8 Signs You Should Go to the Doctor for the Flu

Most people who come down with the flu experience mild illness that usually runs its course within a week or two. In this case, a trip to the doctor might not be necessary.

But for people who are at risk of complications from the disease, the flu can become life-threatening. Even if you live a healthy lifestyle, you can get seriously ill from flu.

The flu can cause some or all of these symptoms:

• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffed nose
• muscle aches
• headaches
• tiredness
• fever
• vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults)
• chills

Every year, between 5 to 20 percent of Americans get sick with the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated between 9.3 million and 49 million cases of the flu every year since 2010.

So, when should you see a doctor if you’ve got the flu? Here are eight reasons to seek medical attention.

Being sick with flu shouldn’t affect your breathing. It could be a sign of a something more serious, such as pneumonia, an infection of the lungs.

Pneumonia is a common and potentially serious complication of flu. It causes up to 49,000 deaths in the United States every year.

Feeling pain or pressure in your chest is another warning sign that you shouldn’t ignore.

The flu can trigger heart attacks and strokes in people with heart disease. Chest pain is also a common symptom of pneumonia.

Vomiting depletes your body of fluids, making it difficult to get well from the flu. Because of this, you should call your doctor to get examined.

Vomiting or not being able to keep liquids down could also be a sign of sepsis, a serious flu-related complication. If not treated immediately, sepsis can lead to organ failure.

If you’re pregnant and get sick with the flu, you’re at a higher risk of complications, such as bronchitis.

You’re also at a higher risk of having your baby prematurely or at a low birthweight. In some cases, having the flu while pregnant may even lead to stillbirth or death.

The CDC recommends that all pregnant women get a flu shot. But it does not recommend the nasal spray flu vaccine for pregnant women.

One in 13 Americans has asthma, a disease that affects the airways in the lungs. Because people with asthma tend to have weaker immune systems, symptoms of the flu are often worse.

Adults and children with asthma are also more likely to be hospitalized for flu complications and develop pneumonia compared with those who don’t have asthma.

If you have asthma, you should see your doctor about taking an antiviral medication. But you shouldn’t take the antiviral drug zanamivir (Relenza), as it can cause wheezing or other lung problems.

About 92 million Americans have some form of heart disease or live with the aftermath of a stroke. If you are one of these people, you’re more likely to develop serious flu-related complications.

Researchers have found that the risk of a heart attack goes up six-fold during the first week of a confirmed flu infection.

If you live with heart disease, the best way to avoid the virus and potential hospital care is to get the flu vaccine.

Your symptoms shouldn’t reappear after they’ve subsided. A high fever and a severe cough that produces green or yellow mucus are possible signs of an infection such as pneumonia.

You’re at a higher risk of flu complications and should seek medical treatment right away if you fall into one of these categories:

• women who are up to two weeks postpartum
• children younger than 5, but especially those younger than age 2
• adults ages 65 years and older
• residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes
• people with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, kidney or liver disorders, and chronic lung disease
• people with weakened immune systems due to conditions such as HIV or cancer
• people younger than 19 who are on long-term aspirin therapy or take salicylate-based medication
• people who are obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more
• people of Native American (American Indian or Alaska Native) descent

If you’re over the age of 2, you can use over-the-counter (OTC) medications to ease your symptoms at the start. However, it’s more important to see a doctor immediately. Parents of children under 2 should consult a pediatrician before giving them OTC medications.

Antiviral drugs can only be prescribed by a doctor or healthcare provider. Taking antiviral medications within two days of getting sick has been shown to lessen symptoms and shorten the length of the illness by one day.

If you relate to any of the points above, you should make seeing your doctor a priority. Even if you don’t have asthma, chest pain, or symptoms that have returned, if you’re ill with the flu virus and you feel something isn’t quite right, you should seek medical attention.

When Should I See a Doctor for the Flu?

