Winter brings with it cold days, chilly mornings and the ever-annoying cold and flu season. Everywhere you turn, there seems to be someone sniffling, sneezing or coughing, and with COVID still making its rounds around the country, it can be tough to determine if the person is sneezing due to allergies, has contracted the covid virus or is just suffering from a bout of the flu. In any case, if you see someone exhibiting signs of any of the above diseases, it is usually a good idea to stay away and take the necessary precautions to avoid getting infected.
In case you do get infected with the flu virus, you may need to take a few days off work to rest and recuperate and an online medical healthcare service is an excellent way of getting an online medical certificate in Australia without having to visit a doctor in person. Before we discuss how online doctor’s certificates work, let’s take a look at the influenza virus and the disease it causes: the flu.
What is the flu?
Influenza, or the flu as it is commonly referred to, is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. Often confused with the common cold, the main difference between the two illnesses is the severity of symptoms and that flu is caused by a virus whereas the common cold can be caused by over 200 different types of bacteria, but most often by the rhinovirus.
The flu infects the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs and can cause mild to severe illness. In extremely severe cases, it may lead to complications like pneumonia or even death. This is a major reason why it is so important to take the necessary measures to protect yourself against the disease.
How does the flu spread?
Much like COVID-19, flu spreads through airborne particles that may be expelled from the nose or mouth of an infected person when they sneeze, cough or talk. When a healthy person breathes in this contaminated air or touches surfaces that have the virus, they may also get infected by the virus. Studies show that people with the flu are most contagious in the first 3-4 days after their illness begins and may even begin infecting people a day before their symptoms start appearing. It is for this reason that doctors and healthcare professionals recommend taking time off work or school as soon as you start experiencing flu symptoms to prevent the virus from spreading.
What are the symptoms of flu?
The most common symptoms of flu include:
- Dry, persistent cough
- Sudden onset of high-grade fever, with temperatures ranging between 38°C and 40°C.
- Sore throat
- Weakness and fatigue
- Lethargy
- Shortness of breath
- Chills and sweats
- Eye pain
- Moderate to severe body and headaches and pains, and
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain in children and infants.
When to see a doctor with flu symptoms
Flu symptoms usually resolve on their own with plenty of fluid intake and rest and taking over-the-counter flu or cough medication. However, if you have the following symptoms, it is imperative to get in touch with a doctor, whether online or in person:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Severe weakness or muscle pain
- Dehydration
- Seizures, or
- If the flu symptoms persist for more than a week or two.
Why an online doctor’s appointment may be for you
When you’re suffering from the flu and need to take time off work to rest and recuperate, it can be a hassle having to get out of bed, get dressed, drive to your nearest clinic and get a medical certificate allowing you to take that time off. There’s a better way.
Through online healthcare services, all you need to do is pick up your phone, book an appointment using either an app or the service provider’s website and wait for the selected time to come around. In the meantime, you can take a nap, ask a family member to make you a cup of hot lemon-honey tea to ease congestion and watch your favourite television shows. When the time of the appointment comes around, your doctor will get in touch with you, confirm your symptoms and write you a medical certificate to present to your employer and access your sick leave. If required, you may also be prescribed some antiviral medication to help eliminate the virus from your body. The prescription will be sent to your nominated pharmacy for you to pick up whenever you can.
Telehealth and online healthcare services provide one of the easiest and quickest ways of getting access to high-quality medical advice, repeat prescriptions, doctor’s appointments and online doctor’s certificates in Australia without breaking the bank or having to spend hours at a clinic waiting to be seen.
If you would require a medical certificate in Australia, introduce your details on the platform and our English speaking doctors will provide you with the assistance as well as the care you deserve.
Medical professionals need to keep in mind their legal and professional responsibilities when issuing medical certificates.
When issuing a professional medical certificate, it must be honest rather than misleading.
Get a prescription, referral letter, sick note or simply general medical advice.
At Prime Medic, we offer a convenient way to obtain a online medical certificate for work when you are sick and unable to leave your house and it's best to rest and recover at home.
Book a secure online video consultation with our doctors.
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