash your hands first

Disinfection Protocols: Keeping Surfaces Germ-Free

Regularly cleaning and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces is crucial when living with a sick person. Different germs can survive on surfaces for varying periods, making frequent disinfection necessary to reduce transmission risks.

Focus on disinfecting these high-touch surfaces at least once daily:

• Door knobs and handles
• Counters and tabletops
• Kitchen and bathroom faucets
• Toilet flush handles
• Light switches
• TV remotes and other electronic devices

What are effective disinfectants for household use?

For most viruses, regular household cleaning products are sufficient. These include:

• Commercial disinfectant sprays
• Water and dish soap solution
• Diluted bleach solution (1/3 cup bleach per gallon of water)

However, some viruses, like those causing stomach flu, may require stronger solutions. In such cases, a more concentrated bleach solution might be necessary. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and wear gloves when using cleaning products.

Laundry Precautions: Handling Contaminated Fabrics Safely

Proper handling and washing of clothes, towels, and bedding used by the sick person is essential to prevent the spread of illness. Follow these guidelines when dealing with potentially contaminated laundry:

• Hold dirty laundry away from your body
• Avoid shaking the items to prevent aerosolizing germs
• Wash your hands thoroughly after handling dirty laundry
• Consider wearing gloves, especially when handling heavily soiled items
• Clean and disinfect laundry hampers regularly
• Use disposable bag liners for added protection

How should you wash contaminated laundry?

While you don’t need a special detergent, consider these practices for washing a sick person’s laundry:

• Use hot water when possible
• Choose a longer washing cycle
• Dry items completely, preferably at high heat
• Clean and disinfect the washing machine after use

Social Distancing at Home: Limiting Visitors and Gatherings

When someone in your household is sick, it’s crucial to limit contact with people outside your immediate family. This precaution helps prevent the spread of illness to others and protects vulnerable individuals who might visit your home.

How can you politely decline social invitations or visitors?

Here are some strategies for handling social situations during illness:

• Be honest about the situation in your household
• Offer to reschedule once everyone is healthy
• Suggest virtual alternatives for social interactions
• Emphasize your concern for others’ health and well-being
• Thank people for their understanding and patience

Remember, temporary social distancing is a responsible choice that protects both your household and your community.

Boosting Your Immune System: Natural Defense Strategies

While following hygiene and isolation protocols is crucial, supporting your body’s natural defenses can provide an additional layer of protection. Here are some ways to boost your immune system:

How can you naturally strengthen your immune system?

• Maintain a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water
• Get adequate sleep (7-9 hours for adults)
• Engage in regular physical activity
• Manage stress through relaxation techniques or meditation
• Consider taking vitamin supplements, especially Vitamin C and D

While these measures won’t guarantee immunity, they can help your body better resist infections and recover more quickly if you do fall ill.

Caring for the Sick: Safe Practices for Caregivers

If you’re responsible for caring for the sick person in your household, it’s essential to take extra precautions to protect yourself and others. Here are some guidelines for safe caregiving:

What precautions should caregivers take?

• Wear a face mask when in close contact with the sick person
• Use disposable gloves when handling bodily fluids or contaminated items
• Wash hands thoroughly before and after providing care
• Dispose of contaminated materials properly in sealed bags
• Monitor your own health for any signs of illness
• Consider designating one person as the primary caregiver to limit exposure

Remember, taking care of yourself is crucial when caring for others. Don’t hesitate to seek support or respite care if needed.

Air Quality and Ventilation: Reducing Airborne Transmission

Proper ventilation can play a significant role in reducing the concentration of airborne viral particles in your home. Improving air circulation and quality can help minimize the risk of infection through respiratory droplets.

How can you improve air quality and ventilation at home?

Consider these strategies to enhance air circulation and reduce airborne transmission risks:

• Open windows regularly to allow fresh air in
• Use fans to improve air circulation
• Consider using air purifiers with HEPA filters
• Change HVAC filters regularly
• Keep indoor humidity levels between 30-50%
• Avoid smoking or vaping indoors

While these measures can help, they should be used in conjunction with other preventive strategies for maximum effectiveness.

Monitoring Your Health: Recognizing Early Signs of Illness

When living with a sick person, it’s crucial to be vigilant about your own health. Early detection of symptoms can help you take prompt action and prevent further spread of the illness.

What are common early signs of illness to watch for?

Be alert for these potential symptoms:

• Fever or chills
• Cough or sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Fatigue or body aches
• Headache
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Loss of taste or smell (especially for COVID-19)

If you notice any of these symptoms, isolate yourself immediately and consider seeking medical advice, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions or are in a high-risk group.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): When and How to Use It

In some cases, particularly with highly contagious illnesses, using personal protective equipment (PPE) can provide an additional layer of protection. While not always necessary for common household illnesses, understanding proper PPE use can be valuable.

What types of PPE might be useful in a home setting?

Common PPE items that may be beneficial include:

• Face masks or respirators
• Disposable gloves
• Eye protection (goggles or face shields)
• Disposable gowns or aprons

Remember, PPE is most effective when used correctly. This includes proper donning (putting on) and doffing (taking off) procedures, as well as appropriate disposal of used items.

How do you properly use and dispose of PPE?

Follow these general guidelines for PPE use:

1. Wash hands before putting on PPE
2. Ensure the PPE fits properly
3. Avoid touching the outside of PPE while wearing it
4. Remove PPE carefully, avoiding contamination
5. Dispose of used PPE in a sealed plastic bag
6. Wash hands thoroughly after removing PPE

For specific instructions on using different types of PPE, consult reliable health resources or your healthcare provider.

Creating a Household Illness Prevention Plan

Being prepared for potential illness can help you respond more effectively when someone in your household becomes sick. Developing a household illness prevention plan can ensure everyone knows their roles and responsibilities during such times.

What should a household illness prevention plan include?

Consider including these elements in your plan:

• Designated isolation areas
• Cleaning and disinfection schedules
• Personal hygiene protocols
• Meal preparation and delivery procedures
• Communication plans with work, school, and other contacts
• Emergency contact information, including healthcare providers
• Inventory of necessary supplies (medications, cleaning products, PPE)

Review and update your plan regularly, especially before flu season or during periods of increased illness prevalence in your community.

