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Flu Specialist

Integrative Primary Care Our Services Flu

Integrative Primary Care

Internists located in Katy, TX

Each year in the United States, 5%-20% of the population is struck with the flu, prompting more than 31 million visits to the hospital. At Integrative Primary Care, Dr. Syed Farhat Zaidi offers specialized flu care, including vaccinations, helping Houston and Katy, Texas, area patients better weather each flu season. To protect yourself against the flu, call or use the online scheduling tool to set up an appointment.

Flu Q & A

What is the flu?

The flu, which is short for influenza, is a viral respiratory infection that spreads from person to person, affecting millions of people around the world each year. While most people are able to get through the flu, this infection can be serious among small children, the elderly, and anyone with a compromised immune system or pre-existing respiratory problems.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

The primary symptoms of the flu include:

  • Fever
  • Body aches
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion
  • Fatigue

These symptoms tend to come on fairly quickly and last much longer than a cold, often for a week or more.

How is the flu treated?

Since the flu is a viral infection, antibiotics are not an option. If you have the flu, the doctors at Integrative Primary Care typically treat the symptoms to make you more comfortable. They may also prescribe antiviral medications to shorten the duration of your flu and prevent any complications from developing.

Seeking treatment is especially important if you fall into a high-risk category, such as a pre-existing health condition or a weakened immune system.

There’s also a lot you can do at home to help your recovery by taking it easy and drinking plenty of fluids.

Can the flu be prevented?

Every year, manufacturers introduce a vaccine that can offer up to 60% protection against the flu. The vaccination is developed on the heels of a massive worldwide effort to track the behavior of the influenza virus each year to figure out which strain is likely to cause the most problems in the season to come.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is at the heart of this effort and works with manufacturers to provide the best possible protection. Integrative Primary Care is part of this effort and offers patients the annual vaccine, which is safe for everyone 6 months and older. In fact, the CDC recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months receive the vaccine each year. The vaccine is available as an injection or a nasal spray.

You can further protect yourself on your own by washing your hands frequently during the flu season (November through March). You can also protect others by covering your mouth when you cough.

If you’d like to have all of your flu needs taken care of, call Integrative Primary Care, or schedule an appointment using the online booking tool.

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