If someone is lucky enough to live a long life, one thing that is guaranteed is they
have experienced the flu at least once. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, this is one of the worst flu seasons in recent years. With the New Year barely
underway, there have already been three times as many cases of the flu compared to how many
there were at this point last year. The trouble is learning when to go to the hospital when
you develop flu symptoms.
What’s even more tragic is that at least 30 children have perished so far as a result
of the flu. To shed more light on this recent problem, the rate of people being hospitalized
for the flu in the first week of January was 22.7 per 100,000 people. Compare that to the
2014-2015 flu season where the rate was 29.9 per 100,000 people for the entire year. That
year was considered the worst flu seasons in the last 15 years.
When most people develop flu symptoms, they just lie in bed, rest and wait it out. But
sometimes just waiting it out may not be enough. But how do you know when your flu symptoms
require you to take a trip to the emergency room?
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Now, let’s find out the signs that tell you when your flu symptoms may be in an emergency
situation.
1 Constant Vomiting: One of the first signs that you’ve developed the flu is vomiting,
says Healthline. It’s your stomach trying rejecting the toxins in your body and forcing
you to throw them up. Each time you vomit, your body not only gets rid of toxins, but
it also loses nutrients as well. If you are constantly vomiting, you run the risk of becoming
severely dehydrated. Go to the emergency room if you’re experiencing this for a few days.
2 Pain and Pressure in Your Chest and Stomach: If you’re experiencing chest pain or stomach
pain, and it doesn’t subside after a couple of days, you should go to the emergency room,
according to Healthline. Also, if you’re experiencing chest pain without exerting yourself,
you should speak with your doctor or medical practitioner.
3 You Become Confused: If you become dehydrated because of the vomiting, nutrients will not
travel to the brain. Without sufficient nutrients, the brain can become disoriented and affect
your cognitive function, says WebMD. If you start to feel confused, this is a red flag
that you may undiagnosed medical issues and should visit your nearest medical clinic.
4 High Fever: The average body temperature is 98.6 degrees. If you take your temperature
or someone else’s temperature and it’s been least 103 degrees the past few checks,
you need to contact a doctor immediately, says experts at WebMD. A body temperature
that is up to 102 degrees can be helpful because it helps the body fight the infection. If
it rises higher than that, it means that the body is losing the fight.
The temperature for children may vary though. According to the Mayo Clinic, if a newborn
has a temperature of 100 degrees, you should call your doctor. For children who are 6 months
and older, a fever of 102 degrees warrants a call to the doctor’s office. A fever that
lasts for more than a few days, and has not gone down once, will require further medical
attention.
5 Who’s At Risk: For those who panic when they get sick, it’s important to know that
most healthy adults who get the flu do not need to go to the hospital. The people who
are most vulnerable are children who are under the age of 5-years-old, pregnant women, the
elderly, and people who have other coexisting medical conditions such as diabetes, says
the Mayo Clinic.
Flu symptoms for children are different than adults. Adults have a stronger immune system
which allows them to fight off the infection. If your child experiences bluish skin, trouble
breathing rashes, and unresponsiveness, it can be a cause for concern. But if these symptoms
improve but then return even worse than before, contact a medical health professional immediately.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that parents take their infants
to the emergency room if they don’t eat, have issues breathing, have little to no tears
when they’re crying and have fewer wet diapers than normal. For the average adult who gets
the flu, rest and fluids are the best ways to treat it. Your doctor may prescribe you
some flu medication, but for the most part, you can rely on medication at your local drug
store. One rule to remember is if you are sick with the flu, try not to leave the place
you are staying at. The last thing you want to do is spread the flu, as it can be very
contagious. Enjoyed this video? Hit the like button and
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