TEXAS - The flu season that spans 2017 and 2018 has been particularly bad, and in several instances deadly.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu activity is currently widespread in most of the U.S. Peak flu season is typically November through March.

RELATED: At least 7 people dead from the flu in Travis Co. 

There are a number of preventative measures you can take, but what do you do if you’re one of the unlucky ones to catch the flu?

The CDC says that you may have the flu if you exhibit some or all of the following symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Body aches
  • Headache
  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Diarrhea and vomiting

The CDC further states that most people who get the flu have mild illness and likely don’t require medical care or antiviral drugs. You should stay home and avoid contact with other people.

If, however, you have severe symptoms or are in a high-risk group, you need to get in touch with your doctor or physician. People at high risk of serious flu-related complications include young children, people 65 and older, pregnant women and those with preexisting medical conditions.

If you only have mild symptoms the CDC does not recommend you go to the emergency room. It should be reserved for those who are very ill. If you are suffering what the CDC refers to as emergency warning signs of flu sickness, you should immediately go to an emergency room. Those warning signs are:

In children:

  • Fast breathing or trouble breathing
  • Bluish skin color
  • Not drinking enough fluids
  • Not waking up or not interacting
  • Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
  • Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
  • Fever with a rash

In addition to the signs listed above, seek immediate medical help for an infant who displays any of these signs:

  • Being unable to eat
  • Has trouble breathing
  • Has no tears when crying
  • Significantly fewer wet diapers than normal
  • In adults:
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
  • Sudden dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Severe or persistent vomiting
  • Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

The CDC recommends that once your fever is gone you should stay home for a minimum of 24 hours except to get medical care and absolute necessities. Also, stay away from people as much as possible to keep from infecting them. If you must leave your home to seek medical attention, wear a facemask. Wash your hands frequently.

The following is a list of some of the emergency rooms available in Travis County:

  • SignatureCare Emergency Center
  • 5701 W. Slaughter Lane
  • Austin, TX
  • First Choice Emergency Room
  • 2020 E. Riverside Drive
  • Austin, TX
  • First Choice Emergency Room
  • 2020 E. Riverside Drive
  • Austin, TX
  • Family Emergency Room at Cedar Park
  • 3620 E. Whitestone Blvd.
  • Cedar Park, TX
  • Cedar Park Regional Emergency Center
  • 1751 Crystal Falls Pkwy.
  • Cedar Park, TX
  • Seton Northwest Hospital Emergency Room
  • 11113 Research Blvd.
  • Austin, TX
  • Austin Emergency Center Far West
  • 3563 Far West Blvd. Ste. 110
  • Austin, TX
  • Seton Southwest Hospital: Emergency room
  • 7900 Farm to Market Road 1826
  • Austin, TX
  • University Medical Center Brackenridge
  • 601 E. 15th Street
  • Austin, TX
  • Seton Medical Center Austin
  • 1201 W. 38th Street
  • Austin, TX
  • Austin Emergency Center Anderson Mill
  • 13435 U.S. 183
  • Austin, TX
  • First Choice Emergency Room
  • 9312 Brodie Ln.
  • Austin, TX
  • Cedar Park Regional Medical Center
  • 1401 Medical Pkwy.
  • Cedar Park, TX
  • Baylor Scott & White Emergency Medical Center
  • 900 E. Whitestone Blvd.
  • Cedar Park, TX
  • Neighbors Emergency Center
  • 1801 East 51st Street, Bldg. H
  • Austin, TX
  • Five Star ER
  • 8721 Manchaca Road
  • Austin, TX
  • Physicians Premier Emergency Room
  • 5525 Burnet Road, Suite A
  • Austin, TX
  • First Choice Emergency Room
  • 10407 Jollyville Road
  • Austin, TX
  • St. David’s South Austin Medical Center
  • 901 W. Ben White Blvd.
  • Austin, TX
  • Family Emergency Room at Round Rock
  • Round Rock, TX

The following is a list of some of the emergency rooms available in Bexar County:

  • St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital
  • 7930 Floyd Curl Drive
  • San Antonio, TX
  • First Choice Emergency Room
  • 5530 Tezel Road
  • San Antonio, TX
  • Methodist Hospital
  • 7700 Floyd Curl Drive
  • San Antonio, TX
  • Baptist Emergency Hospital – Westover Hills
  • 10811 Town Center Drive
  • San Antonio, TX
  • Baptist Emergency Hospital – Thousand Oaks
  • 16088 San Pedro Ave.
  • San Antonio, TX
  • Complete Care ER
  • 10628 Culebra Road, #200
  • San Antonio, TX
  • Baptist Emergency Hospital – Zarzamora
  • 7719 Interstate 35 Access Road
  • San Antonio, TX
  • Prestige Emergency Room
  • 2810 North Loop 1604 W
  • San Antonio, TX
  • My Emergency Room 24/7
  • 5431 North Loop 1604 W
  • San Antonio, TX
  • The Emergency Clinic Alamo Heights
  • 6496 N. New Braunfels Ave.
  • San Antonio, TX
  • Methodist Stone Oak Hospital
  • 1139 E. Sonterra Blvd.
  • San Antonio, TX
  • Nix Health Care System: Emergency Room
  • 414 Navarro Street
  • San Antonio, TX
  • First Choice Emergency Room
  • 13434 Nacogdoches Road
  • San Antonio, TX
  • First Choice Emergency Room
  • 5530 Tezel Road
  • San Antonio, TX
  • North Central Baptist Hospital Emergency Room
  • 520 Madison Oak Drive
  • San Antonio, TX
  • Full Spectrum Emergency Room – The RIM
  • 18007 W. Interstate 10 Frontage Road
  • San Antonio, TX