How Can I Avoid Getting Influenza
Getting an influenza vaccine every year is recommended for everyone aged 6 months or older. People in the above groups are eligible for free flu vaccination each year under the National Immunisation Program.
While not 100% effective, the flu vaccine provides a high level of protection and can reduce symptoms in those still getting sick.
can be co-administered with a flu vaccine. There is no requirement for a time interval between these vaccines.
Wearing a face mask and practicing good hand hygiene can help to reduce your chances of catching the flu or passing it on to others.
Flu Symptoms: When To Bring Your Child Into The Emergency Center
We are in the midst of one of the most severe flu seasons in a decade. Texas Childrens alongside hospitals across the nation have seen a major jump in flu-related emergency center visits over the past several weeks. Its important for parents to understand when they should or shouldnt bring their child into an emergency center with flu-like symptoms. The flu can cause a variety of symptoms and effects, ranging from mild to severe. Most healthy people, including children, can recover from the flu without complications, and don’t need to go to the emergency center or seek hospitalization. Symptoms of the flu can include:
- Fever or chills
A child with these regular flu-like symptoms can usually be cared for at home with fever-reducing medication, like Tylenol or Ibuprofen, clear fluids and bed rest. If diagnosed early enough, some children might benefit from Tamiflu, a medication that requires a prescription from your pediatrician. To ensure your child has fully recovered from the flu, he/she should stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone. If your child’s flu-like symptoms return and worsen, or if your child is at high risk for developing flu-related complications , call your childs pediatrician to seek evaluation.
to schedule an appointment online.
You should seek immediate medical care in an emergency center if your child exhibits any of these core warning signs:
In adults, core warning signs signaling a need for urgent medical attention include:
What Causes The Flu
Flu is caused by the type A, type B or rarely the type C influenza virus. Only types A and B cause major outbreaks and severe disease, while type C can cause an illness in children similar to the common cold.
Colds and flu are very contagious viral infections and you can catch a cold or flu at any time of the year, not just in winter however they are more common during the winter months. This may be because people are more likely to stay indoors and be in close contact with each other.
If you have a cold or flu and you sneeze or cough, tiny droplets of fluid containing the virus are launched into the air. These droplets spread about 1 metre and are suspended in the air for a while so they can be breathed in by someone else who may then become infected.
These tiny droplets of fluid can also land on surfaces. Anyone who touches these surfaces can catch a cold or flu if they pick up the virus on their hands and then touch their nose or mouth.
If you have a cold or flu and you touch your mouth or nose and then touch a person or object without first washing your hands, then you can transfer the virus to that person or object.
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What Are The Emergency Warning Signs Of Flu
- Myositis or rhabdomyolysis
- Multi-organ failure
- Aggravation of chronic medical problems
- Ribs pulling in with each breath
- Any fever for babies less than 12 weeks
- Fever or cough that improves and then returns or worsens
- Worsening chronic medical conditions
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Dizziness or confusion
- Fever or cough that improves and then returns or worsens
- Worsening chronic medical conditions
When To Go To The Er
Fever and cold symptoms can turn into influenza symptoms if you arent feeling any better as the days progress, or if the symptoms quickly escalate. In addition to typical common cold symptoms , high fevers in adults are usually a good indicator of a viral cold or potential flu.
Adults with a sustained fever of more than 102 degrees, as well as any combination of the below flu-like symptoms, should seek medical attention:
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe chest or stomach pain
- Vertigo and lightheadedness
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Difference Between Influenza And Covid
and the flu can be similar.
If you are unwell with flu-like symptoms, contact the COVID-19 hotline on or your GP to check if you require COVID-19 testing.
The symptoms of COVID-19 to watch out for are:
- loss or change in sense of smell or taste
Some people may also experience headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Your Cold Becomes Unusually Bad
- A severe cough that lingers more than two weeks may indicate whooping cough, while sustained congestion can lead to a sinus infection if left untreated.
- If you have a fever, muscle aches or other flu-like symptoms, you may in fact have the flu. In these cases, its best to see the doctor for a Tamiflu prescription. Seniors, expecting mothers and persons with heart disease should exercise extra caution, as they are more likely to develop complications from the flu.
- Extremely difficult swallowing, chest pain and shortness of breath are not normal cold symptoms and may indicate a more serious condition.
- If you cant keep anything down, you may need an IV to get fluids to help your body function.
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Get Flu Treatment At Home To Cure The Virus Fast
To help you cure the flu faster and protect you from severe complications, you may take an antiviral like Tamiflu or Relenza. But antivirals need a prescription and are most effective when taken closer to the onset of symptoms.