Overview

If you get the flu, you’ll likely experience a high fever, sore throat, cough, and lots of aches and pains. You might feel like you don’t need to see a doctor, and opt to treat yourself with extra rest and fluids. But in certain cases, seeing a doctor will help you get better faster and prevent major complications.

Since 2010 in the United States, the flu has resulted in 140,000 to 960,000 hospitalizations and between 12,000 to 79,000 deaths each year. During the 2017-2018 season, there were at least 185 flu-associated deaths in children, and roughly 80 percent of these deaths occurred in children who hadn’t received a flu vaccination.

Even though most people recover in a week or two at home, the flu shouldn’t be taken lightly. Being aware of when you should see a doctor is important.

Symptoms of the flu are similar to the common cold, but tend to come on more rapidly and are much more severe.

The most common symptoms of the flu include:

• fatigue
• fever above 100°F (38°C)
• sore throat
• dry or wet cough
• chills
• muscle aches
• runny or stuffy nose

You should go to the emergency room if you have any of these symptoms:

• difficulty breathing
• chest pain
• confusion
• severe or persistent vomiting
• sudden dizziness
• severe neck stiffness
• loss of consciousness

Some people are at a higher risk of experiencing dangerous flu-related complications, like pneumonia or bronchitis.

You’re considered high risk and should see a doctor at the first signs of the flu if:

• you are age 65 or older
• you have a chronic medical condition (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease)
• you have a compromised immune system
• you are pregnant or up to two weeks’ postpartum
• you’re a nursing home resident

If you fit into one of these categories, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication. These medications work best when they’re taken within the first 48 hours after symptoms start. The earlier you can see a doctor, the better.

If you’re not considered high risk and you’re not having severe symptoms, you can likely skip a trip to the doctor and ride out the flu with rest and fluids.

But there are a few other reasons you should plan a doctor’s visit. These include:

• your fever gets better, then suddenly worsens
• your symptoms don’t improve within two weeks
• you can’t get rid of your cough or your cough begins producing thick mucus
• pain is concentrated in a single area (like your ear, chest, or sinuses)

Most people recover from the flu within a week. But if you start to get better and then rapidly deteriorate and your fever spikes again, this could mean you have a flu complication. The main complications of the flu are infections of the sinuses or lungs (pneumonia).

If you get sick with the flu and are at high risk of flu complications or you’re concerned about your illness, you can always call your doctor’s office for advice and to find out if they think you should come in.

If you decide to head to the doctor’s office or emergency room, wear a facemask if you have one. Wash your hands and cover your coughs and sneezes to avoid spreading the virus to others.

Getting a flu vaccine can greatly lower your chances of getting the flu. In the 2016–2017 flu season, the flu vaccine helped prevent an estimated 5.3 million flu-related illnesses, 2.6 million medical visits, and 85,000 hospitalizations in the United States.

How doctors treat influenza: doctors told what they do if they get sick themselves

• Health

Doctors shared tips on what they do themselves if they get ARVI or flu and are treated at home. Everyone says the same thing – there is no one way to quickly get better, but there are complex methods that you can also adopt.

December 16, 20224

Source:

iStockphoto

If you catch a virus – SARS, flu, covid – and the disease proceeds without complications, then any doctor will leave you to recover at home, and some will not even prescribe any medications.

– There is no magic pill to get rid of the virus . But then there are remedies that will ease your condition and speed up your recovery – and they will not cost you a penny, the doctors said in an interview with the Huffigton Post. – This is how we treat influenza and SARS ourselves if we become infected during the epidemic.

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How Doctors Treat When They Get Sick

Eat the Right Foods

“I support my body when I get sick with rest, plenty of fluids, and high protein foods,” says Dr. Dhawal Desai of Atlanta. – The patient’s diet should include eggs, fish, chicken, natural yogurt, whole grains. But it is better to exclude sausage and products that do not have nutritional value, as well as coffee and strong tea.

Do not drink alcohol during illness, doctors add, it can disturb your sleep, dehydrates and categorically does not combine with antipyretics if they have to be taken.

