What department should I go to for the flu?

Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
Updated on October 30, 2024
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Influenza refers to a disease that manifests as cough, fever, and sore throat following human infection by the influenza virus. It is commonly known as the flu or influenza. In addition to respiratory symptoms, the flu may also present with digestive symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Therefore, for flu treatment, one can visit the respiratory department. Of course, in cases of severe symptoms such as high fever, chest tightness, and fatigue, one may also visit the emergency department. However, if the initial diagnosis is predominantly digestive symptoms, it's possible that the gastroenterology department will refer the patient back to the respiratory department for treatment. This requires careful differentiation and exclusion by the doctor before making a diagnosis, so visiting the respiratory or emergency department for flu is appropriate.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
58sec home-news-image

Is the flu serious?

Influenza is a contagious disease, mainly caused by the spread of the influenza virus among people. Patients may display symptoms such as sore throat, cough, and fever. The severity of influenza can vary. Typically, for people with normal immunity, influenza goes through a self-limiting process, and generally, patients can recover on their own without treatment in about 7 to 10 days. However, certain special populations, such as the elderly, infants, pregnant women, cancer patients, or those who have been taking immunosuppressive drugs for a long time, often experience prolonged symptoms after contracting influenza. Additionally, influenza can lead to influenza pneumonia, and in severe cases, it may cause myocarditis or meningitis, potentially leading to life-threatening conditions. Therefore, special attention should be paid to these vulnerable groups.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Is the flu contagious?

Influenza refers to a disease characterized primarily by coughing, sputum production, sore throat, and fever, after the respiratory tract has been infected by the influenza virus. Additionally, influenza may present symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The infectiousness of influenza is mainly transmitted through the inhalation of droplets from one person to another within a population. In China, influenza is a legally mandated Class B infectious disease, and is indeed contagious. Therefore, if you notice individuals around you with fever, cough, or sputum production who are suspected of having influenza, isolation should be implemented. Moreover, it is advisable to avoid crowded places to reduce the possibility of being infected by influenza. Furthermore, vaccination during the flu season is also an effective way to protect against influenza.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Does type A influenza cause vomiting?

Influenza A is a very common upper respiratory tract infection caused by the H1N1 influenza virus after infecting the respiratory tract. Typically, patients with this type of flu will experience varying degrees of fever, and the body temperature tends to be quite high during fevers. Commonly, these patients may experience headache, dizziness, reduced appetite, and general weakness during the acute phase of infection. For patients with influenza A, due to the high fever, some may experience gastrointestinal discomfort, including nausea and vomiting. This is mainly because the fever can affect normal digestive functions. Thus, when these patients eat slightly more than usual, they may experience gastrointestinal discomfort. Therefore, it is common for these patients to experience varying degrees of nausea and vomiting, particularly in conjunction with headaches or when they have sore throats and coughs. As long as timely antiviral and symptomatic supportive therapies are administered, once the influenza A virus is effectively controlled, the symptoms of vomiting will also be alleviated.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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How many days will the flu get better?

Influenza refers to a series of diseases characterized mainly by sore throat, cough, and fever, which occur after the respiratory tract of humans is infected by the influenza virus. We call it influenza, or epidemic flu, which is generally caused by a viral infection and is a self-limiting disease. Usually, it can naturally improve within 7-10 days. Of course, this refers to people with normal immunity, such as young people or those who generally have good physical health. However, elderly and children might experience a prolonged illness, which could extend to 10-15 days, and may even lead to related complications due to influenza, such as influenza meningitis, influenza pneumonia, or even influenza myocarditis. Therefore, special attention should be given to vulnerable groups, including the elderly, children, and pregnant women.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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How many days does the fever from influenza last?

Influenza, also known as the flu, generally refers to a group of diseases characterized by sore throat, cough, and fever, which occur after the human upper respiratory tract is infected by the influenza virus. We call it influenza or flu. Since influenza is a viral infection, it has a certain self-limiting nature, meaning that patients might recover completely over time without treatment. The fever caused by influenza usually lasts three to five days for people with normal immune systems. However, for some elderly, infants, and pregnant women, the fever might extend to five days or even ten days, and special attention is needed for these groups.