Whether youre stuck at home with a fever or dont have the strength to put on real pants, there are a couple of ways to get quality virtual care for the flu that fits your preferences.
Schedule a video visit appointment
Video visits are just like office visits, but you get to skip the trip to the clinic. Your doctor or nurse will listen to your symptoms, answer questions and work with you to create an influenza treatment plan if you need one.
Start a virtual visit anytime, anyplace through Virtuwell
With Virtuwell, no appointment is necessary and treatment is available 24/7. Getting started is easy. Heres how it works:
- Well start by asking you a few questions about your symptoms and medical history
- A board-certified nurse practitioner will review your answers, make a diagnosis and provide you with a treatment plan all in about an hour
- If you need a prescription, the nurse can send it to a pharmacy of your choosing
- Each visit is just $59 or less, depending on your insurance
- Staff are available 24/7 in case you have any follow-up needs or questions and theres no additional charge
When Should You See A Doctor
While most people who contract the flu have mild cases, there are times when it can be dangerous or even life-threatening. To decide whether or not you should go to the doctor you need to take into consideration general health and the severity of symptoms.
Some people opt to go to the doctor when they suspect that the flu is the culprit behind their illness so they can get a definitive diagnosis. This can be helpful if you are concerned about whether you should miss work or your child needs to stay home from school. Your doctor can also prescribe medication to lessen symptoms and potentially shorten the length of the illness.
If you or your child is at a higher risk of having flu-related complications, visit the doctor if you suspect the flu. TheCDC has detailed information about who is at higher risk and why. Some of the things that increase the risk of complications include:
- Being younger than one year old
- Being older than 65
- Having a BMI of 40 or greater
- Having a weakened immune system due to:
- Cancer being treated by chemotherapy
For Children
- Muscle pain severe enough to prevent the child from walking or moving around
- A fever or cough that seems to resolves but reappears and worsens
- Lack of interacting or alertness while awake
- Worsening of existing chronic medical conditions
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Try To Prevent The Flu From Spreading To Other Household Members
If you have the flu, chances are you dont want anyone else to feel as miserable as you do right now. But since you need to stay home, your family or household members are at a higher risk for getting sick. So, take steps to protect them as best you can:
- Keep your distance
- Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough
- Disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects such as countertops, door knobs or remote controls
What To Do If You Think You Have The Flu Covid
Yes, its possible to test positive for the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, but experts say the chances of having a coinfection are very, very low. If you find yourself experiencing any of the symptoms discussed in this article, heres a game plan for how to quickly determine a diagnosis.
- Talk to your doctor. If youre coming down with a telltale sign of COVID-19 or the flu, seek medical care. Experts say its a good idea to put on a mask and self-isolate from your family if you have symptoms, to play it safe.
- Get tested. Experts agree that its important to be tested as quickly as possible for COVID-19 and flu. Heres some good news: The nose swab can be used to test for both COVID-19 and the flu. Schedule an appointment with your doctor or local health clinic, or visit an urgent care center where tests should be available.
- Start treatment. After a diagnosis, move forward with the appropriate treatment. For the flu, the gold standard is an antiviral drug that your doctor might prescribe which helps to lessen the severity of symptoms and shorten duration of the illness. For milder cases of COVID-19, most people can recover at home by monitoring their symptoms, resting, and drinking fluids.
If you are having trouble breathing, persistent pain, chest pressure, new confusion, an inability to wake or stay awake, or bluish lips or face, seek emergency medical care immediately.
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How Is The Flu Diagnosed
Your doctor may diagnose a probable influenza infection based on your symptoms alone. To help them do this, they may listen to your chest using a stethoscope.
If your doctor wants to be sure of the diagnosis, they may take a sample of cells and mucus from your nose or throat using a sterile cotton swab. This sample will be sent to a pathology laboratory for testing. They will most likely also do a test to rule out the possibility of you having COVID-19.
Wear a mask when attending your medical appointment to help reduce the spread of the virus to other people.
When Should I See My Doctor
If you are otherwise fit and healthy, there is usually no need to see a doctor if you have flu-like symptoms. But you should see your doctor if you or your child have flu symptoms and:
- are younger than 5 years old
- are aged 65 years or older and living in an aged care home
- have heart or kidney disease, or a medical condition like type 2 diabetes
- are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
- have severe asthma, breathing problems or a lung disease
- have a disease that affects your muscles and/or the nerves that control them, and that can affect your ability to breathe
- have a weakened immune system
This is because flu can be serious for you and your doctor may want to prescribe antiviral medication.
