Children's Hospital of Wisconsin-Fox Valley
Flu updates for families

Visitor screening Please check this page before visiting our hospital and clinics. Our visitor policy could change based upon the severity of the virus in our area. For the safety of our patients, we may need to restrict sibling and adult visitors. Thank you for your understanding and help in protecting our patients. Updated hospital visitor guidelines effective Feb. 12, 2010 Children's Hospital of Wisconsin-Fox Valley is committed to providing excellent care for you and your child. After careful thought, we are changing our visitor policy to better protect our patients. Our goal is to limit our patients' potential exposure to H1N1 (swine flu) and other viruses. We know this may be difficult for your family and we thank you for your understanding. Given the number of confirmed cases in Wisconsin, it is important that families and visitors who have flu symptoms do not visit our hospital and clinics. All parents and guardians - regardless of symptoms - may visit their child in the hospital at any time, but they will be expected to wear masks if they have any flu symptoms. Pediatric Unit There has been a rise in virus cases, such as the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), at our hospital. To help protect our patients, Children's Hospital-Fox Valley is restricting the number of visitors younger than age 18. Patients' brothers and sisters are allowed to visit but must stay in the patient's room at all times. Children who are not siblings of a patient will not be allowed to visit. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)  Parents are able to list up to four adults who may visit their child. The four visitors may be grandparents or anyone else. However, they must be at least 18 years old. The "accepted visitor list" will be in effect the whole time the child is in the hospital. Parents will not be able to change the accepted visitor list. Grandparents who are on the accepted visitor list may visit 24 hours per day. All others on the list may visit during regular visiting hours, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. No one under age 18 may visit, including siblings. If you have any questions or concerns, please ask to speak to a patient care supervisor. These rules will be in place as long as there is a high incidence of H1N1 or other viruses in the community. Thank you for your help in protecting our patients.

 

Milwaukee flu updates for providers

Preparing for flu season

What are H1N1 (swine flu) symptoms?

The symptoms of H1N1 flu virus include fever greater than 100 degrees, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Many people infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.

My child has some of these flu symptoms. What should I do?

If your child has flu symptoms, contact your family doctor. Most cases of the flu can be managed at home by your pediatrician or primary care physician.

To help prevent unnecessary exposure, bring your child to the Emergency Department only if he or she is experiencing flu symptoms and one of the following is true:

1. Your child is under 1 year of age.
2. Your child has a chronic illness (Examples: diabetes, cancer or a blood disorder, asthma, heart disease).
3. Your child has a temperature greater than 102 degrees.

Prevention

As always, the best defense against the flu is common sense and washing your hands. Clean your hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizer. Always cough and sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve, and keep at least six feet between yourself and anyone with flu symptoms. If you're sick, stay home. If your kids have flu symptoms, keep them home from school and away from other children.

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin-Fox Valley follows the guidelines of the state of Wisconsin (pandemic.wisconsin.gov) and the Centers for Disease Control (flu.gov).