When dealing with flu symptoms, you need to seek additional medical evaluation if, in addition to normal flu symptoms, you experience the following: • High fever • Coughing up heavy mucus or blood • Signs of dehydration • Rapid breathing or trouble breathing • Blue color to skin, lips, or fingernails • Worsening of pre-existing medical conditions
Dr. Thomas Herchline, Medical Director for Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County explains, “It is very important that individuals with typical flu symptoms do not go to hospital emergency rooms.” He continues, “If emergency rooms are overwhelmed with people with flu symptoms, they cannot maintain needed emergency services.”
Flu, because it is a virus, is not normally treated with standard antibiotics. Treatment with an antiviral is not being recommended except for those who have been hospitalized or have a serious underlying medical condition.
Flu will run its course in a few days. So, if you go to a hospital emergency room for typical mild flu symptoms, you will likely be sent home, after being told to get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids.