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How to Keep Your Family Healthy This Flu Season
According to the CDC, flu season poses a larger risk this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Keeping you and your family as healthy as possible and taking the proper precautions against these viruses is more essential now more than ever before.
Here’s what you need to know to lower your family’s risks this winter.
Can I Have COVID-19 and the Flu at the Same Time?
According to the CDC, you can contract the seasonal flu and COVID-19 at the same time. The influenza virus and the SARS CoV-2 virus which causes COVID-19 are both contagious conditions that can result in serious illness, including hospitalization.
Preventing the Spread
Now, more than ever, it’s important to keep yourself as healthy as possible to protect yourself against any illness — especially the novel coronavirus. Use these tips to keep you and your family as healthy as possible.
- Get your annual flu shot to protect your immune system.
- Wash your hands with warm soap and water before/after eating and through the day.
- Avoiding sharing toys, snacks, or other physical items.
- Clean common surfaces in your home regularly.
- Stay up to date on CDC guideline updates.
- Maintain a physical distance of 6 feet from others when possible.
- Wear a mask at all times when out in public.
- Cover your cough and sneezes.
- If you feel sick, seek medical attention, and avoid public spaces.
Knowing the Signs
COVID-19, the seasonal flu, and common colds all share many of the same symptoms, making it difficult to differentiate between the flu and another virus.
Keep reading to learn the emergency signs of COVID-19, and when to seek medical attention.
Common COVID-19 Symptoms
After a person is exposed to the novel coronavirus, symptoms can take 2-14 days to appear. However, patients may also be asymptomatic — meaning they have the virus but show no symptoms.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle pain
- Sore throat
- Sudden loss of taste or smell
The following are emergency warning signs of COVID-19 that warrant immediate medical attention:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to stay awake
- Bluish lips or face
COVID-19 Testing Offered at Better Faster Urgent Care
If you do believe you’ve been exposed to the flu or COVID-19, stop into our clinic for testing. At Better Faster Urgent Care, we offer three different testing options for COVID-19, and can also diagnose your flu symptoms as well.
If you do choose to be tested for COVID-19, it’s important to remember that you should quarantine at home while you await your pending test results.
Rapid Antibody COVID-19 Testing
The test looks for one or both kinds of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2:
- IgM antibodies, which happen early in an infection
- IgG antibodies, which are more likely to show up later
- During the antibody test, one of our technicians will take a small sample of your blood via a finger prick.
Rapid Antigen COVID-19 Testing
This test is similar to a rapid strep test in nature. This test has been most commonly used to diagnose patients who may be asymptomatic.
At the appointment, one of our technicians will use a nose swab to take your sample. We will then run the sample and can let you know your results in as short as 15 minutes. It’s important to note that false negatives are possible with this test, though positive test results are highly accurate.
PCR COVID-19 Testing
This test looks for genetic material in your sample that is associated with the novel coronavirus. In contrast to the rapid antigen and rapid antibody testing, PCR COVID-19 tests typically take between 24 to 72 hours to come back.
A technician will use a nasal swab to perform the test. Though this test takes the longest, it is the most accurate test available to determine if you are positive for COVID-19.
For more information about our COVID-19 testing options, click here. To book a testing appointment, contact us today: (817) 774-9704
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