Psychological Well-being: Managing Stress and Anxiety

Living with a sick person, especially during prolonged periods, can take a toll on your mental health. It’s important to address psychological well-being alongside physical health precautions.

How can you maintain good mental health while living with a sick person?

Consider these strategies to support your psychological well-being:

• Maintain a routine to provide structure and normalcy
• Stay connected with friends and family through virtual means
• Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation
• Engage in hobbies or activities you enjoy
• Limit exposure to distressing news or media
• Seek professional help if you’re struggling to cope

Remember, taking care of your mental health is crucial for maintaining overall well-being and resilience during challenging times.

How to Share a Home With Someone Who’s Sick (Without Getting Sick Yourself)

The viruses that cause common illnesses such as the seasonal flu, common cold, stomach flu and COVID-19 can all be spread from person-to-person — especially between people who share common spaces or live with one another.

Depending on the illness, viral particles can spread through infectious respiratory droplets or hands contaminated with infectious feces (oops!). These particles can also be deposited on commonly touched surfaces, and then picked up by someone else.

This means that safely sharing a home with someone who’s sick requires important adjustments to your everyday routine.

Here are tips you can use to stay healthy and prevent the spread of germs while sharing a home with someone who’s sick.

Avoid sharing common spaces and personal items

When someone you love is sick, your first instinct may be to comfort and spend more time than usual with him or her. But, in reality, you should probably do the opposite.

When someone in your home is sick, it’s important that he or she stays away from others, including you, as much as possible. Ideally, the person who’s sick should stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom, when possible. You should also avoid sharing everyday items, including towels, bedding and dishes. Lastly (and this is important), the person who is sick should not be the one cooking meals for the rest of the healthy household.

Some viruses require extra precautions. If you share a home with someone who has COVID-19, he or she should wear a cloth face covering — especially if avoiding common spaces is challenging due to the size of your home. A cloth mask doesn’t completely prevent a person from spreading COVID-19, but it can help reduce the risk.

Wash your hands

Whether you’ve touched a contaminated hand, surface or item, hand washing is a simple and effective way to reduce your risk of getting sick — as well as prevent the spread of germs.

In addition to the important times you already know, you should also wash your hands after interacting with someone in your home who’s sick.

And keep in mind that hand washing is a bit more nuanced than running your hands under some water. Make sure you know (and perform) all five steps of proper hand washing.

Avoid touching your face

Since you can’t actually see (and, therefore, know) if germs are lurking on your hands — and you also can’t be constantly washing your hands — another important way to prevent getting sick is to avoid touching your face.

While the viruses mentioned can’t make you sick through your skin, you can get sick if the virus is on your hands and you touch one of the mucous membranes of your face, such as your mouth, nose or eyelids.

While you can’t always avoid touching potentially contaminated surfaces, you can try to avoid touching your face as much as possible. If you do need to touch your face, wash you hands first.

Disinfect commonly touched surfaces every day

Germs are everywhere, and each germ is different — but pretty much every germ can survive on various surfaces for varying periods of time.

When someone in your home is sick, it’s important to clean and disinfect the commonly touched surfaces where germs may be hiding, including door knobs and door handles, counters and tabletops, kitchen and bathroom faucets, toilet flushers, light switches, and TV remotes. Make sure you disinfect these surfaces often — at least once a day.

For most viruses, regular household cleaning spray, water and dish soap or a diluted bleach solution is sufficient to disinfect these surfaces. However, some viruses are harder to kill, such as the virus that causes the stomach flu. Ridding surfaces of hardier viruses may require a diluted bleach solution.

Do laundry often and with caution

Clothes, towels and sheets worn or used by someone who is sick should be handled with caution and washed thoroughly and regularly.

When handling a sick person’s dirty laundry, hold it away from your face and body, avoid shaking it and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

If the laundry is soiled, and particularly if the person has COVID-19 or the stomach flu, consider wearing gloves while handling dirty laundry. You may also want to clean and disinfect laundry hampers regularly or try using a disposable bag liner.

And while you don’t need to use a special detergent to wash a sick person’s laundry, you should consider washing it using hot water and a longer washing cycle.

Avoid having guests

No one likes to cancel a family gathering or dinner party. But if someone in your home is sick, it’s best to avoid having guests. This will limit the risk of spreading the illness to other healthy people.

Instead of having guests over, consider video chatting with friends and loved ones. Or, try one of these other tools to stay connected when you’re stuck at home.

Be the designated errand-runner

To prevent the spread of illness, it’s always best for someone who’s sick to stay home as much as possible.

This means you should be the one getting groceries and walking the dog. This also means you’re in charge of replenishing any medicines and supplies that person may need, such as pain relievers and tissues.

How to Stop Sickness From Spreading at Home

It can be tough to stay well when you’re in close quarters with someone battling coughs, fevers, and sniffles. Germs spread more easily in tight spaces and can cause colds and the flu to hang around your house for longer. 

You can protect yourself, though, if you know the right and wrong ways to deal with someone at home who’s under the weather. Give these simple strategies a try.

Do

Wash your hands often. It’s the single best way to avoid a cold. Once germs are on your hands, it’s easy for them to get into your body when you touch your eyes or mouth. Wash before you eat or prepare food and after you use the bathroom or change a diaper. If you’re taking care of someone who’s sick, wash your hands before and after being with them.

You have to do better than a quick rinse under the faucet. Rub your hands together with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (enough for two rounds of singing “Happy Birthday”). Don’t forget to wash between your fingers and under your nails. And remember to keep your hands away from your nose, mouth, and face.

Hand sanitizer is the next best thing if you can’t get to a sink. Keep a small bottle with you — at work, in your car, and in your purse. Buy one with at least 60% alcohol. Rub it all over your hands until they’re dry.

Sanitize surfaces. Stopping the spread of germs means making sure you clean and disinfect hard surfaces such as countertops, tables, refrigerator handles, doorknobs, and faucets. And don’t forget TV remotes, computers, laptops, and phones, too. Some germs can live in these spots for up to 24 hours, so make sure you clean with a disinfectant or disinfecting wipes, or quarter-cup of bleach mixed in 1 gallon of water.

Use disposables.Cold and flu germs can cling to fabric. So when someone in your house is sick, replace cloth hand towels and dishrags with paper towels. Remove water glasses and add paper cups in the bathroom, too.

