Yes, we were all immunized - but somehow one of my family members wound up with Type A flu, and several are under the weather with what we hope isn’t the flu. This made a dent in our Christmas, though we enjoyed a nice few hours on Friday afternoon before one of my ds realized she was feeling sick. She got Tamilflu the next morning and felt much better yesterday (Monday). She just texted to say that her fever spiked at 102 this afternoon and is now down to 100, and that she’s developed a nagging, unproductive cough that hurts. She’s also lost her voice.
Is this something to worry about? She literally can’t talk, so her husband would have to phone her MD for her for an appointment. I’m concerned this may be one of those flu complications you read about, given the time frame and the fact that she did feel almost like her usual self yesterday. I wish she’d see her doctor or at least go to a walk-in clinic. My dh is an MD and thinks this is probably just part of the normal course of the disease, but is it? He doesn’t treat infectious diseases, so I’m tempted to say what does he know? I know there are CCers with expertise in this area, so I hope one of them can chime in with some info. Many thanks!
As I said, he doesn’t treat infectious diseases. And from what I’ve read, it’s actually somewhat out of the normal course of the disease to have a temperature spike after 5 days. I wonder if that’s even more unusual if the person is on Tamiflu.
And as I also said, there are CCers who do have expertise in this field, and I was hoping one of them might provide some info.
I am no hypochondriac, but I have had the flu maybe 3 or 4 times in my life and have been to the doctor every time. It’s reassuring to know for sure what you have (because influenza is wretched enough without worrying that you have something worse!) and also to get the prescription cough medicine. Tamiflu wasn’t available until the last time I had the flu and by the time I got in, I was past the window of efficacy. But if your D is concerned about her own health, you should encourage her to go.
Having a fever is no fun but a fever of 100-102 in a healthy adult should honestly not be a concern. Fever is the way our bodies heal themselves. Fevers aren’t always a bad thing and shouldn’t be feared, IMO. Definitely should be monitored and if conditions worsen, perhaps a doctor visit is in question but if it was me/my family, I wouldn’t be overly concerned or rush out to a doctor. Sleep and a LOT of liquids are often the best medicine.
I’m not one to rush out to the doctor with illnesses. Every time you go out to the doctor, you risk infecting others or picking up more germs yourself.
From this mom not MD perspective. Pneumonia has been one of the common post-flu complications this flu season. Fever by itself may not be of much concern, but fever coupled with coughing and chest pain could signal a secondary infection.
Well, she would phone her own MD if she could talk … which at the moment she literally can’t. I suppose she could email him, and she might already have done that.
She texted me and asked what I thought she should do. I thought that I’d find some helpful information here. I did encourage her to see an MD but I know it will be hard for her to get out, feeling as miserable as she does and knowing that her own MD probably couldn’t see her today.
I treat people with flu daily. The flu shot did not work this year (10% effective). There are complications to the flu which can be very serious. Many times in otherwise healthy people. Fever is not a worry but worsening throat symptoms and laryngeal symptoms can be. See a doctor.
I second @BunsenBurner 's post. Last year I had what seemed to be a cold that would not get better and it turned into pneumonia. I did see my doctor but wish I had gone in earlier. My chest pain turned out to be a collapsed lung. I think she needs to be seen by a doctor.
Have her husband call their doctor. The fever spike does happen, and the flu is a respiratory disease, so lungs will be affected. Her doctor will know how the disease is affecting people in the area and will be able to tell her and her husband if she needs to come in or if he can go ahead and call in an antibiotic.
Antibiotics are useless against influenza, which is a viral infection.
Unnecessary antibiotic use can be harmful to the patient (disruption of gut bacteria is one potential unwanted effect) and breed antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Okay, but the point the poster made was legitimate. They might consider calling their doctor, who might in turn prescribe antibiotics, depending on factors. It’s not incorrect to suggest that someone suffering from influenza virus might end up on antibiotics.
I don’t see why she wouldn’t just go see a doctor…why is that a big deal? A couple hours out of her life. It sounds like bronchitis to me. If there’s any question, I see the doctor. A fever several days later like this, I’d have them take a look.
I caught H1N1 when I was a senior in high school. I’m terrified of getting the flu again. I also used to get pneumonia almost yearly until I got the vaccine. My heart to your family.
My guidelines for when to go in (when I was a healthy person):
-Fever at or over 103.
-Symptoms persist without getting better for 3 or more days.
-Cough up yellow/green phlegm (apologies for that visual).
-It ever gets difficult to breathe.
I would also go in if my neck ever got stiff along with a pretty bad headache. This is an abundance of caution one. My dad’s had meningitis twice so it’s something that my family is borderline paranoid about.
Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences and suggestions - it’s much appreciated.
My d lives in a major city but it’s never easy getting in to see a doctor there. She’s often had to use a walk-in clinic (never yet an ER) because she’s had the bad luck to get sick after 5 PM, on a weekend, over a holiday, etc. If she’d called her MD this afternoon she certainly wouldn’t have gotten in to see him today. She sometimes texts her parents for health info and suggestions, and an idea of whether we’d go to a walk-in clinic in her situation.
Thankfully, her temperature has stayed just slightly elevated this afternoon and the coughing has eased a bit, according to my SIL. They’ve decided to see how she is tomorrow and will call her MD if she isn’t feeling better.