Hey there Guys, well it has certainly been an amazing few weeks post this years wonderful Southern Hibearnation in Australia. Unfortunately one of the unexpected extras appears to be a fairly aggressive influenza virus that many people have been hit by. Today I wanted to offer some suggestions and tips on how to best deal with it.
At work the past fortnight I have seen many many people with very severe flu symptoms. Most report that it starts with a sore throat, nasal congestion, shortness of breath that turns into a very dry annoying cough that just seems to hang around.
It appears to be a different virus to those covered in the annual flu shot as many patients report they had been given the vaccination.
In most cases the main treatment is rest, lots of fresh vitamin rich foods and over the counter medicines like Codral Cold & Flu™ to help reduce symptoms. There are some people however who may need extra medical treatments and today I wanted to talk about alerts for you to see your doctor.
If you notice any of the following symptoms I highly recommend making an appointment to see your doctor:
- High fevers, night sweats or feeling alternating hot and cold
- Severe cough
- Producing thick green or yellow sputum
- Chest pain
- Facial pain
- Rash
- Severe diarrhea or vomiting
- Or you are noticing that the symptoms are just not getting better after a week or so.
- If you live with asthma and you notice your breathing is getting worse.
Any of the above symptoms could indicate that the infection may have changed from a viral to a bacterial infection that may require antibiotics or other treatments.
If you have any concerns even if you feel they are minor I urge you to see your doctor. As I say to my patients I would rather see a waiting room of concerned well people rather than miss a person with significant illness.
Yours in good health
Dr George Forgan-Smith
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