When Flu Sufferers Need Help

Having the flu is never comfortable, and can sometimes lead to dangerous complications.

The Early Show medical correspondent Dr. Emily Senay stresses it's important to get medical attention quickly under certain circumstances.

So far this year, the flu still isn't widespread, she notes. There are a few states reporting local and regional flu activity, with the rest of the country still looking pretty good.

But, we still have the depths of winter to get through, and the vaccine shortage this year means many people are not being offered a flu shot unless they're in a high-risk category.

Most of us can ride out a case of the flu with no serious problems. But, if it's a severe case, sometimes the symptoms can persist or worsen. Rather than gradually getting, better you feel worse.

See a doctor if you have a fever of a 102 degrees, Fahrenheit that lasts more than the first few days of illness, or if you have shaking chills, ear, severe sinus or throat pain for three or more days, breathing trouble such as shortness of breath, chest painm, or trouble swallowing.

Any of these symptoms, or a rash or a cough that lasts more than two weeks or produces blood, should be a red flag, Senay warns. It's possible that a secondary infection has developed. The problem might be bacterial and require antibiotics.

Antibiotics don't work against viruses like colds or flu, only against bacteria, Senay points out. A virus and a bacterium are completely different organisms. Antibiotics work wonders against a wide variety of diseases caused by bacteria, but they are useless when it comes to viral infections such as colds and flu.

Bear in mind that the cause of a sore throat, cough, runny nose, fever can sometimes be difficult to determine. If a doctor is unsure about the cause of an infection, further testing like a quick test for flu, a chest x-ray and blood tests can provide further help with a diagnosis. Strep throat and pneumonia are among the bacterial infections that require antibiotics. There is an effective vaccine available to protect against pneumonia.

Don't insist on antibiotics just to reassure yourself that you're getting every possible treatment, Senay cautions. The constant use and overuse of these drugs over the decades has made some potentially deadly bacteria resistant to them. It's a dangerous situation that has already led to more hospitalizations and in some cases death, from infections that we used to cure quite easily. But the drugs can be lifesavers when used responsibly.