Influenza and the Emergency Department

In a new episode of HealthLife, Dr. Brett Wilson, a board-certified emergency physician, addresses many of the myths and misunderstandings currently surrounding the flu season and the need for vaccinations.

Watch an excerpt of this HealthLife >>

See the HealthLife broadcast schedule here >>

Do you know what to do in case of the flu?
Take our quiz to find out.

True or False?  (Answers below)

1. I think I may have the flu so I need to get tested.
    
2. If I’m worried that I might have the flu, I should call the emergency department to get medical advice.
    
3. Touching my eyes, nose or mouth can actually help spread the influenza virus.
    
4. If my children have had the flu or received flu shots in previous years, they are less likely to get a bad case of H1N1.
    
5. I can’t keep liquids down and have not been able to urinate in 8 hours. I need help.
    
6. I’m healthy, but if I wash my hands too often, I’ll remove my natural immunity to disease.
    
7. There is no antibiotic I can take for the flu because it’s a virus and not an infection.
    
8. I’ve already had the flu this year so I don’t need to get a shot.
    
9. I’m a healthy adult with no young children at home so there’s no need for me to get any flu vaccine.
    
10. I already received the seasonal flu shot from my doctor, so I don’t need to get the H1N1 vaccine.

Answers:

1. False 2. False 3. True 4. False 5. True

6. False 7. True 8. True and False 9. True 10. False

 

These are just a few of the issues addressed in a new Cottage HealthLife recently aired on KEYT Channel 3. Featuring emergency medicine specialist Dr. Brett Wilson, the 30-minute program unravels beliefs people have about the flu, and advises on appropriate use of local emergency departments.

You can learn more about the signs of H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) from our Health Library.

If you’d like to learn more, call 879-8992 for a DVD copy of the show.