"
Flu season can pose a challenge of knowing what you can treat at home and what symptoms require treatment at a medical clinic. Symptoms of a cold can leave you feeling down on your luck, but it’s nothing a little bedrest can’t fix. But if you don’t treat your symptoms properly, of they’re getting worse instead of better, you might want to visit urgent care. With over 200,000 patients being hospitalized due to flu-like symptoms every year, you should not hesitate to visit urgent care for treatment!
Sinus Symptoms
Symptoms of the flu usually include nasal congestion and a runny nose, and most of the time, an over-the-counter decongestant will help relieve your symptoms. If the decongestant isn’t helping your symptoms, or they don’t ease up within a week, you should visit an urgent care center. Congestion that doesn’t subside is usually a sign of a bacterial infection that needs to be treated with antibiotics. This is a symptom that doesn’t need a trip to the emergency room, but you should be weary of avoiding treatment for too long.
Fever
The flu is also known for bringing on a fever that takes over your immune system. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen are great options for reducing fevers, but if it doesn’t break, you need to seek treatment right away. A fever over 104 should be treated immediately to prevent further damage. If your child is suffering from the flu, be sure to keep an eye on their temperature and call their pediatrician if it reaches over 101.
Dehydration
It can be easy to forget to drink water throughout the day, but dehydration is one of the main reasons people get hospitalized from the flu. Vomiting and diarrhea are common symptoms of the flu and can lead to dehydration. Be sure to up your intake of water if you’re suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, even if you’re not feeling hungry or thirsty. If you’re feeling faint, dizzy, and weak, be sure to visit an urgent care center to get your symptoms evaluated. The physicians will treat you with IV fluids, and electrolytes to get your body back to normal. The sooner you seek treatment, the less likely you’ll need to be hospitalized.
Feeling under the weather? AFC Urgent Care Marlborough provides treatment for seasonal flu-like symptoms on a walk-in basis, so you don’t need an appointment to be seen. Just stop by our urgent care center any day during the week and we’ll get you back to feeling better, sooner!
"
