Receive Flu Testing (if You Need It) in Deltona, FL
Do you have the flu? You probably know the signs—fever, chills, body aches, fatigue, stuffy nose, sore throat—and of course you want to feel better fast. Come to Halifax Health ExpressCare in Deltona, Florida, where you can receive prompt medical attention and flu testing if needed. Our experienced team can quickly get to the bottom of your illness, which is probably influenza if you have fallen ill during flu season.
Is flu testing necessary to confirm a diagnosis of influenza? Not always. In fact, most people who develop flu symptoms during the colder months of the year are not tested because the results would not affect their treatment plan.
How Is Flu Treated?
Regardless of whether the diagnostic process includes flu testing, influenza treatment generally involves drinking plenty of water to stay well-hydrated and resting comfortably at home for a few days. The latter is important to help prevent the spread of the virus, which is highly contagious. If needed, you can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever or fever reducer.
If your symptoms are severe or you are at risk for flu complications, such as pneumonia, we may prescribe an antiviral medication to help resolve your infection. When started within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, the antiviral drugs used to treat influenza may reduce the duration of the illness by one to two days.
When Is Flu Testing Used?
If you come to Halifax Health ExpressCare with flu-like symptoms during flu season, your provider may diagnose you with influenza based on your symptoms alone. But they may suggest flu testing if the result could guide their treatment decisions.
For instance, if you come in on the first day you feel unwell and you had close contact with someone who was recently diagnosed with influenza, we may suggest flu testing because you might benefit from antiviral medication. On the other hand, if you have been feeling ill for more than 48 hours, we would probably not suggest flu testing because it is unlikely that an antiviral medication would reduce the severity or duration of your symptoms.
When it comes to the flu, prompt action is the key to feeling better fast. Come to Halifax Health ExpressCare in Deltona, FL, as soon as you can, and we will take it from there! If needed, we can perform reliable flu testing in our on-site clinical lab.
