Thanks to vaccines and modern anti-viral treatments for the flu, the flu is less serious for most people today than it was for people 100 years ago. That being said, there are still things that can go wrong when someone gets the flu. As a society, it’s important for us to remember why we don’t want to get to flu so that we place proper importance on flu shots, taking advantage of other vaccines, and keeping our environments clean. See the list below of some of the complications that can arise from the flu!
- Post viral cough (check out our article about this from last month here)
- Sinus infections
- Ear infections
- Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart)
- Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
- Myositis, rhabdomyolysis (inflammation of muscle tissue)
- Sepsis
- Multi-organ failure
Some of the things on the list above are side effects of the flu itself, and others take place when there are co-infections of bacteria or other viruses, like COVID-19. As you continue through this season of fighting COVID-19, don’t forget to pay mind to the risks of the flu, too!
If you start to feel unwell, our urgent cares are here to help! Our urgent care centers are open every day of the week 8:00 am to 8:00 pm- No appointment necessary! We offer flu shots, flu tests, as well as COVID-19 testing. To be seen by a provider, simply walk in, or save your spot online by clicking here! For information on E-registration to save time click here. Telemedicine options are available here. We look forward to helping you Get Better. Faster!