The flu is something that we need to be wary of during the winter and early spring months, but this year, in particular, has been incredibly rough. The flu is out with a vengeance, and it’s easy to see. Whether you’ve fallen victim to it, your child’s classroom has gone home early with flu symptoms, or your office population is slowly starting to dwindle as coworkers leave early, chances are you’ve seen just how bad the flu has been going around this year.
Here at Medics USA, we have had countless individuals come in looking for some help with the symptoms that they’re struggling with. If you’re looking to catch the flu symptoms early on or work on avoiding them altogether, you’re going to want to keep reading today’s blog. The team at Medics USA, located in Washington DC, are going to go over a few of the symptoms that have been associated with the two most common strains of the flu going around.
Influenza B
The flu season started off a bit unusual with influenza B/Victoria showing up earlier than it usually does. In the past years, we’ve seen this particular strain show up towards the end of the flu season, but this year it popped up much sooner. Unfortunately, this strain is incredibly contagious, making the fact it showed up earlier in the flu season even less desirable.
This strain is known as the respiratory version of the flu, so the signs and symptoms will differ a little from the influenza A signs and symptoms. As a whole, there are various symptoms associated with this particular strain of the flu including some of the following:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Chills
- Coughing
- Congestion
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Muscle/body aches
- Fatigue
- Abdominal Pain
- Weakness
Though these symptoms may not seem like a big deal, influenza B can quickly develop into a worse-case scenario. If left without treatment, this strain of the flu could develop into bronchitis, pneumonia, respiratory failure, and the like. So, with that in mind, if you notice any of these symptoms, visit your urgent care provider immediately.
Influenza A
The other strain that we most commonly see is influenza A – strain H1N1. This particular strain is most common around younger people, but the age range is always changed. This strain of the flu is also incredibly contagious and can be passed from animals to humans, contributing to why it is such a large threat. In severe cases of influenza A, cases can become life-threatening. So, with that in mind, let’s visit a few of the signs and symptoms associated with this strain.
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Fever
- Headaches
- Body Aches
- Chills
- Fatigue
As we mentioned earlier, this particular strain of the flu can become very serious if left untreated. Many of these symptoms will go away within a week or two, but if you do not turn to a professional for some guidance, you could find yourself struggling with:
- Ear infections
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Chest pains
- Asthma attacks
- Dizziness
- Bronchitis
- And more.
If you find yourself struggling with any of the symptoms we’ve mentioned above, and they’ve lasted for longer than a week, stop by your local urgent care facility. We will be able to conduct a quick test that tells us which strain of the flu you’re sick with and get you on antivirals immediately! This will reduce the chances of it spreading but also get you on the road to feeling better, two things we all want during flu season.
Visit Our Urgent Care Facility
As we mentioned earlier, this flu season has been particularly challenging. If you or someone in your family start to notice symptoms of the flu, make sure that you visit Medics USA, your local urgent care facility in Washington DC. Our team can examine your signs and symptoms and complete tests to be certain that it is the flu you’re sick with. From there, we can provide antivirals that get you back on your feet again.
Walk-ins are welcome at our facility, but if you’d like to try and make an appointment or give notice that you’ll be stopping in, contact our office and we’ll let you know if we have time and what you can do to make your visit quick and easy. Feel free to reach out with any questions!