Steer clear when you can. It can be tough to completely avoid a sick person in your house, especially if you’re the one taking care of them. But sometimes the best thing you can do to stay well is to keep your distance. If you can, give the sick person their own room for sleeping and relaxing. Stock it with the items they’ll need, like tissues, a trash can, medicine, and bottles of water. And limit their guest list. The only person who should go in and out of the sick room is the person taking care of them.

Pamper your immune system. Your body does a remarkable job protecting you from illnesses most of the time, especially when you keep your immune system in tip-top shape. Keep eating lots of fruits and veggies. Look for foods rich in vitamin A (sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach), vitamin C (citrus fruits), and vitamin E (almonds, sunflower seeds). Lean protein (seafood, eggs, beans) can also help boost your body’s defenses. Make sure you get plenty of rest. Daily exercise, keeping stress in check, and limiting alcohol also help.

What about loading up on vitamin C or other products that claim to boost immunity? There’s not much evidence that they work. For example, vitamin C supplements might make a cold shorter and milder after you get one, but they can’t keep you from getting sick.

Get a flu shot. It’s one of the surest ways to stay well. The vaccine is different every year, so make sure yours is up to date. For the best protection, get the flu vaccine when it comes out each year in October or November. But even later is better than not at all. It takes 2 weeks for the flu vaccine to take effect, and flu season can last into March or April.

If you’re the one feeling under the weather:

• Cough or sneeze into your elbow instead of your hands.
• Wash your hands after you touch your mouth and nose, even with a tissue.
• Finish any medicine that your doctor prescribes.
• Try to steer clear of healthy people in your house, especially if someone has a weak immune system that makes them more likely to get sick.

Avoiding a Cold or Flu at Home: 6 Tips

Someone in your house has the flu or a cold, and everyone else is scared of catching it. Try these six strategies to stay healthy.

Teach Good Coughing and Sneezing Habits

Colds and flu are spread mostly by direct contact. When a sick person coughs or sneezes, virus droplets can travel 6 feet or more.

If you’re in close quarters, ask the sick person to:

• Cover their mouth and nose with a tissue and put the tissue in the trash right away.
• Cough or sneeze into the crook of their elbow — not their hand — if they don’t have a tissue. That means fewer germs get on their hands, which means they’re less likely to spread their germs through touch.

Wash Your Hands Often

Washing your hands is the best way to keep from catching a cold. Other than getting a flu vaccine, it’s the best way to prevent the flu, too.

Running your fingertips under water doesn’t count. “The mechanics of the hand-washing make all the difference,” says Terri Remy, MD, medical director of Medical Associates at Beauregard in Alexandria, Va.

Sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice while you scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. The forceful rubbing is the most important part in getting rid of the germs. It should take about 20 seconds.

Other clean-hand tips:

• Wash your hands after handling any item the sick person may have touched, like a dish, cup, or towel.
• Don’t touch your face unless you’ve just washed your hands.

Create a Sick Room

Some cold and flu viruses can live on skin and other things a sick person might touch — doorknobs, remote controls, faucet handles — for up to 8 hours. And it would be hard for a healthy person to avoid touching all of those things.

Set aside a room for whoever is sick, says Ardis Dee Hoven, MD, an infectious disease specialist. The sick person can stay there while getting better. Set up the room with everything they might need, like tissues, medicine, a thermometer, and a pitcher or cooler with drinks.

Ideally, just one person would take care of the sick one. Everyone else should stay out of the sick room. “No one goes in there to visit or watch TV,” Hoven says. “That’s a very simple way to contain a virus. ”

Separate Germs in the Bathroom

If you have more than one bathroom, reserve one just for the sick person. Tell family members to use the other bathroom. If you’re all sharing one bathroom, give whoever is sick a separate towel and washcloth.

Sanitize Shared Items

If you can’t avoid sharing doorknobs and other household items, clean before you touch them. If you want, use a cleaner with ingredients that can kill flu viruses, like bleach, hydrogen peroxide, antiseptics with iodine, and alcohol. But good old soap and water also work well.

Take Good Care of Yourself

The best way to keep the flu away is to get the flu vaccine before the season starts. And it wouldn’t hurt to boost your usual wellness routine. “Be conscious about getting enough sleep, adequate nutrition, staying hydrated, getting exercise,” Hoven says. “Whatever [you] do to stay healthy, work a little harder at it.”

Cleaning your home environment: Steps to take if someone in your house is sick

During the fall and winter months, we are more prone to illness because we spend more time indoors. It’s cold and flu season, and staying healthy can be hard when you are living in the same household with sick individuals. Shared close living space creates a home for germs, especially when people are coughing and sneezing, with fevers and runny noses.

Germs spread easily throughout your house, so you are potentially at risk if you don’t take proper measures. Learn the simple ways you can stay healthy this winter.

Staying healthy made simple

These tips can help provide a cleaner environment for you and your family, limiting the spread of cold and flu germs and other types of infections.

• Boost your immune system by getting proper rest and eating healthy.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water using the CDC’s five simple steps: 
• 1) Wet 2) Lather 3) Scrub for at least 20 seconds 4) Rinse 5) Dry. 
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. 
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unclean hands.
• Avoid or limit contact with sick individuals as much as possible.
• Create a cleaning schedule to address high-traffic areas in your house (e.g., Kitchen Sundays, Bedroom Mondays, Bathroom Tuesdays, Wash Wednesdays, etc.), and make it fun.
• Use a bleach solution to clean surfaces such as countertops, sinks, toilets, bathroom floors, and other surfaces. Chlorine bleach is effective in killing stomach viruses such as norovirus. Do not mix bleach and ammonia products together.
• Don’t forget to clean high-touch areas such as remote controls, light switches, computers/ keyboards, door handles, and faucets, etc. Germs can live on surfaces carrying them to the next user.
• Discard all used tissues in the trash, then perform hand hygiene (use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol). 
• If symptoms persist, please see your healthcare provider for further evaluation.

Remember: Getting a flu shot each year is the best way to prevent the flu and to protect those around you. An annual flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. An annual vaccine is necessary because flu viruses are constantly changing.

Above all, remember the importance of hand hygiene and its ability to prevent the spread of infections.

Additional resources

8 Ways to Help Your Family Stay Healthy When Someone’s Sick

If your preschooler comes home with a cold or the flu, does this mean the rest of your family members will also get sick? While getting your loved one’s cold may seem inevitable, there are actually many simple steps other family members can take to avoid sickness.

