1. If the patient has mild symptoms of illness such as low grade fever, non-lethargy, and being able to eat food, he/she is advised to take care of himself/herself at home. The patient should take paracetamol (aspirin is forbidden) for fever, take an adequate rest and drink a lot of water.
   
   
2. The patient should suspend studying or working until he/she has fully recovered; and avoid close contact or sharing personal utensils with other people.
   
   
3. While being with other people, the patient is advised to wear a face mask or use tissue paper to cover his/her mouth and nose every time he/she coughs or sneezes.
   
   
4. Wash hands often with water and soap or rub them with alcohol gel, particularly after coughing or sneezing
   
   
5. If the patient has difficulty breathing, exhaustion, vomiting or lethargy, he/she is advised to see a doctor.

HOME CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH MILD SYMPTOMS
Source: Ministry of Public Health Public Health Advice No. 8 dated 9 July 2009

	The patient is advised to suspend studying or working and rest at home or his/her dormitory for at least seven days after falling ill or at least one day after getting well to pass the viral transmission period.
	The patient is required to notify his/her educational institution or workplace of the illness in order to keep Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 under surveillance and take the disease prevention and control actions in time.
	The patient has to take some antipyretic such as paracetamol (aspirin is forbidden) and some symptomatic treatment drugs like an expectorant and a decongestant as recommended by a pharmacist or medical clinic, or as prescribed by a physician.
	As influenza is caused by a virus, it is unnecessary to take antibiotics except that a bacterial complication is detected. If so, all antibiotics must be taken as prescribed by a doctor.
	The patient needs to be given a rub with a towel damped with tepid clean water to lower fever. It is advisable to initially rub from the limbs to trunk; rubbing the forehead, armpits, groins, elbow folds, and knee folds is particularly needed. While rubbing, the patient should be covered up with a blanket on his/her chest to prevent the risk for pneumonia. In case the patient is chilled, the rubbing must be stopped and he/she needs to be covered up with a blanket.
	The patient should drink a lot of tepid clean water and fruit juice, avoid very cold water.
	The patient should adequately eat less-spicy soft dishes like rice soup, boiled rice, eggs, vegetables and fruit.
	The patient needs to get a lot of rest and sleep in a well-ventilated room that is not too cold.
	In case his/her symptoms become more severe such as having high fever that does not decline within two days, being lethargic or exhausted, being unable to eat food, a lot of vomiting or diarrhoea, a lot of coughing and chest pain, rapid breath and being exhausted, the patient has to go to a hospital immediately.

	The patient is advised to stay in a separate room all the time until he/she has been fully recovered for at least one day in order to pass the viral transmission period.
	The patient is required to have meals separately. If his/her symptoms become less severe, he/she may possibly eat food with other people. It is, however, necessary for him/her to use serving spoons to scoop food.
	The patient must not use personal effects such as handkerchiefs, towels, glasses, straws, etc. together with other people.
	The patient needs to cover his/her nose and mouth with tissue paper when coughing or sneezing, and discard the used paper into a garbage bin. After that he/she has to clean his/her hands with alcohol gel or water and soap often.
	The patient is required to wear a surgical mask to prevent the viral transmission to other people.
	The patient’s caretaker is advised to wear a surgical mask as well and wash hands with soap and water or alcohol gel often.
	Other family members are advised to be about 1–2 metres or at least an arm’s length away from the patient.

In other provinces: Provincial Public Health Office in each of the provinces.

For more information, please visit the Ministry of Public Health’s website: www.moph.go.th

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2933.php

	General Advice: Measures to Help Prevent the Human-to-Human Transmission of Influenza
	Advice for Individuals with Influenza-like Symptoms
	The Correct Use of Face Masks
	Advice for Patients with Influenza
	Prevention Measures undertaken by Thai Airways International (THAI) – the national carrier
	Prevention Measures undertaken by Retailers, Cinemas and Mass Transit Operators