Flu Season Hits Home

Folks both on a local level and national level, as announced through the CDC recently, flu season is on its way. It is running late this year but is making a tear. We have seen several cases already over the past week or so. The best way to treat the flu is prevention. If you have not had your vaccination, you can still get one. We do still have some available at Gumtree Medical Clinic.

If you do experience flu symptoms, you need to get evaluated early and the earlier the better. If you can get treatment started within the first 48 hours, the medication may lessen the severity of the symptoms as well as shorten the duration of the illness.

If you have been in contact with someone who has documented influenza, you need to get checked out as well. If you have not already contracted the disease, you can get started on prophylaxis (prevention) medication which can keep you from getting the flu despite the exposure.

Symptoms may resemble the common cold but there are some differences and the symptoms associated with the flu generally start rather rapidly. Things that tend to indicated the flu are the following:

Fever (usually high)
Headache
Tiredness (can be extreme)
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Body aches
Diarrhea and vomiting (more common among children than adults)

If you or someone you know has these symptoms, please get tested and started on treatment if the flu test is positive.

Remember, for most people the flu is a miserable illness but is self-limited. However, in any given person, the flu can cause mild to severe illness and at times can lead to death. Although most healthy people recover from the flu without complications, some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious complications from the flu.

Also, the flu is spread by droplets transmitted through the air; it may also be spread by hand to hand contact. Remember to cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. As well, it is important to wash you hands to prevent spread in this fashion.

If you have any questions or need to make an appointment, please feel free to call us at Gumtree Medical Clinic at 662-690-5675. We are located at 88 Clark Boulevard and accept appointments as well as walk-ins for your convenience.