Young kids catch an average of six to eight colds a year and adults get an average of two to four colds, mostly between September and May, according to the American Lung Association. On top of that, there’s the risk of catching the yearly flu. But families can take steps to make sure that cold and flu germs don’t spread throughout the entire household. Here are eight strategies to implement at the first sign of a loved one’s cold or flu symptoms:

1. Wash your hands. You don’t need anything fancy to do this — regular soap is just as good as antibacterial soap, says Len Horovitz, MD, a pulmonary specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. But how long should you scrub? “Sing the song ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’ once while washing your hands, and then you’re done,” he suggests. Even rinsing in plain water is better than nothing, and hand sanitizers are fine to use when you’re not by a sink.

2. Keep your hands off of yourself. “On average, people touch their face two or three times a minute — but you should never touch your face with unwashed hands,” as that’s how colds and flu germs spread, says Dr. Horovitz. “Germs can get into your system through your eyes, nose, or mouth when you touch your face,” he explains.

3. Get an annual flu shot. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, everyone who is at least 6 months old should get a flu vaccination. It may not be fail-safe, but getting a flu shot can significantly lower your risk for developing the flu and even lessen its severity if you do get it. “Individuals who receive a flu shot and still get the flu generally have less severe symptoms and fewer complications than those who have not been vaccinated,” says Neil Schachter, MD, medical director of the respiratory care department at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City and the author of The Good Doctor’s Guide to Colds & Flu.

4. Keep your distance. “Social gatherings are one of the easiest places to spread germs, and in the case of holiday parties, they take place during the time of year when colds and flu viruses are rampant,” Horovitz says. So be sure to keep your distance when greeting your loved ones over the holidays. “You can be exposed to germs when kissing someone on the cheek. An air kiss is safer,” he adds.

5. Disinfect ASAP. Germs can live on surfaces for up to 24 hours. “Wipe down all surfaces in the house where germs can live, including telephones, computer keyboards, and counter surfaces, with a disinfectant,” Horovitz suggests. Also be sure to wash forks, spoons, knives, and other utensils thoroughly to help prevent spreading germs from one person to another.

6. Steer clear of others when you’re ill. If you’re sick, stay away from family members and co-workers until you have no fever after 24 to 48 hours without medication. However, this is easier said than done — because you may be contagious before you start to feel sick, Horovitz says. Marie Fornof, RN, BSN, an infection preventionist at the National Jewish Health in Denver, suggests that you “quarantine a sick family member as soon as possible until their fever breaks.” If you share a bed, move to a separate bedroom to sleep by yourself while you’re sick. A sick person should also skip cooking and dish-washing duties, since these are easy ways to spread germs.

7. Cough into your elbow. Don’t cough into your hands, says Fornof. “Cough into your elbow crease or sleeve and encourage your kids to do the same to help prevent the spread of germs.”

8. Trash tissues. Cold and flu germs can spread through used tissues. Make sure to throw out any tissues after use and wash your hands after disposing of them. “If possible, dispose of tissues in separate plastic bags that are sealable to help prevent the germs from spreading in the garbage,” suggests Dr. Schachter.

And if you want to help prevent your family members from getting sick in the first place, keep everyone’s immune system strong by getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, and not smoking, says Schachter.

How Do I Avoid Catching Cold or Flu From My Sick Partner?

Q. When my spouse gets a bad cold or the flu, is there anything I can do to reduce the likelihood that I will get it? Would it make a difference if I avoid sleeping in the same bed or avoid handling the same objects (nearly impossible)? Assuming I am not going to move out of the house, are there any smaller steps that could help? Once symptoms are evident, is it already too late?

A. There’s no question that it’s harder to protect yourself when the sick person is living inside your house.

Washing the hands frequently is of course key to preventing illness, both inside and outside the home, said Dr. Robin Thompson, an internist at ProHealth Care Associates in Huntington, N.Y.

“Avoiding close contact is probably helpful, but not a guarantee,” she said. Sleeping in the same bed will increase your chances of contracting your spouse’s illness but often can’t be avoided, Dr. Thompson said. “You can’t move out of the house.”

Regularly cleaning counters and frequently touched spots (like the fridge handles) may also cut down on germs.

Those shared cups in the bathroom for tooth-brushing can also be a transmission source, added Dr. Susan Rehm, vice chairwoman of the infectious disease department at the Cleveland Clinic.

“Make sure tissues and other things that might have secretions on them are taken care of promptly and without someone else picking them up,” she suggested.

If a spouse catches the flu, being vaccinated is the best protection, Dr. Rehm said. Some doctors will prescribe family members an antiviral drug for added protection.

Dr. Rehm said that whenever she’s worried about being exposed to illness, she concentrates on the basics that she can control, such as eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep. “Potentially that will help me withstand the exposure, or at least put me in a better place to get through it.”

Dr. Pritish Tosh, an infectious diseases researcher at the Mayo Clinic, said it’s important to remember “respiratory etiquette” when you are sick, including coughing and sneezing into the crook of your elbow rather than your hands. He said he tends to isolate himself when he’s sick, keeping as far away as possible from other household members.

Families are often exposed to germs around the same time, so it’s common to have household infections overlap, he noted.

Of course, if your illness starts a few days after your spouse’s, you know who’s likely to blame.

Do you have a health question? Ask Well

Ways to Avoid the Cold and Flu | Schiffert Health Center

Avoiding the cold and flu may seem like a daunting task in the university environment, however there are a number of ways that you can help your body to fight off and prevent the cold and flu. The most effective way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated every year.

Top-10 ways to avoid the cold and flu:

• Wash your hands often with clean soap and water. You can use hand sanitizer when not near a sink.
• Avoid touching your face. Touching your eyes, nose, and mouth can easily introduce a cold or flu infection into your body.
• Cover sneezes and coughs with a tissue or shirtsleeve – not with your hands.
• Avoid contact with people who are ill.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Relax and get plenty of rest. Having a regular sleep schedule is particularly effective against the flu.
• Do aerobic exercises regularly.
• Eat foods that boost your immune system such as fruit, vegetables, and yogurt. Having a well-balanced diet is a key part of staying healthy.
• Avoid smoke and alcohol consumption
• Don’t share any personal items, particularly things that will come in contact with body fluids, such as eating utensils, drinking glasses, anything that can be consumed, or fitness equipment.

