South Austin hydration therapy clinic sees increase in flu patients
The 2017-2018 flu season started early and health officials are waiting to see its peak. The CDC has reported widespread flu activity across the nation and 30 children dead.
The Texas Department of State Health Services has reported 1,155 flu-related deaths from October to early January.
Austin Public Health reported 11 flu-related deaths in Travis County all over the age of 50.
Doctors treat patients with Tamiflu an antiviral drug that decreases the duration of the flu but it can only be taken within the first 48-hours.
Leah Hughes, IVitamin Nurse Practitioner said there are two measures patients who have bee diagnosed need to take isolation and symptom management.
"The big thing is symptom management it kind of has to run its course so we are looking at symptoms of the flu are headache, fever, body aches, usually sudden onset," Hughes said. "A lot of people don't realize that you are typically infectious around two days prior to developing symptoms and that will run a course of five to ten days."
Hughes recommends flu patients take over the counter medication and focus on hydration. Her hydration clinic provides patients with Irenew an immunity IV drip created by IVitamin Health care providers with a high dosage of vitamin C to alleviate cold symptoms.
Jordan Cobb, IVitamin Owner said she’s seen an increase in patients this flu season. The clinic has a room to treat patients specifically for the cold or flu. IVitamin also treats patients for a variety of services like weight loss and anti-aging.
"It's obviously picked up in December and January I'd say 35 to 40 percent of patients coming in are looking for the Irenew," said Cobb.
"The benefit is because it’s in IV form it's the superior pathway that is going straight into your blood stream so you are actually getting 100 percent absorption of those vitamins and minerals versus when take vitamins and things orally most literature says at best there's only a 20 percent absorption," Cobb says.