With regard to influenza (including H1N1 influenza, also known as "swine flu") and other flu-like illnesses, Orange Family Medical Group has the following goals:

• to help our patients
• to protect the public in general by limiting the spread of disease.

If you are concerned that you or a family member may have influenza, please read the following carefully.  In most cases it is appropriate for such patients to remain at home except to receive medical care when necessary. This is to control the spread of infection, by recommendation of the CDC and the NC Division of Public Health.  Most patients with flu get better within several days and a visit to the doctor is not required.

However, you should call your doctor or seek medical attention if you have symptoms of severe illness (see below). 

You should also call your doctor or seek medical attention if you have asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or other chronic conditions, or if you are pregnant, over the age of 65, or if the sick person is 5 years old or younger.  Patients in these groups have a higher risk of developing complications (more severe illness) from influenza.

You can click here to take a quick on-line survey.  The survey may help you decide whether or not to visit the doctor.  [This guidance is based on your responses to the self-assessment questions. It is not medical advice and does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional. OFMG cannot guarantee and is not responsible for the accuracy of the guidance for your situation.]

Q: What are the symptoms?     A:  An influenza-like illness (ILI) is defined as any illness with 1) a fever of 100 F or higher and 2) recent onset of a cough or sore throat, without confirmed diagnosis.   Body aches and/or headache are common. Sometimes patients with flu also have diarrhea or vomiting. Again, it is expected that most people with influenza or ILI will recover without requiring medical care. 

Q: What do I do if I have these symptoms?     A: If you have symptoms matching the description of ILI and you are not severely ill, stay at home until at least 24 hours after fever is gone.  Fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.  You should follow the "Home Respiratory Isolation" recommendations made by the state health department for persons suspected of having H1N1 flu.  Click here to read the recommendations in English.  [?Habla espanol? Por favor click aqui.]   Further information is available here.

Q: When should I call the doctor or go to the doctor?     A: Call your doctor's office or seek medical care if you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications.  Symptoms of severe illness include: 

• trouble breathing, including shortness of breath or fast breathing
• bluish skin color
• pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• sudden dizziness
• confusion or irritability
• flu-like symptoms that improve, but then return later with fever & worse cough
• inability to drink fluids or refusal to drink fluids
• severe or persistent vomiting
• a child who is so irritable that she/he does not want to be held
• a child who will not wake up or is not interacting

Parents:  Is your child at high risk for developing flu complications?  Click here to find out!

Follow this link to other flu-related information.