Posted: 1/7/2015
Parkland physicians provide tips on when to see a doctor
Sneezes, sniffles and coughs can only mean one thing: cold and flu season is in full swing. Parkland Health & Hospital System has reported more than 775 patients with influenza since Nov. 1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Dec. 30 that flu in the U.S. has reached epidemic levels and Texas is one of the states shown as currently having a “high” level of influenza-like illness. But trying to figure out whether you’ve got a common cold or the flu, how you should treat your symptoms and when you should seek medical attention can be confusing.
Parkland physicians have some helpful tips on how to identify your ailment and what you can do to prevent or treat colds and flu.
“The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses,” said Donna Persaud, MD, Chief of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine at Parkland. “In general, the flu is worse than the common cold and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness and dry cough are more common and intense.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Persaud said, colds are usually milder than the flu and symptoms of the common cold are mainly stuffy/runny nose and sore throat. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems such as pneumonia, bacterial infections or hospitalizations. In most cases, staying home and resting is the best way to recover.
According to the CDC, the flu can hit certain populations especially hard. These include young children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with certain chronic medical conditions. If you do experience severe symptoms, contact a doctor immediately.
Pranavi Sreeramoju, MD, Chief of Infection Prevention at Parkland, said that so far cases in Dallas County are almost all Type A flu H3N2 strains, which cause more severe flu symptoms.
“Seasons in which this strain is predominant are very bad,” Dr. Sreeramoju said. “However, the best defense against the flu is getting vaccinated. Even though this year’s flu vaccine is less effective than usual seasons, it can definitely boost immunity to the flu and reduce the severity and complications of flu in those who are vaccinated.”
Dr. Sreeramoju added that anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu® generally are not given to prevent the flu.
“They’re used for treating flu. What they do is shorten the duration of illness by at least 48 hours and they also reduce the severity of the infection,” Dr. Sreeramoju said. “We use the anti-viral drugs to prevent influenza in only those individuals who cannot get the vaccine or are very immune compromised, and in those who have not been vaccinated and were exposed to someone with influenza.”
In addition to getting the flu vaccine, both doctors stressed proper hand-washing and covering the mouth while coughing as the best actions to prevent spreading the flu, cold and infections in general.
Here are some signs that you may need to seek medical care quickly:
- Difficulty breathing
- Persistent fever above 100 degrees
- Pain in the chest or abdomen
- Dizziness or confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
Learn more about Parkland Community Oriented Primary Care health centers at www.parklandhospital.com/locations.