Although the coronavirus is what's on almost everyone's minds right now, the flu is still out there. And unfortunately, even if you got the flu vaccine, this year's has been shown to not be very effective against the strain of flu that's actually going around. So it's possible you could still contract the flu even if you've taken steps against it. But what is there to be done about it? Once you have the flu, you just have to ride it out, right? Actually, that's not true at all. Here's why you need to get help for having the flu immediately.
Symptoms of the Flu
It can be difficult to tell if you have the flu or another illness at first. But if you have symptoms of lethargy, body aches, chills, or fever, there's a strong likelihood that it's the flu and not a run-of-the-mill virus. Never ignore these symptoms, as they're typically the first to develop when you get the flu.
Why You Shouldn't Wait
Time is of the essence with the flu. Nowadays, medication exists that can dramatically shorten the length of time you're sick with the flu and even help to lighten up its symptoms. One of these medications is called oseltamivir, but there are also others.
The problem with these medications, however, is that they have to be taken very early on into you catching the flu. They essentially stop the virus from replicating as effectively, which means that if you already have a full-fledged illness with millions of virus bodies in you that it won't be effective anymore. So never ignore the early symptoms of the flu!
What to Do
If you think you're sick with the flu, it's time to head to an urgent care facility. They can see you more quickly and efficiently than if you went to the emergency room, especially at a time like this when emergency rooms are seeing all-time highs of patients due to the coronavirus. You also don't want to get infected with a secondary condition, so it's best to stay away from the ER if you can help it.
Your urgent care facility will have access to the medication that you need in order to improve your symptoms. Don't worry about it if you're not sure if you have the flu. They'll make sure of it before giving you any medication by testing your symptoms as well as performing a blood test to look for evidence of the flu. For more information, contact a walk-in urgent care center like La Costa Urgent Care near you.
