When do you seek emergency treatment for the flu

"You may think of the flu as pretty harmless. Most of the time, it is. People typically recover after about a week without any lasting problems. But sometimes, the flu can lead to serious complications – or even a flu emergency," explains Bruce Hunt, MD, who practices family medicine at Baptist Urgent Care.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 200,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized by the flu every year. Thirty-six thousand die. Infants, the elderly, and people with certain diseases or weakened immune systems are the most vulnerable.

Usually, you don't need to see the doctor if you get the flu. Your body will fight off the virus on its own. But sometimes you – or a family member – may face a flu emergency. Some groups are at special risk for complications from the flu, which can lead to a flu emergency. They include:

• Newborns and children up to 5 years old
• People over 65
• Pregnant women
• People who live in long-term care facilities
• Caregivers of children or the ill
• People with chronic diseases
• People who have supressed immune systems, either from disease or its treatment

The flu can sometimes weaken the lungs, making it easier for a bacterial infection to take hold. Symptoms of a flu emergency in adults include:

• High fever (over 102 degrees F) or fever that doesn’t go away
• Shaking chills
• Symptoms that last longer than 10 days
• Cough that produces yellowish-green sputum
• Trouble breathing
• Pain or pressure in the chest
• Vomiting

"If you or a family member has any signs or symptoms of a flu emergency, call your doctor right away. Do not delay. If symptoms are particularly severe, don’t hesitate to go to the emergency room," Dr. Hunt adds.