The NHS is urging people who have contracted the flu to either dial 999 or visit A&E if they exhibit certain severe symptoms. This advice comes after the NHS reported a significant spike inhospitalisations due to flu cases within a single week.
Fresh data from the NHS indicates an average of 2,660 patients being admitted to hospital with the flu each day last week. This sets a new record for flu hospitalisations for this time of year and signifies a 55% increase on the previous week.
Furthermore, ambulance call-outs saw a rise of 48,814 compared to last year (802,525 versus 753,711). While this piles on additional strain to the health service, which is already grappling with 'record demands', it's crucial that some symptoms are properly examined, as they could lead to further complications, including a risk to life.
NHS guidance emphasises that the flu will often improve on its own. However, it points out that some people can become seriously ill if infected and may experience worse symptoms than others, particularly if they're in a vulnerable group.
Symptoms of the flu and when to call 999Most symptoms from the flu include:
While many of this symptoms may be uncomfortable or distressing, they tend to get better on their on after a week or two and generally don't require hospital treatment. However, if you experience one of the following three symptoms, you should either call 999 or go to A&E:
Keep in mind that while some flu remedies and over-the-counter painkillers can help ease symptoms from the flu, antibiotics will not do anything as they don't work for viral infections. Further details on the flu and how to treat it can be found on the NHS website here.
