flu symptoms Tag

Flu Update for 2023 Flu Season

It’s that time of year again when coughs, sneezes and runny noses can send you running for cover from potential flu virus contamination. As the flu season ramps up, the board-certified physicians at Medco ER in Plano, TX, are prepared to offer flu vaccinations, antiviral medications, antibiotics, rapid results labs, and advice to patients who encounter influenza.

Current Flu Predictions

Since this is the onset of flu season, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that influenza is not currently a pandemic. They continue to monitor the potential threat of widespread flu in the United States. For now, the flu vaccine combats the four most common viruses predicted to be dominant this year.

Asian lineage avian influenza A consisting of H5N1 and H7N9 viruses is considered one of the risks this season.¹ This and other strains of viruses are being tracked by the CDC.

Symptoms

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, come to Medco ER immediately for evaluation for the flu:⁴

• Chills, fever
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Cough
• Body aches
• Fatigue, lethargy

Prevention

The first line of defense against the flu is to get the vaccine every season. Patients with chronic conditions or at higher risk for complications should get the vaccination every year.² Vaccinations help prevent the most common viruses, but not all of them.³

“If we experience a pandemic flu this year, it is likely going to happen in spite of the vaccine,” said Medco ER’s Medical Director, Dr. Nasir Khan. “Widespread viruses that cause influenza are not protected against with annual vaccinations. However, flu vaccinations are very important for the most virulent strains. It is also important to follow good practices to prevent getting the flu.”

One of the best things that you can do to prevent the flu is to frequently and carefully wash your hands with hot water and soap. If you are on the go, take hand sanitizer with you to use after each stop.

Avoid crowded places and close contact with people who are sick. Similarly, if you are sick, stay home so you don’t spread the germs. Stay home 24 hours after your fever is gone. Don’t forget that your fever-reducing medications may confuse this timeframe.

Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth to prevent introducing germs into your system. Use a tissue or your elbow to cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away afterwards.²

Clean frequently touched surfaces such as light switches, doorknobs, countertops, and bathrooms to keep germs at bay. Consider spraying rooms with natural antibacterial mixtures such as tea tree oil and distilled water.

Treatment

One of the only treatments for early onset influenza is antiviral drugs. These prescribed antiviral drugs need to be administered rapidly to be effective. They should be started within 1-2 days of the first symptom.

Prescription antibiotics may be needed for secondary infections that could arise from flu symptoms, such as bronchitis. Your physician at Medco ER may prescribe something to keep your symptoms from getting worse.

At home treatment ideas include:⁵

• Bed rest
• Stay home
• Fever reducing over-the-counter medication
• Drink clear liquids

Warning Signs

Influenza could become an emergency and require immediate medical care. If you or someone in your house is experiencing any of these warning signs, come to Medco ER right away for a complete examination.⁵

• Breathing difficulty
• Chest pain or pressure
• Fever or cough that improves, then gets worse
• Lack of urine output
• Dizziness
• Confusion, not alert
• Dry mouth, no tears when crying
• Seizure
• Severe body aches or muscle pain
• Fever that doesn’t respond to fever-reducing medications
• Extreme weakness

Get Flu Help Fast at Medco ER 

If you are just experiencing flu symptoms, go immediately to Medco ER. You may be a good candidate for antiviral prescription medication that could shorten the life of your flu symptoms. We are open 24/7, so you can get easy access to rapid results flu tests and prescriptions.

Plano: 3960 Legacy Drive, Plano, TX 75023 (on the corner of Legacy and Coit Road)

Call us @ 469-747-0370

¹ https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/monitoring/current-situation.html

² https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/prevention.htm

³ https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/basics/faq.html

⁴ https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/whatyoushould.htm

⁵ https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/takingcare.htm 

Flu vs. COVID-19

Influenza (commonly known as the flu) and COVID-19 are both highly contagious respiratory illnesses and can easily spread to others. Although the symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu can look similar, the two illnesses are caused by different viruses.

Causes:

COVID-19 is caused by the 2019 coronavirus, also known as SARS-CoV-2.

Flu is caused by any of several different types and strains of influenza viruses.

Symptoms:

Similarities:

• Both illnesses can cause fever, cough, body aches, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea (especially in children).
• Both can result in pneumonia.
• Both flu and COVID-19 can be mild or severe, or even fatal in rare cases.

Differences:

COVID-19 can sometimes cause a person to suddenly lose their sense of smell (anosmia) or taste (ageusia).

By contrast, flu does not typically affect a person’s sense of smell or taste.

Shortness of breath is quite common with COVID-19 while it is a rare symptom of the flu.

Many people infected with the coronavirus do not feel sick or have any symptoms at all, but they can still transmit the virus to other people. By contrast, most people infected with flu tend to be symptomatic.

So how long does it take for symptoms to appear after exposure and infection?

