Influenza - When To Call a Doctor

Call your health professional immediately if:

• Your baby is younger than 3 months and has a rectal temperature of 100.4° (38°) or higher.
• You suspect your baby younger than 3 months has a fever, but you are unable to measure his or her temperature.
• You think or know your child younger than 4 years has an extremely high fever [105°F (40.56°C) or higher measured rectally].
• You or your child 4 years of age or older has an oral temperature over 104° (40°).
• You or your child has labored, shallow, rapid breathing with shortness of breath.
• You or your child has a fever with a severe headache or stiff neck or seems confused or hard to wake.

Call your health professional if:

• Symptoms had improved but seem to be getting worse again.
• Signs of Reye's syndrome, such as drowsiness and confusion, develop 3 to 7 days after the start of symptoms of the flu or another viral respiratory illness. Reye's syndrome can be a very serious illness in children and teens.
• Signs of a bacterial infection develop, such as an ear infection, bronchitis, or pneumonia.
• Influenza develops in a person older than 65 who has other health problems (lung, heart, or kidney disease or diabetes) or in someone who is being treated with chemotherapy for cancer.
• Influenza develops in a person of any age who has a long-term respiratory illness, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Symptoms include temperature over 101° (38.3°), shaking chills, and a cough that produces mucus from the lungs (productive cough).
• Fever is high or prolonged. See the fever guidelines for ages 3 and younger or for ages 4 and older. However, it is common for adults with the flu to have high fevers [up to 103° (39.4°)] for 3 to 4 days. If many people in your community have similar symptoms and it is flu season, it is likely you have the flu and don't need to see a health professional. However, if you have any concerns, contact your health professional.

Watchful Waiting

In most healthy people, the flu will go away in 5 to 7 days, though fatigue can last much longer. Although you may feel very sick, home treatment is usually all that is needed. If it is flu season, you may just want to treat your symptoms at home. Watch closely for signs of a bacterial infection, such as nasal drainage that changes from clear to colored after 5 to 7 days and symptoms that return or get worse.

Early treatment (within 48 hours of your first symptoms) with antiviral medications may reduce the severity of influenza. However, it is not certain whether antiviral medications can prevent serious flu-related complications. ³ Complications, which occur especially in infants, older adults, and people who have chronic health problems, may require a visit to a health professional and care beyond home treatment.

Call your health professional if you have any concerns that your symptoms are caused by something other than the flu.

Who To See

These health professionals can diagnose and treat the flu:

Nurse practitioner

Physician assistant

Family physician

Pediatrician

Internist

A doctor who specializes in treating infectious diseases may be needed if the diagnosis is unclear or if severe complications develop.

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.