TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — After an unusual year off, the U.S. flu season has arrived right on schedule. So what should you do if you get sick with the flu?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people with the flu experience mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs. For the majority of flu cases, the CDC recommends staying home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone and avoiding contact with other people except to get medical attention.
“Your fever should be gone without the need for fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol. Until then, you should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events and public gatherings,” the CDC’s website states.
The CDC says young children, those 65 years and older, pregnant people or people with certain medical conditions may be at an increased risk of serious flu-related complications. The CDC provides a full list of people with increased risk of flu-related complications.
When should you go to the emergency room?
The emergency room should only be used for people who are very sick. The CDC says those who are only mildly ill should not go to the emergency room.
Those with emergency warning signs of flu sickness should go to the emergency room. If you are at higher risk and are concerned about your illness, call your health care provider for advice.
What are emergency warning signs of flu?
| In children | In adults |
| Fast breathing or trouble breathing | Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath |
| Bluish lips or face | Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen |
| Ribs pulling in with each breath | Persistent dizziness, confusion, inability to arouse |
| Chest pain | Seizures |
| Severe muscle pain (child refuses to walk) | Not urinating |
| Dehydration (no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, no tears when crying) | Severe muscle pain |
| Not alert or interacting when awake | Severe weakness or unsteadiness |
| Seizures | Fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen |
| Fever above 104°F | Worsening of chronic medical conditions |
| In children less than 12 weeks, any fever | |
| Fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen | |
| Worsening of chronic medical conditions |
Are there medicines to treat flu?
There are a number of drugs your doctor can prescribe for treating the flu. The CDC warns that that children and teenagers who have the flu or are suspected to have the flu should not be given Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) or any salicylate containing products like Pepto Bismol. Experts say this can cause a rare, very serious complication called Reye’s syndrome.
