Question

Your 39- year-old neighbor calls and describes symptoms of influenza. He is feverish, tired and has a sore throat and headache. You advise him to go to the urgent care center. The center does a throat culture and determines that the infection is viral, most likely the flu. Your neighbor is encouraged to drink fluids and take acetaminophen?

1. Why didn’t the health care provider prescribe antibiotics?

2. How will fluids help?

3. When should the acetaminophen be taken?

4. Your neighbor’s wife develops the same symptoms. Is it necessary to take her to the urgent care center?

5. Your neighbor’s older grandmother was visiting when your neighbor first developed symptoms. She now thinks she has caught the flu and her chest hurts. She asks what she should do. What should you tell her?

Answer 1

1. The health care provider does not prescribed antibiotics because it was a viral flu.

2. Drinking plenty of fluid is important for ensuring a speedy recovery from cold and flu. It also helps to loosen mucus in your nose and relieve congestion. Staying hydrated ensures that the body can function properly and can defend itself more effectively against the cold or flu.

3. Acetaminophen is taken when there is fever and pain as it is a analgesic and antipyretic .

4. No, it is not necessary to take her to the urgent care center as it's confirmed that she got the flu from her husband as she was in contact to him and should follow the same instructions until and unless she has some other comorbities .