We Can Diagnose and Treat Flu & Strep

Flu is caused by the Influenza virus and the best way to tell if you have the flu is to get tested at Neighborhood Medical Center, when your symptoms start to get worse or if you have difficulty breathing. Common flu symptoms include:

• Fever
• Chills and sweats
• Body aches
• Tiredness and weakness
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Dry, persistent cough
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Shortness of breath

It can be difficult to tell the difference between a cold and the flu, as both share similar symptoms. The main differences tend to be that the flu has more severe symptoms such as fever and body aches, while a cold tends to cause more sneezing, stuffy nose, and sore throat.

Although both the flu and strep throat are contagious diseases, they are treated differently. While the flu usually goes away on its own over the course of a few days, most cases of strep throat require antibiotics. Antibiotics are only recommended for strep throat and other illnesses that are due to bacteria, as they are not effective against viruses. 

For the flu, there are several medications, such as Tamiflu, which can help reduce the severity of the symptoms and shorten the duration of the illness. The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine each year, preferably in the fall. Vaccines are available for people 6 months and older, including those with weakened immune systems. It takes about two weeks after the vaccine for it to become fully effective.