Differences:

If a person has COVID-19, it could take them longer to develop symptoms than if they had flu.

Flu:

Typically, a person develops symptoms anywhere from 1 to 4 days after infection.

COVID-19:

Typically, a person develops symptoms 5 days after being infected, but symptoms can appear as early as 2 days after infection or as late as 14 days after infection, and the time range can vary.

How do they spread?

• Both the flu and COVID-19 spread in similar ways. Droplets or smaller virus particles from a sick person can transmit the virus to other people nearby. The smallest particles may linger in the air, and another person can inhale them and become infected.

• However, COVID-19 seems to spread more easily than flu and causes more serious illnesses in some people. Another important difference is there is a vaccine to protect against flu. There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, though research is ongoing.

• Again, it’s important to note that people infected with the coronavirus or the flu may not realize they are sick for several days and, during that time, can unknowingly spread the disease to others before they even feel sick.

What are some complications caused by these illnesses?

Similarities:

Both COVID-19 and flu can result in complications, including:

• Pneumonia
• Respiratory failure requiring supplemental oxygen support
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (i.e. fluid in lungs), which usually lands people in ICU
• Heart problems
• Multiple-organ failure (respiratory failure, kidney failure, shock) commonly known as sepsis
• Secondary bacterial infections

Differences:

Additional complications associated with COVID-19 can include:

• Blood clots in the veins and arteries of the lungs, heart, legs or brain

Mortality rate: 

COVID-19 close to 3%.  FLU causes <1% of deaths among the people infected.

Testing Options available:

Influenza or the FLU:

First of all, influenza virus testing is not required to make a clinical diagnosis of influenza in patients with suspected influenza, particularly during periods of increased cases. However, influenza virus testing can inform clinical management when these results may influence decisions such as:

• initiating antiviral treatment
• performing other diagnostic testing
• implementing infection prevention and control measures for influenza

 Influenza virus testing is recommended for all patients with suspected influenza who are being admitted to the hospital. Furthermore, during a respiratory illness outbreak in a closed setting (such as long-term care facility or nursing homes), testing for influenza virus infection can be very helpful in determining if influenza is the cause of the outbreak.

There are several diagnostic tests available for detection of influenza viruses in respiratory specimens.

For the purposes of this forum, I would just like to mention the Rapid Influenza Diagnostic tests, which are readily available in outpatient settings, such as the doctors’ office and urgent care clinics. They can detect influenza viral antigens in 10-15 minutes with a reasonable accuracy.

COVID-19

Since COVID-19 is a new disease, information about the tests to detect the disease with high accuracy is still evolving. But here’s what we know now about tests that are currently available to the public:

Diagnostic tests for current COVID-19 infection:

If you want to know if you are currently infected with the COVID-19 virus, there are TWO types of tests:

1. Molecular tests
2. Antigen tests

Molecular tests (also called PCR tests)

How is it done?  Nasal swabs, throat swabs, and tests of saliva or other bodily fluids.

You can get it done at a hospital or in a medical office.

What does the test look for?  Molecular tests look for genetic material that comes only from the virus.

How long does it take to get results?  It depends on lab capacity. Results may be ready the same day, but usually take at least a day or two. Throughout the pandemic, especially lately, delayed turnaround times of up to a week or two have been reported in many places.

A molecular test using a deep nasal swab is usually the best option, because it will have fewer false negative results than other diagnostic tests or samples from throat swabs or saliva. People who are in the hospital, though, may have other types of samples taken.

Antigen tests

It is also performed using a nasal or throat swab.

It can be obtained at a hospital or doctor’s office or even at home (Quest Diagnostics, costs around $130).

If the test is negative, it should be confirmed by the PCR test which is more specific for COVID-19

Antibody tests:

This is a third type of test that requires a sample of blood. It checks for antibodies in the blood. However, it does not differentiate between the present and past infection.

Moreover, having an antibody test too early can lead to false negative results. That’s because it takes a week or two after infection for your immune system to produce antibodies.

The bottom line:

Unfortunately, getting a test for COVID-19 can be confusing because the options are changing and tests from many companies are being marketed. Despite the current limitations of testing, we’re lucky to have reasonably accurate tests available so early in the course of a newly identified virus.

Getting a flu vaccine this year may be more important than ever to reduce stress on healthcare facilities that are already busy with COVID-19 care.

Emergency care available

If you are having trouble breathing, have chest pain, inability to stay awake, confusion or blue lips or face, come to Medco ER & Urgent Care immediately for help.

If you suspect you have COVID-19, come in for evaluation.

If you think you have COVID-19 and you have a preexisting, chronic medical condition such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, kidney disease, asthma, obesity, lung disease or if you are pregnant, come in for evaluation.

• Plano: 3960 Legacy Drive on the corner of Legacy and Coit Road.

                Call us @ 469-392-4000.

– Dr. Tariq Vora, Medco ER & Urgent Care