Drink a lot

Hydration is essentially a healing treatment, doctors are sure. It is imperative to drink during illness – and even more than you usually do.

— It is obligatory to drink warm water when you are sick. Not bad if the drinks are with vitamin C – fruit drinks, decoctions, diluted natural juices. The optimal ratio of water to other liquids is 70 to 30, advises doctor Elena Chernenko. – During an illness at a temperature, you should drink up to 100 ml of liquid per kilogram of body weight and up to 50 ml per kg of body weight – for coughing, runny nose and SARS without fever. We are talking about the rate of fluid per kilogram of normal human body weight – minus extra pounds.

Sleep a lot and stop exercising

If you don’t feel well, your body needs to rest, and it’s a bad idea to limit yourself to hours of sleep. According to Mayo Clinic , “When you don’t get enough sleep, there are fewer antibodies and infection-fighting cells.” So sleep deprivation will take longer to recover.

– If I’m sick, slow down as much as possible and let the body’s immune system do its job, says Florida family doctor Christopher Scuderi . – If I wake up when I’m sick, I try to fall asleep again and allow myself to take a nap in the afternoon, go to bed early. And also – I categorically refuse any serious physical activity and additional obligations on the days of illness.

“Even if there is no fever and you feel better, you don’t need to start general cleaning, wash dishes, scrub floors,” doctor Elena Chernenko also advises. – Give your body a rest.

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Monitor symptoms closely

“I definitely listen to my body and its signals,” says doctor Desai. – And I can’t stand it if I have a headache or a temperature above 38 – I use symptomatic treatment. But the main thing here is not to overdo it.

As the therapist warned earlier, if the high temperature does not subside after taking the pill, it is absolutely impossible to take the second one.

It is not worth prescribing pills on your own if you have any health problems or unusual symptoms without a doctor, the doctors say unanimously. Especially when it comes to small children.

“We don’t recommend using cough suppressants or any other over-the-counter cold medicine for young children, for example, without the advice of a doctor,” says the doctor. “It can have dangerous consequences for their health and life.

Use gargle and honey

— If you have a sore throat, salt water gargles work very well , says Scuderi. – Preparing the solution is simple – mix half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Gargle with them – this may bring temporary relief.

“I use honey as a natural cough suppressant,” notes Desai. – Studies have shown that honey can reduce coughs in children and adults. If you feel unwell, you can add some honey to your tea or oatmeal. Important – it is contraindicated for children under one year old and with individual intolerance.

Use humidifiers

“When I get sick, I turn on the humidifier and go to bed,” Flores, a pediatrician, says. — More than moisture-saturated air helps to facilitate breathing, reduces nasal congestion . If you don’t have a humidifier, you can spray water with a spray bottle or place a container of water in front of a fan. Important – if you have a chronic disease or the disease is severe, before you start using a humidifier, consult your doctor.

Do not take antibiotics

— Antibiotics work against bacterial infections, — doctor Desai explained. – A virus causes influenza and SARS. So such treatment can even be dangerous. If you take antibiotics in the hope of curing a cold, you are putting your body at risk of getting toxic effects. And over time—if you do this often—antibiotic resistance can develop. And pills will no longer help when the body really needs help.

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Stay at home

– If I get sick, I isolate myself from my relatives so as not to put them at risk, and, of course, I don’t go shopping and to work, — the doctors confirm. – It is very good to regularly ventilate the room where the sick person is located in order to prevent the spread of viruses.

As for flu and covid tests for mild illness, opinions are divided – some doctors believe that they should be done in order to know which virus has struck you and be prepared for possible complications that it can give. Others believe that testing is a waste of time and money.

— If you take a test and find out you have the flu, or covid, or neither, what should you do? The recipe is the same in all cases – stay at home, eat chicken soup, take paracetamol, be patient , says the famous doctor Alexander Myasnikov. — Testing may be justified when, for example, a severely febrile patient is admitted to the hospital. There may be various options – and a test is needed. But why he is in outpatient practice, I do not know.

