What is Influenza?
Flu season is a time of the year when people’s minds are on sickness. What causes these illnesses? Influenza viruses circulate all throughout the world, flu activity peaks in December and February to cover as many months possible. The signs that you might have caught something include: fever or chills; sore throat; headache, body aches, or fatigue (these symptoms may be more severe than your usual cold); cough with phlegm production such as mucus from nose/mouth and chest congestion which could cause coughing fits so intense it can lead to exhaustion while resting without being able-to breathe altogether for minutes at a time.
The flu is a contagious sickness that will render someone to being bed-ridden and extended fatigue. Its complications can also lead to derivative illnesses and if not prevented, it could lead to death, so prevention should be on everyone’s mind this season. The best way to avoid the cold-like symptoms and possible long term illness of the virus are by getting vaccinated each year before the new line hits shelves towards late winter or early springtime.
Why is it confused with other illnesses?
As what previously mentioned above, flu has multiple symptoms that are similar to other respiratory illnesses. As a result of overlapping symptoms, many people are misdiagnosed as having the flu when they may have actually contracted something more innocuous like the common cold or either more dangerous respiratory illness such as pneumonia and asthma. The longer you’re sick with what’s believed to be influenza or rather just a common cold, then it becomes harder and harder for your body to fight off other illnesses that come along with it and there is a tendency of developing complications when left untreated or unattended. Most respiratory diseases, may it be mild or complicated, exhibit similar symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Headache
- Body pains
- Chills
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Fatigue
- Vomiting and diarrhea
And, these are the conditions that are commonly associated with these symptoms:
- Common cold – Common cold is a viral illness that typically mimics flu symptoms, though they gradually develop and are usually less severe than those of the influenza and is commonly confused wih Influenza.
- Gastroenteritis – More known as stomach flu, is a phrase for the feeling of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. There are many different viruses that may cause this illness such as norovirus or rotavirus. These symptoms can last anywhere from 24 hours to 3 days depending on how long it takes your body’s immune system to fight off the virus.
- Pneumonia – Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by viruses, bacteria, chemical or environmental factors, such as pollution. The most common symptom of this condition is the production of colored mucus.
- Bronchitis – A bronchial tube inflammation is a common illness for smokers and people who live around them. There are three possible symptoms of this condition: coughing, shortness of breath, or chest discomfort.
What if your doctor failed to diagnose or misdiagnosed your illness similar to influenza?
Doctors pledge to use their power not to harm, but always help the sick. They will never prescribe a fatal dose of medicine for any patient and they’ll refuse any request that would lead them down such a path. They’re only committed in helping patients get better. As they have studied their field of specialty, they knew better and the what not as well, failing to diagnose or misdiagnose a patient would be agains their pledge and against the law, on top of that, medical practitioners are putting their patients’ lives on peril. In this scenario, a patient may be entitled to financial compensation in the event of medical malpractice. That’s why it is important that you seek legal counsel for your claim so we can fight on your behalf and get what you deserve, including lost wages, medical bills, ongoing healthcare costs and punitive damages if applicable.
Unfortunately, fact that medical errors can result in serious injury or illness. Sadly, this often happens to innocent people like you and your family who are patients of a hospital that has failed its responsibility as a provider of care for the sick. Cleveland Medical Malpractice Law Firm Ryan Injury Lawyers wants to help keep hospitals accountable so they don’t put more lives at risk by allowing such negligence from occurring again.