- Urgent Care
Flu
Flu treatment available online today
In order to treat the flu, consult with one of our board-certified doctors today to prescribe antiviral medication to treat aches, coughing, and fever, if you qualify. Get a new prescription to treat the flu today.
Book an appointment
Medication services available for adults and kids (3+)
Top quality, board-certified doctors
Insurance accepted, but not required
Most major insurance plans accepted
Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less. Paying without insurance? New patient visits are $129, and follow-ups are only $99 for members.
Don’t see your provider listed? Email [email protected] or call (888) 564-4454 to talk to a PlushCare specialist.
3 simple steps to request treatment for the flu today
Step 1
Book a flu treatment appointment.
Book a same day appointment from anywhere.
Step 2
Talk to your medical provider regarding your flu symptoms.
Visit with a doctor on your smartphone or computer.
Step 3
Pick up a prescription to treat the flu.
We can send prescriptions to any local pharmacy.
Flu treatment pricing details
How pricing works
To request flu treatment and get a new or refill on your prescription, join our monthly membership and get discounted visits.
Paying with insurance
Membership
$14.99/month
First month free
First visit
Copay
For all visits
30 days of free membership
Same-day appointments 7 days a week
Unlimited messages with your Care Team
Prescription discount card to save up to 80%
Exclusive discounts on lab tests
Free memberships for your family
Cancel anytime
Visit price with insurance
Often the same as an office visit. Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less!
- We accept these insurance plans and many more:
Paying without insurance
Membership
$14.99/month
First month free
First visit
$129
Repeats only $99
30 days of free membership
Same-day appointments 7 days a week
Unlimited messages with your Care Team
Prescription discount card to save up to 80%
Exclusive discounts on lab tests
Free memberships for your family
Cancel anytime
Visit price without insurance
Initial visits are $129 and follow-ups are only $99 for active members.
If we're unable to treat you, we'll provide a full refund.
Flu treatment FAQs
What is the best treatment for the flu?
The best treatment for flu treatment primarily includes resting and drinking enough fluids to let the body's immune system fight off the influenza virus. Over the counter painkillers can help reduce fever and body pains.
What cures the flu quickly?
Typically, flu goes away on its own in 3 to 10 days with adequate rest and fluid intake. There are also flu antiviral drugs that can be prescribed to treat flu. When taken within 48 hours at the first signs of the flu, antiviral drugs can help accelerate recovery.
How long does a flu last?
Typically, flu goes away on its own in 3 to 10 days with adequate rest and fluid intake.
What will the doctor do for the flu?
Doctors can prescribe flu antiviral drugs to treat flu. When taken within 48 hours after flu symptoms begin, antiviral drugs can help accelerate recovery. But note that in healthy people, flu goes away on its own in 3 to 10 days with adequate rest and fluid intake.
How can I relieve flu symptoms at home?
To relieve flu symptoms at home, over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can help reduce fever and body aches. Aside from over the counter medicines, here are some at home remedies that may also help you feel better:
Get adequate rest
Warm liquids: Chicken soup, warm water with lemon, hot tea
Saltwater gargle can help reduce swelling and sooth sore throat
Saline nasal irrigation can help with runny and stuffy nose
Learn about the flu
Influenza (the flu) is a highly contagious viral infection that affects the lungs, nose, and throat (respiratory tract). According to the National Foundation for Infectious Disease, millions of Americans get sick from the flu each year.
Types of influenza viruses:
Influenza A
Influenza B
Flu symptoms tend to be more severe than the common colds. With the flu, you are likely to experience severe aches, pains, headaches, fever and chills. Flu can also lead to serious complications such as pneumonia. People who are at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with specific health conditions. The National Institute on Aging also classifies seniors living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities as those with higher risk for flu and complications.
If you are sick with the flu, it is important to stay home and away from others except when seeking medical care. Contact your healthcare provider about flu treatment options. Read on to learn more about flu and also how flu is different from COVID-19.
Flu causes
Influenza is caused by the influenza virus.
The flu can easily spread from person to person, i.e. contagious, via close contact. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, droplets that contain the viruses become airborne and can be inhaled by another person in the nearby vicinity. Another method of spread is through touch. Either through direct touch by an infected person or indirectly touching a common surface that has been touched by an infected person.
Flu season is the time of the year when seasonal influenza outbreaks are prevalent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States, flu season occurs typically in fall and winter, with peak seasonal flu activity peaking between December and February.
