HAGERSTOWN, Md. — As the community continues to struggle with a spike in cases of influenza, RSV and other viral illnesses, Meritus Health is offering more information about what you can do to start feeling better.

Why it’s important to stay home when possible

Rest is one of the best ways to deal with viral illness, and there’s no place like home for that.

But there’s a second benefit: Avoiding contact with others while you’re showing symptoms can help stop the spread of illness, said Anand Budi, M.D., Meritus chief medical officer.

Visiting the doctor when symptomatic can compound the situation. Not only are other patients potentially exposed, so are healthcare workers.

While Meritus is committed to treating all patients, if healthcare workers are sick, it becomes harder to treat patients who are most in need.

There are options to diagnose your illness, should you need it. Over-the-counter rapid testing kits can determine if you have COVID or flu.

And you can consult with healthcare providers virtually using MeritusNow and your smartphone or computer. Just visit now.meritushealth.com to start.

What are the symptoms and treatments?

The symptoms tend to include a fever of 101 or 102 degrees, but can go as high as 105 in children, Dr. Budi said.

Fever should be treated with over-the-counter fever reducers such as Tylenol as well as plenty of fluids.

“When you are on the dry side, it can cause your temperature to go up by as much as a degree,” Dr. Budi said. “That makes you more dehydrated and can worsen other symptoms. So, drink plenty of fluids.”

Other symptoms can include headache, chills, cough, congestion, sore throat, body aches, vomiting and diarrhea. Over-the-counter medications are available to treat these.

When it’s time to see a doctor

There might come a time when you should see your primary care provider, visit urgent care or even go to the emergency room.

Generally, if your symptoms persist for more than four or five days, if they get worse, or if they aren’t responding to over-the-counter medications, you should see a healthcare provider, Dr. Budi said.

“If it persists for longer than five days, it may lead to pneumonia, or sinus infections or ear infections,” he said.

Parents should seek care promptly for infants and young children who show signs of breathing difficulty, dehydration or lethargy.

For your safety, the Emergency Department should be used only for life-threatening or extremely serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing. Urgent care or your primary care provider are best for flu or viral illnesses without relief.

To check the wait times at the Emergency Department and urgent cares on Crayton Boulevard and at the Valley Mall, as well as after hours pediatrics at both locations, visit www.meritushealth.com/emergency.

Meritus Health is strongly encouraging all visitors to wear a mask while inside Meritus facilities, especially if they are feeling unwell or experiencing symptoms.

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Meritus Health, Western Maryland’s largest health care provider, is located at the crossroads of Western Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The mission of Meritus Health is to improve the health of the region by providing the best healthcare, health services and medical education. As an anchor organization for the community, Meritus has more than 4,000 employees and serves more than 200,000 residents of the tristate region through Meritus Medical Center, Brook Lane Health Services, Meritus Medical Group, Meritus Home Health, Meritus Equipped for Life, and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. More information can be found at www.MeritusHealth.com or visit our Facebook page or LinkedIn page.