What to do if your roommate has a cold or the flu

The majority of students who go to Virginia Tech live with one or more roommates. It can be a battle to stay healthy in such an environment during the cold and flu season. Follow these steps to avoid your roommate’s cold or flu:

• Wash your hands often. Shared space breeds shared germs. Make sure you keep your hands clean.
• Spend time away from an infected roommate as much as possible. Try to get as much fresh air as you can.
• Sanitize shared items and facilities such sink handles, door handles, remotes, etc. Once a virus is expelled into the air, it can linger for up to three hours.
• Ask your roommate to cover their mouth with a sleeve or tissue when they cough or sneeze. Make sure they do not leave any tissues lying around.
• Make sure you pay close attention to your own wellness.

90,000 The doctor named ways not to get infected with coronavirus from family members – RBK

Photo: Lev Vlasov / SOPA / ZUMA / TASS

If a family member contracted the coronavirus, it does not mean that everyone will get sick. In order not to infect loved ones, being with them in the same apartment, it is necessary to observe precautions, said allergist-immunologist Vladimir Bolibok in an interview with radio Sputnik.

He noted that getting infected does not mean getting sick. “In most cases, it happens like this: people become infected with a coronavirus infection, the immune system works and there are absolutely no symptoms,” the doctor said.

If the immune system is weakened, then there are “various manifestations of the disease, which is called COVID-19,” explained Bolibok.“Of those who get infected, a very small proportion are sick, the ratio is about 1 in 20 or even 1 in 50,” he added.

According to him, you can get sick if there is “some additional factor that weakens the natural defenses,” for example hypothermia, stress, alcohol. In this case, immunity is reduced and the person cannot resist the infection.

Rospotrebnadzor explained the different temperature in patients with COVID-19

90,000 How not to get infected with coronavirus. REMINDER

10 April 2020 17:30

How not to get infected with coronavirus. REMINDER

Doctors of Primorye explain what a coronavirus infection is and remind the residents of the region about the need to comply with several basic rules.

The uniqueness of COVID-19 lies in the fact that it is not familiar to the human body. Most of all patients with coronavirus are united by three symptoms in varying degrees of intensity: fever, cough and body pain .The illness can last from 5-6 to 14 days.

How do you get infected with COVID-19?

In the vast majority, this is prolonged contact with an infected person or someone who is in the incubation period. Almost 99.9% of infections occur as a result of physical contact with an infected surface with your hands and then physical touching your face – eyes, nose or mouth. There is an opinion that it is possible to become infected through the air, but at the moment observations show that in this way it is possible to pick up the virus only by being with an infected person at a close distance for a long time, that is, for 15-30 minutes.

What you need to do in order not to get infected

1. The main thing is to constantly monitor where your hands are at the moment and whether they are clean. Every time after we touch a surface that could be touched by other people, we disinfect or wash our hands. There is no sanitizer with you – all actions (press the elevator button, open the door, and the like) can be done with your elbow.

2. The second most important thing is not to touch your face with your hands, to consciously monitor it. According to statistics, a person unconsciously touches his face about 90 times a day. You shook hands with someone, not knowing that this person is sick with COVID-19, and then touched his face? That’s it – you got sick too!

3. Third, you don’t need a respirator. An ordinary medical mask is sufficient for communicating with a patient.

4. The fourth is social distance. Keep a distance of 1.5-2 meters from each other. A simple rule of thumb, but extremely effective.

What if you are sick?

If you have a fever, isolate yourself from the rest of the family.All family members must begin to follow the same four rules within the home space. If possible, isolate the patient in a separate room. If the patient needs to leave his room, for example, to eat, he must first wash his hands and put on a mask. Then, after eating, all surfaces that he touched must be disinfected. It is important not to create long-term contact. So do not be afraid to be with a sick relative in the same apartment – just follow these simple guidelines.

There are two exceptions to this prescription: if your family has a person with increased risks, for example, a very elderly person or someone who has recently undergone chemotherapy, then it is better to isolate this person in a separate room in order to exclude absolutely all contact with sick people … However, if this is completely impossible, then it is necessary to observe extremely strict isolation of this person from the patient.

About disinfectants

COVID-19 is killed by any disinfectant.The virus is very non-living under disinfection conditions. And you only need a small drop of funds.

Do I need to disinfect food brought from the store?

If you live in a city where there are a lot of cases, this is a good idea. If a delivery man brings the delivery, it is a good idea to ask him to leave the groceries outside the door. Then put on gloves and disinfect the surface of the packages that will remain in the house.

Should we immediately wash and disinfect the clothes we wear outside?

Unless you are a doctor who is in a room with patients for 12 hours a day, there is no need to constantly wash your outer clothing.

What determines the length of the incubation period?

From the duration of contact. For example, unprotected nurses in the emergency room can get sick after two days. If there was a short contact with a person who has mild symptoms, the incubation period can last up to 14 days. There are few cases where the incubation period lasted longer. Therefore, if there is a suspicion that you have been in contact with a sick person, but after two weeks the disease has not manifested itself in any way, most likely you have not become infected.

What age groups does the disease cover?

All age groups. There are a little more elderly people, they usually find it more difficult.

90,000 Virologist told how the patient’s family does not get infected with COVID-19

Recently, more and more news has been appearing that a person in one family can get sick with COVID-19, while others will not get infected. Why is this happening and what to do if someone in the family already has a coronavirus infection? These questions were answered by an immunologist, infectious disease specialist, clinical virologist, director of the Research Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Viral Infections Georgiy Vikulov.

“Still, the contagiousness, the infectiousness of the new coronavirus infection is not one hundred percent, that is, people who are in the same room do not all get sick. This is a known fact. We have only a few diseases – this is an open form of pneumonic plague, smallpox – where 100 percent everyone will get sick, “Vikulov said on the air of the program” On the most important “on the TV channel” Russia 1 “.

According to him, the infectivity of e of the causative agent of COVID-19 is lower than that of the avian influenza virus and the causative agent of measles, although higher than that of seasonal flu.The doctor noted that at least 50 percent of people who have come into contact with the patient are infected with the coronavirus.

A person’s chances of contracting coronavirus also depend on the viral load on the body.

