Atlanta Journal-Constitution
by Rose Kennedy

If you've been exposed within the past one or two days and are now experiencing symptoms that hit suddenly and range from sore throat and runny nose to fever, chills and muscle aches, odds are, it's on. It's probably hard to imagine while you're feeling like death on a bad day, but there are ways to alleviate flu symptoms a bit and boost your immunities against another onslaught. You probably won't need to start your regimen with a trip to the doctor, either, according to Mayo Clinic expert James M. Steckelberg, M.D. He indicated that ordinarily healthy people who are younger than 65 and aren't pregnant can "take care of yourself at home rather than going to your doctor."

Reach:  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a daily circulation of more than 142,640 and its website has more than 11.8 million unique visitors each month.

Context: James Steckelberg, M.D. is a Mayo Clinic Infectious Diseases specialist. Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., has two divisions that treat infectious diseases. The Division of Infectious Diseases, established in the 1950s, consists of 30 consultants, 10 fellows, eight registered nurses, and seven paramedical staff. The Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases has four pediatric infectious diseases board-certified consultants who work closely with other division colleagues to treat infectious diseases in children and adolescents. Flu season is here, and experts say this may be a particularly severe one. Across the country, people are coming down with the flu. Most people who have the flu have a mild illness they can manage at home with rest and self-care measures. Others must seek medical care. You can learn more from Dr. Steckelberg.

Contact: Robert Nellis

Tags: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Dr. James Steckelberg, fly symptoms, Influenza, Uncategorized