At this time of year we all know that it is "flu" season. I am wondering why so many people who have the flu have to crowd in the the ER only to find out that they just have the flu and it will be over in a day or so.
The flu is as common as the common cold but for some reason people just don't get it. I understand that it can be frightening feeling that sick and I have a time or two felt like I am dying but...IT IS JUST THE FLU!!!!!!
It infuriates me when I have to go to the ER with a true emergency and have to wait for hours because there are so many others there that have a common problem that will cure itself.
Anyone else out there with me on this???
2007-01-17 01:53:19 · 9 answers · asked by twistedkitty15 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
Just adding a few details because i think some people have misunderstood my comment.
In answer to "gazeygoo", 5th answer down...I am not the one who spends a lot of time in the ER, my girlfriend is because she works there and it is through her educated complaints that I have posted this question.
I completely understand the severity of true influenza and that is NOT what I am talking about, I am talking about people who have a tummy ache or the sniffles that run to the ER. My friend has informed me that it is overwhelming the number of people who take up valuable space in an already over crowded facility...for nothing.
2007-01-17 02:41:15 · update #1
I disagree because sometimes people may have flu like systems and they have some other type of disease. The emergency room is a long wait rather you have the flu or not. It really depends on what hospital you are in. It seems to me that you want to rush the ER when that is impossible. It is so many regulations the ER has to follow. How many doctors on duty. Or how many people have urgent emergencies etc. It is really a pain to go to the ER. This is why it is really wise to have a private physician and call him or her and she can prescribe something or meet you at the ER.
2007-01-17 02:03:10 · answer #1 · answered by Jamonican 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cant say that I am... My 5 year old daughter recently got over The flu, and a week after her doctor said it was the flu I had to take her to th ER and wait 4 hours and found out it had turned to phenomena. Her skin was pale and 5 minutes after we were taken into a room her lips started to turn blue and they had to give her breathing treatment ASAP. In the ER where I once worked you are seen by the worst case first method. So even though it looks like it is taking a long time in the ER because a lot of coughing sniffling people are in there know that people who have more sever symptoms are taking back to be seen first. And if they had not called me and my daughter back when they did she may have been in a life threatening situation.
2007-01-17 02:01:16 · answer #2 · answered by myfamilyiseverything 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok I am a paramedic my wife a RN in a ER. The reason seems to be most people over crowding ERs are under educated about the flu. Or don't have the things at home to take care of them selfs. IE Drink or meds. They also don't have a DR they see on a regular basis. So they use the ER for every little things. Now the ER is over crowded and the people that really need to be seen have to wait longer or go to a ER further away.
2007-01-17 01:59:28 · answer #3 · answered by Brian 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An actual case of "real" influenza can be very dangerous and even fatal, many people especially the very young, the elderly and those otherwise debilitated die every year from the "flu". Now if you are among those that call a simple stomach virus the "flu" then that could be different, however, a serious or prolonged case of a stomach virus can cause it's own set of problems among those same age groups especially dehydration and it can happen rapidly in infants and the elderly. A better question is why do you spend so much time in the ED yourself???
Additional thought to above answer, mono is NOT highly contagious, it is a mildly contagious infection and the symptoms are not similar to the flu, actually influenza or the stomach flu, they are similar to strep throat.
2007-01-17 01:59:38 · answer #4 · answered by Tulip 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Some people do not know if it is just the flu or not. Also they may there to get the flu medication that is available on the market. There are several antiviral meds that can be prescribed to treat the flu but you have to get them from a doc so many people who don't have a regular doc or their doc won't see them use the urgent care or ER to get this medication.
2007-01-17 01:57:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
here is one reason, I thought that I had the flu but instead I have Mono which is highly contagious, sometimes when people think that all they have is the flu the actually have something more serious, and should get it checked out by a doctor, they could have Mono
2007-01-17 01:57:41 · answer #6 · answered by reshadow31 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its because they think you can get a shot and the sickness will be over. also, that is one of the reasons medical insurance is so high. its because people abuse the system and go to the ER for every little thing!!!
2007-01-17 01:59:42 · answer #7 · answered by george 2 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, yet once you elect a closer inspect the fact listed under are some shows you could watch: Untold memories of the ER secret prognosis X TLC's existence: Trauma interior the ER unquestionably, something from the TLC to Discovery wellbeing channel is fairly genuine. from time to time they are going to coach operations and and so on. And... you could volunteer interior the ER (if your involved)......
2016-10-07 07:08:16 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah and the first question is asked should be "Did you get a flu shot?" and if the answer is no then send them packing...and say sucks to be....doh.
2007-01-17 01:57:38 · answer #9 · answered by samshel1 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