With flu on the rise, patients can turn to telehealth
The rate of new infections and hospitalizations from influenza continue to climb across the United States, putting an extra strain on the country’s health care system.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show a sharp rise in new flu hospitalizations last month, particularly among its population over the age of 65. New cases of other respiratory illnesses – like COVID-19 and RSV – appear to be stable or trending downward.
Over the last few weeks, nearly 10% of emergency department visits in Iowa are due to influenza and the rate of new infections is growing. Iowa isn’t alone in this upward trend with the majority of the country seeing a new surge of flu infections.
“It is not too late to think about how you’re keeping your family healthy and safe from the flu. A lot of people are going to the doctor right now for flu-like symptoms,” says University of Iowa Health Care epidemiologist Karen Brust, MD. “Our university health system is equipped to handle this type of spike in flu cases, but it can still be really disruptive to the care Iowans need.”
Brust and other experts say the best protection against respiratory illnesses continues to be vaccination. UI Health Care offers convenient scheduling options for vaccinations for flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Like many large health systems, UI Health Care also has a robust telehealth program for patients who may not need a physical exam from their providers. Telehealth appointments are a convenient option for medical issues such as:
- Illnesses and injuries
- Common health conditions
- Follow-up appointments
- Health screenings
“If you think that you might be getting sick with the flu or another respiratory illness, a telehealth appointment might be an option,” Brust adds. “A provider can assess your symptoms, discuss a treatment plan, prescribe medications, and you can avoid a long wait time when you already don’t feel well.”
Brust notes that if a person’s flu-like symptoms persist for several days with little to no improvement, they should seek care in a medical setting. Severe or emergent symptoms always warrant being seen by a medical professional.
Severe symptoms include:
- High fever (over 103°F or 39.4°C)
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Chest pain (beyond congestion)
- Ongoing dizziness
- Seizures
- Severe weakness
While the number of flu cases in Iowa are currently higher than last year’s peak, Brust is hopeful that this flu season will peak soon, although it’s too early to predict when things will start to improve. In the meantime, she encourages everyone to think of how they can keep themselves and their families healthy.
“We’ve seen some patients with severe cases of respiratory illness this winter, so now is the time to really focus on illness prevention. There’s a misconception that maybe it’s too late in the season for effective prevention and that’s just not true,” Brust says. “Getting vaccinated, washing your hands, and staying home when you’re sick are safety measures that work year-round.”