New hotline offers advice on influenza
(Harrisburg) — PinnacleHealth has launched Flu Line, an informational hotline about influenze available to everyone in the community.
PinnacleHealth nurses will answer questions about when to see a doctor, what constitutes a real emergency, and how some patients can recover at home. The Flu Line is available from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Community members can call the PinnacleHealth flu line at 717-231-8340 or toll-free at 800-814-3431.
Emergency Flu Symptoms
According to the Centers for Disease control, flu symptoms that require emergency care in children include:
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish skin color
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Not waking up or not interacting
- Significant irritability so that the child does not want to be held
- Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough
- Fever with a rash
In addition to the signs above, get medical help right away for any infant who has any of these signs:
- Inability or unwillingness to eat
- Trouble breathing
- No tears when crying
- Significantly fewer wet diapers than normal
Do not give over-the-counter medication to children under 4 without physician approval.
According to the Centers for Disease control, flu symptoms that require emergency care in adults include:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough
General Flu Symptoms
Symptoms are usually sudden and include:
- Fever (often high)
- Headache (often severe)
- Muscle/body aching (often severe)
- Runny or congested nose
- Sore Throat
- Cough
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea (not as common as the other symptoms and less common in adults with the flu)
