With winter already here, it means the flu season is also here. Here is a helpful guide giving you most information you need to know about the flu.
1. What Is The Difference Between A Cold and The Flu?
The flu is a highly contagious respiratory virus that spreads quickly through saliva. Symptoms include a high temperature, weakness, general aches, congestion and a dry cough.
A cold is a mild viral infection of the throat, sinuses, nose and upper airways. You may experience a blocked or runny nose, sore throat, sneezing or a cough.
2. How Long Does Flu Last?
You will usually start feeling it between one and four days after being exposed. It can last from one to two weeks, depending on the severity.
Most flu symptoms gradually improve over two to five days, but it is not uncommon to feel run-down for a week or longer. A common complication is pneumonia and certain groups of individuals are more susceptible, particularly the young, elderly or people with chronic illness.
3. What Is Post-Viral Fatigue?
This is a syndrome that may last months or years. According to a study in the Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, it usually occurs after an upper respiratory tract infection where the patient fails to make full recovery.
The symptoms include muscle fatigue, muscle pain, headache, dizziness, urinary frequency, cold extremities, sweating and fainting. Sometimes the patient suffers from poor memory, lack of concentration and sleep disturbance, among others.
So what happens next? The same study states that the syndrome follows one of three courses: many patients recover completely, others have relapses and some suffer from chronic illness. However, those who rest adequately early on have the best chance of an early , complete recovery without relapsing.
4. Why Won’t Antibiotics Make you Better?
Antibiotics only work on bacterial infections, so they won’t make an impact on viruses like the influenza virus. If you develop a complication, such as bacterial chest infection, you may be prescribed antibiotics to help heal that.
5. How Do You Know If You Should Stay Home From Work?
If you have a fever (see number 6), then stay in bed and rest up. A study by Pharma Dynamics found that nearly half of South Africans cannot take off work when they have the flu. In fact, 20% of these individuals say they feel pressurized to come into work by their employers.
The problem is, you are likely to make your colleagues sick too, which makes for an unproductive workplace. So stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever has subsided.
6. How To Tell If You Have A Fever
The first step is to take your temperature with a thermometer. It should be around 37⁰C, although your normal temperature may be slightly higher or lower than this.
What if you do not have a thermometer? The most common way to check for fever with no thermometer is to feel the person’s forehead or neck to see if it feels hotter than usual. Use the back of your hand since the skin on your palm is less sensitive.
Keep an eye out for the following symptoms: sweating, shivering, headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, dehydration and general weakness.
7. Which Medicines Work?
To help reduce a fever, opt for a pain reliever such as ibuprofen. If you are congested, try antihistamines and decongestants. Your doctor may prescribe antiviral medication which can shorten the duration of the flu, but needs to be taken very soon after the onset of symptoms.
8. When Should You See A Doctor?
Usually, flu symptoms can be treated at home. However, if you are having difficulty breathing, have stomach or chest pain, are dizzy, are vomiting severely, have a cough that lasts longer than 10 days, or start feeling better only to feel worse again, get to your doctor pronto.
9. Did You Know That Way More People Die From The Common Flu Than Ebola?
In South Africa, flu kills between 6 000 and 11 000 people a year. While Ebola killed just over 11 000 people in the WHOLE of Africa in 2014, the countries in which it spread have all been declared Ebola-free. So no one is likely to catch it anytime soon.
10. Does The Flu Vaccine Actually Work?
The vaccine is said to be 60% effective in healthy adults. The best time to have the jab is between March and June before the flu season starts.
Keep in mind though that the flu vaccine doesn’t guard against other viruses that cause colds. It only prevents the influenza virus and takes 14 days for your immune system to build antibodies needed to protect your body. What’s more you will need a vaccine yearly because the strains of flu virus often change from year to year. The vaccine is also not long-lasting so it’s good to top it up.
11. Home Remedies
- Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day.
- This means sleep – not lying in front of the TV.
- Dose up on echinacea. Flavonoids found in this plant can help boost your immune and reduce inflammation.
- Pop probiotics which may help reduce your chance of developing an upper respiratory infection.
- Gargle with warm salt water. It loosens mucus.
- Fill a bowl with steaming-hot water and add drops of tea tree, eucalyptus, rosemary or peppermint oil. Lean over the bowl cover your head with a towel, breathing deeply to help with congestion.
One thing to remember though is that basic hygiene helps in fighting flu. To stop a cold spreading, wash your hands regularly and dry them well. Wet hands are breeding ground for viruses. Always sneeze or cough into tissues. And if you don’t have a tissue available, sneeze into the crook of your elbow.
We hope this guide has helped you with what you need to know about the flu.