Flu
The flu can knock you off track. In order to get back into your day-to-day routine without hindrance visit Centric Urgent Care. Call or schedule an appointment online to get the proper treatment and recover quickly from the flu.
Flu Q & A
Centric Urgent Care
What is the flu?
The flu virus, also known as influenza, is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza A or B viruses. The flu appears most often during the winter and in the early spring season. The flu virus begins spreading through the upper and lower respiratory tract.
What's the difference between a cold and flu?
Colds and flu are similar in some ways. They’re both contagious viral infections in the respiratory tract. But even though symptoms can be similar, the flu is much worse. Both colds and flu bring on coughing, headache, congestion, and chest discomfort. The flu, however, can produce a high fever for several days and cause body aches, fatigue, and weakness. Symptoms of the flu also tend to show up abruptly. If a flu strain is severe enough it can lead to further complications and illnesses, such as pneumonia. The elderly, pregnant women and those who have chronic ailments such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, and HIV are at highest risk for developing complications from the flu.
What are the treatment options?
Most of the time flu symptoms can be relieved through over-the-counter remedies and plenty of rest. However, for some cases, there are prescription antiviral drugs that can be used to treat the flu virus. Antiviral drugs are usually prescribed and can come in the form of pills, liquids, inhalers, or even intravenous solutions. These antiviral drugs are used to fight against the flu in your body. Antiviral drugs aren’t sold over-the-counter. You can only get them if you have a prescription from your doctor or healthcare provider. Specific strains of flu can be prevented by a flu vaccine, either a flu shot or nasal spray flu vaccine. For more information on the flu vaccine, and if it might be right for you, call or schedule an appointment online at Centric Urgent Care.
