Flu: when to visit your doctor

Do you have the flu? Consult your doctor:

• If you have a high fever for more than a few hours that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medicine, and you aren’t certain whether the fever is due to the flu, it’s a good idea to see a healthcare professional for an opinion.
• If your fever lasts longer than two days.
• If you feel sick and just don't seem to get better.
• If you have a cough that begins to produce phlegm.
• Any sign of complications of flu should prompt a visit to a healthcare professional. 
• If you have difficulty breathing or feel a sharp pain when breathing.
• If you fall into any of the high-risk categories recommended for vaccination, even a mild bout of flu should be treated by a health professional. This includes people with cancer, people on medication after organ transplantation and HIV-positive people.

Reviewed by Cape Town-based general practitioner, Dr Dalia Hack. March 2019.

Read more:

- Flu risk factors

- How is the flu diagnosed?