Flu symptoms
According to the National Foundation for Infectious Disease, the sudden onset of the flu may include some or all of the following symptoms (think F.A.C.T.S.):
Aches (muscle, body, and headaches)
Chills
Tiredness (fatigue)
Sudden onset
Nasal discharge
Stuffy nose
*Disclaimer: You should seek emergency attention immediately if you are experiencing severe or life-threatening symptoms such as shortness of breath, seizures, chest pain. If you are at high risk of flu complications, see a doctor right away to prevent serious flu complications.
How to treat the flu
Flu treatment primarily includes adequate rest and fluid intake to let the body fight off the influenza virus. Over the counter painkillers can help reduce fever and body aches.
There are also FDA approved antiviral drugs that can be prescribed to treat the flu. Speak with your doctor to learn about antiviral medication options.
Flu medication
Flu antiviral drugs
Flu antiviral drugs can be prescribed as treatment for the flu. When taken within 48 hours after flu symptoms begin, flu antiviral drugs can help accelerate recovery. Below is a list of prescription antiviral medications:
Note that typically, flu goes away on its own in 3 to 10 days. For healthy people, adequate rest and fluid intake is enough to help the body's immune system fight off the influenza virus. Antiviral treatment is not necessary for everyone.
Over the counter medicines and home remedies
Over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can help reduce fever and body pains. Aside from over the counter medicines, here are some at home remedies that may also help you feel better:
•Get adequate rest
•Drink plenty of warm liquids - chicken soup, warm water with lemon, hot tea
•Saltwater gargle - can help reduce swelling and sooth sore throat
•Saline nasal irrigation - can help with runny and stuffy nose
How to prevent the flu
The influenza vaccination (flu shot) is a critical tool in flu prevention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone age 6 months and older get vaccinated annually. Flu vaccines are not the same each. They are updated annually to protect against possible new strains of flu viruses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu is one of the more contagious infectious diseases. Another key idea behind flu prevention is to prevent the spread of the influenza viruses through good hygiene practices:
Wash hands frequently with soap
Cover when sneezing or coughing
Disinfecting commonly touched surfaces frequently
Stay at home if you are sick with influenza
In addition, stay healthy and keep your immune system up to be able to fend off the flu virus:
Exercise
Get enough sleep
Stay hydrated
When to see a doctor for the flu
Seek medical attention for the flu if you belong to the following groups of people who are at higher risk of serious flu complications:
Young children
Older adults
Pregnant women
People with serious underlying health conditions such as diabetes, asthma.
Seek emergency care for prompt treatment if you have suspected flu symptoms and the following emergency signs:
Difficulty breathing
Seizures
Dizziness
Chest pain
Severe muscle aches
For children, the emergency symptoms (in addition to flu symptoms):
Difficulty breathing
Seizures
Dizziness
Chest pain
Severe muscle aches
Dehydration
Blue lips
Related conditions to the flu
Cold
While the common cold is different from the flu, it is sometimes hard to tell which one you have common colds have flu-like symptoms (e.g. cough, nasal congestion, nasal discharge). More than 200 viruses are known to cause the common colds. However, amongst them, rhinoviruses are the most prevalent. The cold and flu are upper respiratory infections, but flu symptoms tend to be more severe than the common colds.
COVID-19
COVID-19 is caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2 while the flu is caused by the influenza virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 spreads more easily than flu and can cause more serious illnesses in some people.
It is hard to distinguish the flu from COVID-19 just by looking at the symptoms alone as they share many similar symptoms. That is why a COVID-19 test is needed in order to confirm diagnosis. These symptoms are characteristic of COVID-19:Severe aches, pains
Headaches
Fever or chills
New loss of taste or smell
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a serious lung disease. Viral or bacterial infections can cause inflammation of the lungs, preventing proper oxygenation of the lungs, depriving the body of oxygen which can lead to death. Flu is a common cause of pneumonia.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which are part of your lower respiratory tract, and carry air to and from the lungs. Acute bronchitis are short term and can be caused by an infection or irritating substance, such as inhaled smoke. Chronic bronchitis lasts at least three months.
Sinus infection
Sinus infection (sinusitis) is one of the common upper respiratory infections. There are two types of sinusitis: viral and bacterial sinusitis. During the flu, the virus can infect the sinuses and cause inflammation in the sinus membranes - viral sinusitis. When sinusitis is caused by bacterial infection, it is known as bacterial sinusitis. Symptoms that are common between the flu and sinus infection are: runny nose, stuffy nose, post-nasal drip and cough.