What should I do if I have the flu?
If you are not one of the people in the high risk group, you should stay at home and reduce the chance of spreading the flu to other people. The CDC and MN department of health advise staying home. If you have questions you can call the clinic, but do not come to the clinic for an evaluation.
If symptoms are mild, and you do not fall into a high risk group, then treatment is not needed. You should keep yourself hydrated with plenty of fluids and you can take Tylenol or Advil or Aleve for fever and body aches. You need to stay home from work or school for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of any fever reducing medications like Tylenol.
If you are one of the people in the high risk group, you should contact our clinic or your primary care doctor's office for treatment. This can be done on the phone. Patients at high risk for complications from the flu should be treated with antiviral medication. Even if symptoms are not severe, staying at home is still recommended to prevent spreading the flu to others.
Severe symptoms include
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Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
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Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
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Sudden dizziness
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Confusion
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Severe or persistent vomiting
If these severe symptoms develop then treatment at the hospital is recommended. If you are pregnant, treatment with antiviral medication is recommended even for mild cases.
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