Anyone who has cold or flu-like symptoms should see their doctor if they:
- cant or wont drink fluids
- are vomiting frequently and/or are unable to drink fluids
- have an intense headache
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More Reasons To Go To The Doctor For Flu
Dehydration also needs medical attention. Signs that youre getting dehydrated include urinating less frequently than normal, feeling thirsty, and having trouble keeping fluids down, Bergen says. If you cant replenish fluids by drinking more, you may need to be given fluids intravenously.
Also go to the doctor or the ER for the flu if you seemed to be getting better, but find that your symptoms are returning. If your fever and cough roar back worse than before, you need to seek medical attention, Bergen says.
People who have asthma, diabetes, HIV, AIDS, cancer, or another chronic condition, those over 65, and women who are pregnant should seek treatment sooner than an otherwise healthy person, Dr. Kino says. If you have a weakened immune system, you have to be more concerned than the average person, he explains.
Your doctor may even be able to treat you over the phone, Bergen says. If the flu has been reported in your area and your doctor believes thats what you have, he or she may prescribe antiviral flu drugs. If taken early on, these drugs may shorten its course.
When Should You Go To Urgent Care For The Flu
Before the onset of COVID-19, it was advisable to take a wait-and-see approach with the flu. If you have not had a previous COVID infection, you should get tested for both COVID and the flu if you have any flu-like symptoms.
Get tested as soon as you start to have symptoms. Knowing what has caused your illness will help you know how to mitigate spread and how best to treat your illness. You can get tested for both flu and COVID-19 at any MedHelp urgent care clinic.
Some cases of flu will be more severe. If you have any of the following symptoms, you should go to the nearest ER:
- Difficulty breathing, especially when at rest
- Severe chest pain
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Were Here For Emergencies
You know your body better than anyone else. If your fever and cold symptoms just arent going away, and youre concerned it might be the flu, were here to help. The Wesley EmergencyCare Network has five convenient emergency room locations open 24/7, including:
- Wesley Medical Centers main ER
- Wesley Woodlawn Hospital & ER
- Wesley Derby ER
- The regions only dedicated pediatric ER
All of Wesleys emergency rooms provide average wait times. Wait times are updated every 30 minutes and are based on a rolling four-hour average provided by Wesleys patient information management.
If you ever feel like you are not physically well enough to go to the ER, or if doing so would put yourself or others in danger, please call 911.
Wesley Healthcare
Seek Medical Care For People At High
Some people are at high risk of getting very sick from flu. The following people should call their health care provider as soon as symptoms of flu develop:
- Is pregnant or within the last two weeks of delivery
- Is a child under 2 years of age
- Has neurologic or neuromuscular disorder, asthma or chronic lung diseases like COPD or cystic fibrosis, heart disease , liver or kidney disease, a blood disorder , metabolic or endocrine disorders , severely obese, weakened immune system due to disease or medicines
Health care providers will determine whether flu testing and possible treatment are needed. Your health care provider may prescribe antiviral drugs that can treat the flu. These drugs work better when they are started soon after symptoms develop.
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What Are Common Flu Symptoms
The flu is caused by an influenza virus that infects the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs. Doctors believe that the flu mostly spreads through microdroplets of saliva released during a cough or sneeze. Transmission of the virus by surface contact is less common.
The most common flu symptoms are:
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
When To Go To The Doctor For Flu
Flu may have a mild illness in some patients and a full blown infection in others. It is important to visit your doctor or go to a hospital for flu in the following cases
- Serious complications of the lower respiratory tract like secondary bacterial bronchitis or pneumonia.
- Other serious complications of flu include infection of the heart, brain and multiple-organ failure.
- Secondary bacterial of the sinuses and middle ear are common.
You need to call your doctor and get immediate treatment if you notice any of the warning signs and symptoms
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Know When To Get Emergency Care For Serious Flu Symptoms
Most likely, Steps 1-5 will be all you need to get over the flu. But influenza is a serious illness, so its important to watch for more serious symptoms.
Go to the emergency room if you, your child or another loved one is experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion or worse-than-normal mental function
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Loss of appetite or refusal to eat or drink
Children especially infants and toddlers can experience other unique symptoms that can indicate something more serious is going on. Go to the nearest emergency room if your child:
- Is less than 3 months old and has a fever of above 100.4°F
- Is between 3 months old and 3 years old, has a fever of above 100.4°F, and is showing signs of dehydration
- Has a fever with a rash
- Has skin or lips that have turned gray or blue
- Is extremely irritable
- Not waking up or interacting with you