The flu hits hard every year and spreads fast. Every state in the United States except for Hawaii report widespread influenza activity in the winter. The flu accounts for hospitalizations and numerous deaths every year, although experts continue to maintain there is no need to panic.
Influenza or flu is a respiratory disease resulting from a viral infection. The condition is contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets. Infected people can pass it on while talking, through physical contact, and even by shaking hands.
In this article, we explain the symptoms of flu besides the treatment option and how to prevent flu. Please continue reading to learn more about the flu and how to get proper treatment for this condition.
What Are the Symptoms of Fever/Flu?
The CDC states infected people may experience:
- High temperatures are lasting three to four days.
- A runny or stuffy nose.
- Cold sweats and shivers.
- Severe body aches, headaches, and fatigue.
Getting Appropriate Fever/Flu Care at the Right Time
Most people experience the flu running its course in a couple of weeks. However, people who are more likely to experience the dangerous implications for flu include children under five, adults over 65, pregnant women, and people with chronic conditions like heart, kidney, liver disease, and diabetes. In addition, people taking immunosuppressant drugs or with HIV are also susceptible to the complications of the flu. Severe complications people may experience include pneumonia and sepsis. People must either get advice from their doctor or fever/flu treatment and the emergency room in such cases.
What to Do If You Have Flu Symptoms?
The flu isn’t an emergency among the younger or healthy population. However, people experiencing the symptoms of flu find an option from antiviral medications if they obtain them from their doctor within 48 hours. Unfortunately, the medicines merely shorten the duration of the illness by lesser than a day and return with severe side effects.
Instead of visiting a doctor or urgent care center for a prescription, healthy people should take over-the-counter medications to manage their symptoms, stay in bed, and have plenty of fluids.
When to Go to the Hospital for the Flu 2020?
2020 has been a devastating year for everyone throughout the world. People with flu symptoms must consider getting themselves evaluated as soon as possible to ensure it is just the annual epidemic and not the devastating coronavirus pandemic currently claiming millions of lives. The coronavirus pandemic has symptoms similar to the flu, and remedies for the infection are still in the developmental stages. As many providers are offering local services visiting hospitals for the flu 2020 is a better option than considering a visit to the emergency room near me. However, medical professionals are overworked, and hospitals cannot treat all patients arriving, making it inevitable for people to visit the emergency room in Waco for advice.
Besides the above, adults with symptoms like difficulties breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the abdomen, sudden dizziness, and confusion must visit the ER near me and receive treatment for their condition.
Emergency care Waco is open 24 x 7 providing quick quality services to all patients making it the top-of-the-class emergency room. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and staff and has a full-service lab allowing them to get results for any tests within 20 minutes.
Why Prefer Fever/Flu Treatment ER Vs. Urgent Care
Patients wondering why they must prefer an ER over urgent care must understand the differences between both facilities. Urgent care clinics have a limited range of services compared to emergency rooms. Urgent care clinics can make people run around for various lab tests and reports before diagnosing the patient. Time is of critical importance in emergencies. The sooner the patient receives the care required, the better it is for them to heal and recover.
ERs are always a better option with on-site lab and radiology services. In addition, the services provided by ERs eliminate running around by the patient to receive treatment on demand instead of moving back-and-forth searching for diagnostic reports of their condition. Therefore people affected by fever/flu symptoms must contact the ER nearby if they cannot access their primary healthcare provider for the required treatment.
The flu is a viral infection, and patients can comfortably treat the condition at home using antiviral medications purchased over-the-counter. However, patients with complications need help from a medical provider, either from their doctor or an ER near them.