“Why, unfortunately, doctors get sick? Because they constantly receive a high viral load,” the doctor explained.

When asked what to do if a family member fell ill with COVID-19 and stayed at home for treatment, Vikulov replied that the first thing to do was to give the patient a separate room.

“This is an absolutely reasonable measure. Compliance with a distance of at least 1 meter is not enough, because it is believed that there should be 2 meters, they even say that there should be 6 steps,” the expert clarified.

It is necessary to limit contact of the infected with the household – one member of the family should take care of the patient. It is recommended to ventilate the room more often and disinfect the surfaces every day. This refers to all items that can be treated, for example, with alcohol wipes or other disinfectants.Vikulov added that on any metal surfaces the virus can persist for several days, and on human hair it can persist for up to three days.

According to the latest data from the operational headquarters for the fight against coronavirus, almost 8.4 thousand cases of infection were confirmed in Russia per day. In the country as a whole, the number of cases was more than 379 thousand people, 4142 people died. At the moment, 150.9 thousand people have fully recovered from COVID-19.

90,000 How to protect yourself from influenza? – City Clinical Emergency Hospital No. 2

The influenza virus is easily transmitted from person to person and causes respiratory diseases of varying severity.The severity of the disease depends on a number of factors, including the general condition of the body and age.

Predisposed to the disease: the elderly, small children, pregnant women and people suffering from chronic diseases (asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases), and with weakened immunity.

RULE 1. WASH HANDS

Wash your hands often with soap and water. Hand hygiene is an important measure to prevent the spread of influenza. Washing with soap removes and kills germs.If you cannot wash your hands with soap and water, use alcohol or disinfectant wipes.

Clean and disinfect surfaces using household detergents. Cleaning and regular disinfection of surfaces (tables, doorknobs, chairs, etc.) removes and destroys the virus.

RULE 2. OBSERVE DISTANCE AND LABEL

The virus is easily transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person by airborne droplets (when sneezing, coughing), therefore, it is necessary to maintain a distance of at least 1 meter from patients.

Avoid travel and crowded places.

When coughing, sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with disposable napkins, which must be thrown away after use.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. The influenza virus is spread by these routes.

Don’t spit in public.

Wear a mask or other available protective equipment to reduce the risk of illness.

By avoiding unnecessary visits to crowded places, we reduce the risk of illness.

RULE 3. LEAD A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

A healthy lifestyle increases the body’s resistance to infection. Maintain a healthy schedule, including adequate sleep, eating foods rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, and being physically active.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF FLU?

Most common flu symptoms:

• high body temperature (97%),

• cough (94%),

• runny nose (59%),

• sore throat (50%),

• headache (47%),

• rapid breathing (41%),

• muscle pain (35%),

• conjunctivitis (9%).

In case of seasonal flu, complications arise, as a rule, on the 5-7th day or later, in case of influenza, complications can develop as early as on the 2-3rd day of illness.

Primary viral pneumonia is the leading complication. Deterioration in viral pneumonia is rapid, and many patients develop respiratory failure within 24 hours, requiring immediate respiratory support with mechanical ventilation.

Promptly started treatment helps to alleviate the severity of the disease.

WHAT TO DO

IN CASE OF INFLUENZA?

Stay at home and see a doctor urgently.

Follow your doctor’s orders, stay in bed and drink as much fluids as possible.

Avoid crowded places. Wear a hygiene mask to reduce the risk of spreading infection.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. Wash your hands with soap and water as often as possible.

WHAT TO DO

IF SOMEONE HAS A FLU IN THE FAMILY?

Give the patient a separate room in the house.If this is not possible, maintain a distance of at least 1 meter from the patient.

Minimize contact between sick and loved ones, especially children, the elderly and people with chronic diseases.

Ventilate the area frequently.

Keep clean, wash and disinfect surfaces with household detergents as often as possible.

Wash your hands often with soap and water.

When caring for a sick person, cover your mouth and nose with a mask or other protective equipment (handkerchief, scarf, etc.).

Only one family member should take care of the sick person.

HOW TO DISTINCT FLU AND COLD

Acute respiratory tract infections (ARVI), which the common people call one word “cold”, are caused by a huge number of viruses and account for about three quarters of all infectious diseases on the planet.

HOW IS ARVI TRANSMITTED?

They are transmitted mainly by airborne droplets, that is, through the air along with the sputum of a sick person when he sneezes or coughs.

An influenza epidemic occurs in our country every year. Learning to resist illness from the experience of the past season. Viruses cause inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, throat, trachea and bronchi.

ARVI IS NOT FLU

The common cold is often confused with the flu, mistakenly mistaking one for the other. It should be remembered that ARVI – is a more harmless disease , which usually passes quickly, is easily cured and rarely gives complications.

Influenza virus disease is more severe and can lead to complications such as pneumonia.

Call a doctor urgently if you or your family have these symptoms:

– a sharp rise in temperature to 39-40 degrees,

– severe muscle pain (“body aches”),

– dry and painful cough in the absence of a runny nose,

– severe weakness.

IF EVERYTHING IS ARVI?

Fever slightly raised, sore throat and runny nose? These are typical symptoms of SARS. This disease is treated quite simply.

Unfortunately, it is customary to either “walk around” on the legs, or to clog a cold with a set of cough pills, antibiotics and drops from the common cold taken at the same time. Without calling a doctor.

IMPORTANT ! Antibiotics do not treat ARVI or influenza! They are used only as directed by a doctor if diseases cause complications.

Take your time with medications. Prescribing drugs yourself is dangerous . Cough, runny nose and sore throat are phenomena of a completely different order.Even cough suppressants can be of two types: stopping the cough reflex (with a dry cough) and facilitating the excretion of phlegm (with a wet cough).

Choosing nasal drops is just as easy. Almost all drugs offered on the market include vasoconstrictors, which allow you to relieve swelling of the mucous membrane and relieve a person from a “clogged” nose.

These drugs are contraindicated in children under six years of age, pregnant and lactating women, as well as older people, since the vasoconstrictor components can cause an increase in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate.

That is why, even with a “banal” rhinitis, medications should be selected by a doctor . He can professionally assess individual indications and contraindications.

DO YOU NEED TO REDUCE THE TEMPERATURE?

The recommendations of the World Health Organization say that temperatures below 38.5 degrees should not be brought down .

