According to a new study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine1, it may be unnecessary for patients infected with swine flu (H1N1) to stay at home for longer than four days after the start of symptoms. It reveals that the average length of time between one person displaying the first symptoms of flu and someone else in their household having symptoms is 2.6 days.
At the start of the current pandemic, CDC advised patients to stay at home for seven days, but it has since revised these guidelines to 24 hours after the end of fever (without the use of fever-reducing medications), which is supported by the new research findings.
CITE THIS ARTICLE:
Tamer M. Fouad, M.D.. H1N1 patients not required to stay at home longer periods - N Engl J Med. Doctors Lounge Website. Available at: http://www.doctorslounge.com/index.php/blogs/page/304. Accessed May 22 2013.
References
- You must be logged in to view the references. Please log-in.
- Not a member? Please register.
- Have you forgotten your password?
