Flu (influenza) spreads through respiratory droplets. The flu season lasts from November to May, peaking in winter. The illness lasts 7 to 10 days, with symptoms appearing 1 to 4 days after infection. A cold, or COVID-19, develops more slowly than the flu, but the overlapping symptoms make it challenging to diagnose without testing.
Who Should Seek Urgent Flu Care?
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, anyone experiencing flu symptoms would benefit from urgent care. At CLEAR Immediate Care, we offer the flu shot, and annual vaccinations are recommended.
Low-Risk Category
The following are examples of child emergency warning signs that should prompt immediate medical attention:
- A rapid or labored breathing rate
- Grayish or bluish complexion
- Failure to take in sufficient fluids
- Acute or chronic vomiting
- Not waking
- Erratic behavior
- Being so irritable they refuse to be held
- Flu-like symptoms that subside, only to reappear with a higher temperature and a more severe cough
Among the symptoms adults may experience that warrant immediate medical attention are:
- Difficulty or shortness of breath
- Pain/pressure in the abdomen or chest
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting that persists or increases in severity
- Resolving flu-like symptoms, preceded by a return of worse fever and cough
High-Risk Category
Those at risk for complications should see a doctor as soon as symptoms appear. Those include individuals who:
- Are over 50 or under two years old
- Are a long-term care facility resident
- Have a chronic medical condition, especially heart- and lung-related (like asthma)
- Have a metabolic disease (like kidney disease, diabetes, anemia or another blood disorder)
- Have HIV/AIDS
- Have a weakened immune system from undergoing cancer treatment or steroid therapy
- Are between six months and 18 years old and receiving long-term aspirin therapy
- Are pregnant, especially in the third trimester
A visit to urgent care ought not be necessary unless your condition is critical. However, if you have a preexisting condition that puts you at a higher risk for complications, you should visit us as soon as possible.
Testing is Key to Knowing if Your Symptoms are Flu-Related, Not Another Condition
You should also know that the symptoms you are experiencing may not be the flu but something else like Lyme disease, Listeriosis or COVID-19. Furthermore, if you regularly experience flu-like symptoms, it is essential to confirm the diagnosis with testing. You can achieve better health in the long run if you get the medical care needed and address any underlying causes.
Urgent Care for the Flu at CLEAR Immediate Care
Urgent care centers are for medical emergencies that need care within 24 hours of symptom emergence. They can help after doctor’s offices close. Appointments and walk-ins are accepted.
Knowing where to get good urgent medical care is crucial. CLEAR Immediate Care focuses on whole-body health to improve quality of life. Please contact our clinic for urgent care today if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms and want a test to confirm the underlying cause.