This temperature is the body’s defensive reaction to the invasion of infection. After all, bacteria and viruses multiply equally poorly both in the cold and at elevated temperatures.

In addition, a high fever is a sign that an infection is still in the body and needs to be fought.

WHO SHOULD BREAK THE TEMPERATURE?

It is necessary to bring down the temperature:

– children and adults with heart disease (angina pectoris, coronary heart disease, heart defects),

– suffering from chronic bronchitis, obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma,

– to people with diseases of the central nervous system, for example, those suffering from epilepsy.

IMPORTANT! Temperature is always a reason to see a doctor.

HELP YOURSELF

– Don’t be a hero. At the first sign of SARS, stop going to work and stay at home. Lie more, try not to read or watch TV. Postpone work-related issues over the phone. Allow yourself to be sick and allow the immune system to be distracted by other tasks besides healing.

– Drink more. A healthy body needs at least one and a half liters of water per day.With illness, the need for fluid increases. Try to drink warm drinks and avoid alcohol. Alcohol does not cure a cold, but, on the contrary, lowers the body’s defenses. An attempt to heal with “vodka and pepper” can lead to a delay in the healing process.

– Don’t overeat. Appetite for acute respiratory viral infections, as a rule, is lowered, but relatives and friends sometimes try to please the patient with various delicacies. Digestion of large amounts of fatty or sugary foods is an additional burden on the body.

How to protect yourself from ARVI and influenza

How to protect yourself from SARS and influenza

Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) are the most common infectious diseases and are most relevant in winter. SARS are caused by a variety of respiratory viruses, of which there are more than two hundred species. The most serious illness is influenza.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF FLU?

Flu is characterized by a sudden onset with a rise in body temperature to high numbers, severe intoxication, chills, muscle and headaches, dry cough, lacrimation.Young children and the elderly are at greatest risk of getting the flu. In patients with influenza, exacerbations of chronic diseases are often observed: bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, metabolic disorders, etc. Influenza differs from other infections in its severe course, in the presence of complications that can be fatal.

HOW TO PROTECT?

Prevention of ARVI and influenza is very important.Of course, it is much easier to prevent a disease than to treat it. The effectiveness of the prevention of influenza and ARVI will be achieved with a combination of specific and non-specific protection means.

Specific prophylaxis includes vaccination. Vaccination against influenza is carried out once and immunity lasts for a year. It is better to get vaccinated against influenza before the epidemic rise in the incidence of influenza, since immunity is formed for two weeks.

Non-specific prevention includes activities aimed at general strengthening of the body.

This requires:

– when going for a walk, dress for the weather, do not overcool when you are outside;

– eat right: include in the diet foods containing vitamins A, C: citrus fruits, dairy and fermented milk products, hard cheeses, fish, meat, dried fruits;

– to strengthen the immune system: take vitamin and mineral preparations; agents that stimulate immunity; interferons;

– use personal respiratory protection (masks), especially in public places, use antiviral ointments (oxolinic ointment) to treat the nasal passages;

– drink more fluids: water, fruit and vegetable juices;

– when planning a visit to public places, take a medical mask with you: if you sneeze and cough in a public place, cover your mouth and nose with a medical mask or handkerchief – this will help prevent infection;

– regularly ventilate the premises, humidify the air, and carry out wet cleaning every day;

– during the period of the rise in the incidence of ARVI, try to avoid visiting crowded places;

– walk more in the fresh air, exercise, temper;

– avoid stress, overwork;

– when a patient appears in the family, it is necessary to isolate him.

WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF DISEASE?

Stay home and see your doctor urgently.

Follow your doctor’s orders, stay in bed and drink as much fluids as possible.

Avoid crowded places. Wear a hygiene mask to reduce the risk of spreading infection.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. Wash your hands with soap and water as often as possible.

WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE GETS SICK IN THE FAMILY?

Give the patient a separate room in the house.If this is not possible, maintain a distance of at least 1 meter from the patient.

Limit to a minimum contact between sick and loved ones, especially children, the elderly and people with chronic diseases.

Ventilate the area frequently.

Keep clean and wash and disinfect surfaces with household detergents as often as possible.

Wash your hands often with soap and water.

When caring for a sick person, cover your mouth and nose with a mask or other protective equipment (handkerchief, scarf, etc.)).

Only one family member should take care of the sick person.

90,000 the latest news, symptoms of coronavirus, preventive measures

Holidays 90,020 in schools of the Belgorod region will be held unchanged in the schedule – 90,019 from 23 to 31 March 90,020. In schools where teaching is organized not in quarters, but in terms of trimesters, the vacation schedule will be the same.
At the same time, from April 1 to 12, , all schoolchildren in the region will switch to distance education .Rosobrnadzor sent appropriate recommendations to the regions. During the holidays, all organizational issues related to the transition to distance education will be resolved.
During the spring break, training will be organized by the Belgorod Institute for Education Development for teachers who have difficulty using educational resources posted on the Internet. Intermunicipal methodological services in the mode of video conferencing will hold master classes on the use of these resources.Municipal education authorities will conduct a survey among students about the possibility of distance interaction with teachers.
Based on the minutes of the meeting of the operational headquarters for the prevention of the importation and spread of a new coronavirus infection in the territory of the Russian Federation No. 11 dated 03/13/2020, the movement of students during the specified period (excursion trips and public events) will be limited. In all educational organizations, thermometry of children and teachers is constantly carried out and all possible measures are taken to prevent the spread of infection.
Preschool groups work as usual, parents themselves decide whether to take their child to kindergarten. The institutions of secondary vocational education also continue to work as usual.
We remind you that for parents there is a hotline of the Department of Education of the Belgorod Region on the organization of distance learning and the work of schools, institutions of additional education in the current epidemiological situation:
hot line 8 (4722) 32-40-34 is available on weekdays from 8:30 to 18:00 .90,000 Can the dog catch a cold or the flu

The very time of year has come when a mild runny nose quickly develops into sneezing, and a sore throat turns into an incessant cough. You are ready to do anything to keep your family, including your puppy, healthy. Well, now you are probably wondering: “Can a dog catch a cold?” And if you feel unwell, the thought that your dog might get the flu from a person, for example, from you, will make you even more nervous.Of course, you love your pet and want him to be healthy, but should you have less contact with your pet, isolate him from you until you get better? This article is about whether your puppy can get a cold or flu from humans and what you can do to keep him from getting sick.

