Flu/Sick Visits

What Are Flu/Sick Visits?

A bad case of the flu can be life-threatening. Sellwood Medical Clinic works to keep your family healthy. The clinic offers comprehensive preventing care, including flu shots and sick visits. If you get sick, the expert providers help you recover quickly. Sellwood Medical Clinic delivers top-quality care for both adults and children. With three convenient offices throughout the Portland, Oregon, area, medical care is always nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the symptoms of the flu?

If you’re not feeling well, it can be hard to know when it’s time to call the doctor. Many viral and bacterial illnesses have similar symptoms. Often, these illnesses clear up on their own. But the flu can cause serious complications. Flu symptoms include:

Fever over 100.4° F
Aching muscles
Chills and sweats
Headache
Fatigue
Dry cough
Sore throat

Cold and flu symptoms often seem similar, but flu symptoms are much worse. They usually last longer. If you have a cold, you might feel better after a few days. But if you have the flu, you might feel sick for weeks.

When should I contact my doctor?

If you aren’t feeling well, call Sellwood Medical Clinic for advice. The helpful office staff can help you decide if you need to see a doctor. In general, adults should seek medical care if their fever is over 103° F. Children or infants need care if their temperature is over 100° F. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have any of the following symptoms:

Trouble breathing
Chest pain
Severe dizziness
Confusion
Persistent vomiting

These can be signs of a medical emergency.

What kind of flu treatment is available?

If you have the flu, your provider can prescribe antiviral medications. These drugs help you quickly fight off the flu. The flu is a viral infection, so antibiotics are useless against it. But some people can develop a bacterial infection after getting the flu. Antibiotics help clear up those infections.

In rare cases, your flu symptoms can require hospitalization. If you need to go to the hospital, your provider makes the necessary arrangements. They also provide follow-up care in the weeks after your illness.

How do I protect myself and my family against the flu?

Getting a flu shot is the best way to stay healthy during cold and flu season. Your flu shot helps keep you avoid potentially deadly flu complications. Flu shots also prevent you from passing the virus on to vulnerable people like babies and elderly family members. The best available step you can take to keep your household flu-free is to have every member of your family receive an annual flu shot at Sellwood Medical Clinic.