Who has time to be sick with the flu? At Park Nicollet, we want to keep you and your family healthy and productive. Influenza vaccine is your best defense against the flu. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated.
Most people with the flu do not need medical care. If you get sick with flu symptoms, in most cases, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people. Learn more about the flu from Park Nicollet's Dr. Nila Suntharam as she discusses flu symptoms, prevention and when you call your doctor in this video.
If, however, you have symptoms of the flu and are very sick, worried about your illness, or are high-risk for complications, you and your family can receive advice and treatment in the following ways:
Signs and Symptoms of Influenza vs. Common Cold*
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Signs and Symptoms
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Influenza |
Cold |
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Onset
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Sudden
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Gradual
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Fever
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Temperature of 100°F and above, lasting 3-4 days
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None or less than a temperature of 100°F
|
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Cough
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Dry, sometimes severe
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Hacking
|
|
Headache
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Prominent
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Rare
|
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Muscle pain
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Usual, often severe
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Uncommon or mild
|
|
Tiredness & weakness
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Lasting 2 to 3 weeks
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Very mild and brief
|
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Extreme exhaustion
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Early and prominent
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Never
|
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Chest discomfort
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Common
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Uncommon or mild
|
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Stuffy nose
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Sometimes
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Common
|
|
Sneezing
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Sometimes
|
Common |
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Sore throat
|
Sometimes
|
Common
|
* Symptoms may vary in severity based on the individual.
Flu (Influenza)
Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.
Coughing or sneezing spreads the flu virus from person to person. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
Some people, such as young children, pregnant women, older people and people with certain health conditions (see below), are at high risk for serious flu complications. If you have a high risk condition and get flu symptoms, check with your doctor promptly.
Factors known to increase a person’s risk of getting serious complications from the flu:
- Asthma
- Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
- Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis)
- Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
- Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
- Kidney disorders
- Liver disorders
- Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
- Morbid Obesity
- Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions
- People younger than 19 years of age on long-term aspirin therapy
- People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- People with weakened immune systems due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids)
Other people at high risk:
- Adults 65 years and older
- Children younger than 2 years old
- Pregnant women and women up to 2 weeks from end of pregnancy
- American Indians and Alaska Natives
What should I do if I am a high risk person and think I have the flu?
Check with your doctor promptly as antiviral drugs may be a treatment option.
Who should be vaccinated?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone age 6 months and older should get influenza vaccine every year.
When to be vaccinated?
Yearly flu vaccination should begin as soon as vaccine is available, and continue throughout the influenza season. In Minnesota, the flu season often extends into April and May.
Influenza vaccinations are available at all Park Nicollet Clinic locations, and within many Park Nicollet specialty departments. Call your nearest clinic to schedule a nurse-only vaccination appointment, or ask to receive a vaccination at any other scheduled appointment.
Are antibiotics effective against the flu?
No. Antibiotics are effective against bacterial infections. Influenza and most cases of acute bronchitis (another name for a "chest cold") are caused by viruses. Doctors will sometimes treat the flu and bronchitis with antiviral medications. But antibiotics can’t treat these conditions, prevent their spread, or ease their symptoms. It’s important to use antibiotics only when they’re necessary, because bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics over time. You can help keep antibiotics effective by not taking them to treat the flu, bronchitis or other viral infections.
Are there other medicines that can treat the flu?
Your clinician may recommend influenza antiviral medications. These medications can reduce the severity of influenza symptoms and shorten the time you are sick by 1 to 2 days. They also may make you less contagious to other people. Antiviral drugs must be started within 2 days after you get sick.
Two influenza antiviral drugs are recommended for use in the United States: oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamavir (Relenza). Side effects are different for each drug. It is important to remember that influenza antiviral drugs are not a substitute for getting the influenza vaccine.
Will everyone need to get antiviral medicines?
No. Certain strains of influenza may be resistant to these medications while other strains may not. Therefore, this will need to be determined by your doctor.
When should I seek medical help? Are there danger signs I should watch for?
Children
Seek urgent medical attention if your child has any of these danger signs:
- Fast breathing or difficulty breathing
- Bluish or gray skin color
- Not drinking enough fluid
- Severe vomiting or vomiting that continues awhile
- Not waking up or not interacting (being listless)
- Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough. This could be a sign of pneumonia.
Adults
Seek urgent medical attention if you have any of these danger signs:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- New or sudden confusion
- Severe vomiting or vomiting that continues awhile
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough. This could be a sign of pneumonia.