Everyone is talking about coronavirus infection. Could it be she?

Like any concerned pet owner, as you read and hear about coronavirus infection, you’ve probably wondered about the risk of passing the infection from you to your pet and vice versa.Currently, there is no evidence that dogs, cats. As the situation with coronavirus infection COVID-19 continues to evolve, it is important to follow the updates and follow the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection (Rospotrebnadzor) and other international and national health organizations.

To date, there is no evidence that dogs, cats or other pets can get COVID-19.The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has published on its official website a very useful, regularly updated document, available in Russian, which will help to understand the situation and give answers to specific questions.

Should you worry if your dog is coughing?

If your puppy or your dog is coughing, their body temperature rises, they look lethargic, then there are all the symptoms that are diagnosed in people with COVID-19.Please contact your veterinarian immediately, as many other diseases cause similar symptoms in pets: cough cough, incl. canine parainfluenza, tracheal collapse, heart failure, bronchitis, pneumonia and cardiac dirofilariasis. And these are just a few of them! Some of these diseases can be caused by other viruses that have nothing to do with COVID-19 infection, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no information about the transmission of the canine flu virus to humans. …

Can a dog get colds from humans?

Apchhi! Are you sneezing? Do you have a stuffy nose or a sore throat? In humans, a cold usually occurs after contact with a person infected with the virus (doctors call this ARVI – acute respiratory viral infection). Other symptoms besides sneezing are sore throat or stuffy nose, watery eyes and excess mucus in the nose and throat.

So, can a dog “catch” a cold from you?
Great news: if you are sick and your puppy wants to lick or hug you to cheer you up, don’t kick him out.As a rule, ARVI and many bacterial infections are species-specific, i.e. They can only affect certain types of animals or only people, which is why you should not worry that you may infect your pet with a common cold. According to the PetMD portal (the largest international information Internet portal about pet health, the materials of which are approved by veterinarians), colds are not transmitted to animals from humans.

Can a dog catch a cold from another dog? Unfortunately, the answer to this question is “Yes”.The fact that the animal does not transmit SARS from humans does not mean that your puppy cannot be infected from another sneezing dog.

In general, many of your dog’s infection symptoms will be similar to those of humans. For example, according to PetMD, the types of viruses that infect humans and dogs differ, but the symptoms are mostly the same: sneezing, coughing, runny or stuffy nose, and watery eyes.

There are many viruses that dogs can transmit to each other.Let’s take a look at one of the most common types of canine colds.

Nursery Cough

Kennel cough is a group of rather dangerous, easily transmitted diseases of the respiratory system, which the pet can “catch” in places where other dogs congregate, for example, at dog shows or training sessions. The bad news is that your dog doesn’t even need to come into direct contact with an infected dog.Viruses can be found on a variety of common objects, such as water bowls or toys, which are left with saliva from a sick dog. A loud, frequent dry cough similar to the cry of a goose is the most common sign of a kennel cough, according to Vetstreet, a veterinarian-approved web portal for a software developer for better pet health care for owners and veterinarians.Infected dogs gag and gag as if something were in the throat and were trying to get rid of it. Dogs who contract a kennel cough usually have symptoms for four to ten days. Treatment, which can only be prescribed by a veterinarian after examining the animal, depends on the course and severity of the disease and may include monitoring and improving the conditions of detention, as well as taking antibiotics and other drugs.

Can dogs get the flu from humans?

The symptoms of flu in humans are similar to those of a common cold, but if your body aches and your temperature rises sharply, chances are good that this is a more serious illness – the flu.The flu virus spreads from one person to another, so try to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and practice other personal hygiene measures.

According to the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, unlike other acute respiratory viral infections, which go away rather quickly, the flu lasts longer and can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia.
You will probably be glad to know that, as with the common cold, your dog cannot get the flu virus from you or other people.

However, you should be aware that there is a species-specific influenza virus that infects dogs.

Canine flu

Canine flu is a respiratory viral infection, just like a human disease. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the h4N8 strain of influenza type A was first discovered and isolated in dogs in the United States in 2004. And already in 2015, an outbreak of canine flu that arose in Chicago was caused by another strain of the virus – h4N2.

The symptoms of canine flu are similar to those of the flu in humans. The dog may have a lingering cough that usually lasts ten to thirty days. She may sneeze, she may have a fever, and she may have profuse discharge from her eyes and nose.

Treatment, which can only be prescribed by a veterinarian after examining the animal, depends on the course and severity of the disease and can include both monitoring and improving the conditions of detention, as well as taking antibiotics and other drugs.

Please note that care must be taken to prevent other animals from becoming infected. AVMA warns: “Dogs infected with the canine flu virus should be quarantined to avoid infecting other dogs and, if infected with h4N2, cats.”

Visit the veterinarian

Naturally, you want to protect your dog, just as you want to protect your children. However, if your puppy gets sick, then he may need qualified help.Remember that caring for a sick dog is like caring for a sick child.

First of all, if you suspect that the dog is ill, no matter what, seek the advice of a veterinarian. Remember that only a veterinarian can prescribe the correct treatment after examining and diagnosing the condition of the animal.

One of the recommendations that you are likely to hear is to keep your pet calm and comfortable. Rest is vital for your puppy to recover.Perhaps, this will not be a problem, since when a dog is sick, then it has no time for games, but all household members and, especially, children should take this into account. Until she gets better, she doesn’t want to play or go for walks. Fortunately, since the virus does not spread from dogs to humans, you can give your pet all the love and care he needs to feel close and ready to help him recover.

It is especially important to provide the sick pet with sufficient fluids.Make sure there is always fresh, clean water in his bowl, and offer him drinks often.

If your dog is spending time at a dog hotel, or if it needs to eat with other animals in the near future, talk to your veterinarian to make sure your dog is healthy enough to be surrounded by other dogs. After all, you would not want a sick animal to deliberately come into contact with your healthy dog, so you need to take care that your sick puppy does not come into contact with other animals.This also applies to the ban on visiting specialized dog walking areas.
A little rest, rest, a healthy diet, plenty of fluids, and maybe some medication as prescribed by your veterinarian is what it takes to keep your pet healthy again and full of energy to play and delight you and your family.

Erin Ollila

Erin Ollila is a pet enthusiast and lover.