We are currently experiencing a high volume of patients with influenza
in The Dalles and surrounding areas. This is in line with what is being
experienced in the rest of the state. It is not too late to get your flu
shot, and vaccination is the best form of prevention. Vaccination for
the flu does take about two weeks to become effective. If you get the
flu vaccine, you still might get the flu but the illness should be less
severe than if you did not get it.
Common signs and symptoms of flu include:
• Fever or feeling feverish/chills (not everyone with the flu will
have a fever)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Some people have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common
in children than adults
If you get sick with flu symptoms, in most cases, you should stay home
and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. If, however,
you have symptoms of flu and are in a high-risk group, or are very sick
or worried about your illness, contact your health care provider. Certain
people are at high risk of serious flu-related complications (including
young children, people 65 and older, pregnant women and people with certain
medical conditions). If you are in a high-risk group and develop flu symptoms,
it’s best for you to contact your doctor early in your illness.
CDC recommends that people at high risk for complications should get antiviral
treatment as early as possible, because benefit is greatest if treatment
is started within 2 days after illness onset.
If you need to seek treatment for the flu, most of the time this can be
done at your primary care provider’s office. Another option is the
MCMC Family Medicine Clinic, which has walk-in hours on Saturday mornings.
If you have any emergency signs of the flu (below), you should seek care
at the emergency room.
WHAT ARE THE EMERGENCY WARNING SIGNS OF FLU?
People experiencing these warning signs should obtain medical care right away.
In children:
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish lips or face
• Ribs pulling in with each breath
• Chest pain
• Severe muscle pain (child refuses to walk)
• Dehydration (no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, no tears when crying)
• Not alert or interacting when awake
• Seizures
• Fever above 104°F
• In children less than 12 weeks, any fever
• Fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen
• Worsening of chronic medical conditions
In adults:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Persistent dizziness, confusion, inability to arouse
• Seizures
• Not urinating
• Severe muscle pain
• Severe weakness or unsteadiness
• Fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen
• Worsening of chronic medical conditions
These lists are not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider
for any other symptom that is severe or concerning.
The CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your
fever is gone except to get medical care or other necessities. Your fever
should be gone without the need to use a fever-reducing medicine such
as Tylenol. Until then, you should stay home from work, school, travel,
shopping, social events, and public gatherings.
Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
If you must leave home, for example to get medical care, wear a facemask
if you have one, or cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Wash your
hands often to keep from spreading flu to others.
Links:
CDC – What to do if you get sick
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/takingcare.htm
Oregon Influenza Surveillance Data
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/COMMUNICABLEDISEASE/DISEASESURVEILLANCEDATA/INFLUENZA/Documents/data/FluBites.pdf