Text author:Anna Mayskaya

What should not be done with SARS?

Influenza is an infectious disease that can affect anyone. The causative agent of influenza is a virus that from infected people enters the nasopharynx of others.

Most people get the flu for only a few days, but some get more severe, possibly severe, even fatal.

Influenza exacerbates existing chronic diseases, in addition, influenza has an extensive list of possible complications:

Pulmonary complications (pneumonia, bronchitis). Pneumonia is the cause of most influenza deaths.
Complications from the upper respiratory tract and ENT organs (otitis media, sinusitis, rhinitis, tracheitis).
Complications of the cardiovascular system (myocarditis, pericarditis).
Complications of the nervous system (meningitis, meningoencephalitis, encephalitis, neuralgia, polyradiculoneuritis).
In order to avoid possible complications, it is important to carry out the prevention of influenza in a timely manner and to properly treat the disease itself.

Influenza usually starts suddenly. The causative agents of influenza, viruses of types A and B, are characterized by aggressiveness and an exceptionally high reproduction rate, therefore, within a few hours after infection, the virus leads to deep lesions of the respiratory mucosa, opening up opportunities for bacteria to penetrate into it.

Influenza symptoms include fever, temperature of 37.5-39°C, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills, fatigue, cough, runny or stuffy nose, pain and itching in the throat.

Influenza can be confused with other diseases, so a doctor must make a clear diagnosis, he also prescribes treatment tactics.

What should I do if I have the flu?

The patient himself, at the first symptoms, needs to stay at home, so as not only not to infect others, but also to start treatment in time, for which it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor. To prevent further spread of the infection, the sick person must be isolated from healthy individuals, it is advisable to allocate a separate room.

Important!
Parents! In no case do not send sick children to kindergarten, school, cultural events. With influenza, it is extremely important to observe bed rest, since the disease increases the load on the cardiovascular, immune and other body systems.

Self-medication for influenza is unacceptable, and it is the doctor who must diagnose and prescribe the necessary treatment, appropriate to the condition and age of the patient.

For proper treatment, it is necessary to strictly follow all the recommendations of the attending physician and take medicines in a timely manner. In addition, it is recommended to drink plenty of water – it can be hot tea, cranberry or lingonberry juice, alkaline mineral water. You need to drink more often and as much as possible.

Important!
At a temperature of 38 – 39 ° C, call the local doctor at home or the ambulance team.
When coughing and sneezing, the patient should cover their mouth and nose with a handkerchief or tissue.
The room where the patient is located should be regularly ventilated and wet cleaned as often as possible, preferably using disinfectants that act on viruses.

Contact with a sick person should be limited, and when caring for him, use a medical mask or gauze bandage.

According to the position of the World Health Organization, the most effective remedy against influenza is vaccination, because it is the vaccine that provides protection against those types of influenza virus that are the most relevant in this epidemiological season and are part of it.

The introduction of a vaccine into the body cannot cause disease, but by producing protective antibodies it stimulates the immune system to fight infection. The effectiveness of the flu vaccine is incomparably higher than all non-specific medicines that can be taken during the winter months, such as immunomodulators, vitamins, homeopathic remedies, traditional medicine, and so on.

Vaccination is recommended for all population groups, but is especially indicated for children from 6 months of age, people suffering from chronic diseases, pregnant women, and people at occupational risk groups – medical workers, teachers, students, workers in the service sector and transport.
Vaccination should be carried out 2-3 weeks before the onset of an increase in the incidence, vaccination can only be done in a medical institution by specially trained medical personnel, and a doctor’s examination is mandatory before vaccination.

There are few contraindications to influenza vaccination. Influenza vaccination should not be done in acute febrile conditions, during an exacerbation of chronic diseases, with an increased sensitivity of the body to egg white (if it is part of the vaccine).

