At the North Estonia Regional Hospital (PERH), many people have fallen ill with the flu. The Emergency Medicine Department (EMO) is very crowded. Therefore, Dr. Marit Märk urges people to first visit their family doctor or call the helpline.
The EMO has over 250 patients daily. Many are elderly people who need hospital care. Usually, there are slightly fewer patients. During the holidays, family doctors are closed, but the helpline and on-call clinic are open. There, one can get help quickly.
The flu is an illness caused by a virus. Young and healthy people suffer from it more mildly. It is important to rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take fever reducers. If the illness becomes more serious, one should visit a doctor.
If the fever lasts more than three days or the cough becomes stronger, an X-ray should be taken. On Monday, family doctors will reopen their offices. One can start there if there are health issues.
The doctor also recommends getting vaccinated against the flu. The vaccine helps prevent illness or makes it milder. This is especially important for the elderly and people with chronic illnesses.
For the New Year, the doctor advises sick people to avoid large gatherings. If there is a runny nose, cough, or fever, a rapid test should be done. If the test is positive, one should stay at home to avoid infecting others.