Flu (often referred as influenza), is a viral infection of the nose, sinuses, throat, and respiratory tract by an influenza or parainfluenza virus. Swine flu and bird (avian) flu are specific strains of flu.
Flu, also known as influenza, is a viral infection of the nose, sinuses, throat, and respiratory tract. It’s seasonal, often occurring in winter, and can spread rapidly, called then flu epidemic.
When the infection occurs in healthy young people, it is usually not dangerous and lasts around one or two weeks. In some cases a dry cough may develop and last a bit longer. Elderly and those with pre-existing illnesses have a higher risk for complications. For this reason it’s recommended that these groups get vaccinated. Swine and bird flus are caused by slight different influenza viruses, but causing similar symptoms. Flu typically develops rapidly, with fever (sometimes accompanied with chills), muscle pain, headache, a dry and painful cough, sore throat, and exhaustion or fatigue. It’s important to note that the flu is different from the common cold, which is often also caused by a virus, but causes milder symptoms.
Even today flu can have fatal consequences for those with pre-existing conditions and requires a hospital stay with emergency medical measures. Normally it is self-limited and the body recovers by itself. A doctor may prescribe medication to help shorten the course of the flu if taken early. Bed rest and staying hydrated are usually sufficient. Medications such as Ibuprofen or Aspirin can lower a fever and relieve symptoms, but they will not shorten the course of the illness and should be used in children with caution. Flu vaccine is recommended for the following groups at risk: nursing infants, people over 60, people with compromised immune systems, and pregnant women.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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