Having been vaccinated against influenza, you protect your body from the attack of the most dangerous viruses – influenza viruses, but there are still more than 200 types of viruses that are less dangerous for humans, but can also cause ARVI. Therefore, during the period of the epidemic rise in the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza, it is recommended to take non-specific preventive measures.

Flu Prevention Rules:

Get your flu shot before flu season starts.
Reduce your time in crowded places and public transport.
Wear a mask in crowded places.
Avoid close contact with people who show signs of illness, such as sneezing or coughing.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water regularly, especially after street and public transport.
Flush the nasal cavity, especially after the street and public transport
Ventilate the room you are in regularly.
Regularly wet clean the room you are in.
Humidify the air in the room you are in.
Eat as many foods containing vitamin C as possible (cranberries, lingonberries, lemon, etc.).
Eat as many meals as possible with garlic and onions.
Use immune-boosting drugs and products as recommended by your doctor.
In case of occurrence of flu cases in the family or work team, start taking antiviral drugs for prophylactic purposes (as agreed with the doctor, taking into account contraindications and according to the instructions for using the drug).
Lead a healthy lifestyle, get enough sleep, eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly.

1. How can I protect myself from the influenza A(h2N1) virus?

Use general influenza prevention measures: Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell, show fever (fever) and cough. Wash your hands thoroughly and often with soap and water. Adhere to a healthy lifestyle, including proper sleep, eating “healthy” foods, physical activity.

2. How should I care for a sick person at home?

Isolate the patient from others, at least 1 meter away from others.
Cover your mouth and nose while caring for the sick. Either commercially available or homemade masks are suitable for this purpose, provided they can be disposed of or disinfected after use.
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after each contact with a sick person.
Constantly ventilate the room in which the patient is located. Use windows and doors for ventilation.
Keep rooms clean by using cleaning household products.
If you live in a country where this infection occurs, follow the additional guidance provided by the national and local health authorities in your country.

3. What should I do if I think I am sick?

If you feel unwell, have a fever, cough or sore throat:
Stay at home and do not go to work, school or crowded places.
Rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Cover your mouth and nose with available disposable tissues when coughing and sneezing, and dispose of used tissues properly.
Wash your hands thoroughly and often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing.
Tell family and friends about your illness and try to avoid contact with people.

4. What if I need medical help?

Call the doctor at home and tell about your symptoms. Explain why you think you have type A(h2N1) influenza (for example, if you have recently traveled to a country with human outbreaks). Follow the advice given to you.
If it is not possible to contact your healthcare facility in advance, report your suspicion of infection as soon as you arrive at the facility.
Cover your nose and mouth while driving.

What should not be done with a cold?

1. At the first sign of a cold, you should not tightly lock all the windows in the apartment. There is absolutely no need to supercool, but prolonged exposure to a closed room can be harmful: the concentration of viruses in the air becomes high and prevents recovery. The more infection-laden air is replaced with clean air, the better for your health.

2. You don’t have to buy menthol candies from kiosks. They do not have a therapeutic effect, thanks to menthol they only create the illusion of relief, but do not treat the very cause of the disease. Real medicines, for example, lozenges, are sold at a pharmacy, and which ones will help you, the doctor will tell you.

3. Do not buy cough medicines unless you know how they work. For self-treatment, you can only use expectorants that help thin and remove sputum from the bronchi (mucaltin, bromhexine, licorice syrup). And drugs that suppress the cough syndrome should only be prescribed by a doctor, usually this is done with a dry and unproductive cough that exhausts the patient, preventing him from sleeping. It is especially dangerous when self-medicating to combine expectorant and antitussive drugs: sputum accumulates in the bronchi and is not excreted from there. This mutually exclusive effect of drugs can cause serious harm to health.

4. No need to instill onion juice in the nose with a runny nose according to the “grandmother’s” recipe, you can get a burn of the mucous membrane! Modern otolaryngologists are also asked not to experiment on their own body and buy medicine for the common cold in a pharmacy.