Five common symptoms of the flu include:
- Fever and chills – A sudden onset of high fever is typical with the flu, often accompanied by shaking chills.
- Muscle aches – Body-wide muscle soreness and fatigue are common, making it difficult to carry out everyday tasks.
- Cough – A dry, persistent cough can develop, sometimes worsening over the course of the illness.
- Sore throat – Many flu sufferers experience irritation or soreness in the throat, particularly early in the illness.
- Fatigue and weakness – Intense tiredness and a feeling of being run down often last several days, even after other symptoms improve.
These symptoms can vary in severity, but they are often more intense than those associated with the common cold.
What is flu caused by?
Flu, or influenza, is caused by the influenza virus that primarily infects the respiratory system (nose, throat, and lungs). There are four types of influenza viruses:
- Influenza A: This type is responsible for most seasonal flu outbreaks and pandemics. It can infect humans, birds, and other animals. Influenza A viruses are classified into subtypes based on two surface proteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). For example, H1N1 and H3N2 are subtypes of Influenza A.
- Influenza B generally causes milder seasonal flu outbreaks than type A and primarily infects humans. It is not divided into subtypes but does have lineages, like B/Yamagata and B/Victoria.
- Influenza C causes mild respiratory illness and does not typically lead to widespread flu outbreaks.
- Influenza D: This type primarily affects cattle and is not known to infect humans.
Influenza viruses spread mainly through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.
Why is the flu vaccine used?
The flu vaccine protects individuals from the influenza virus, which can cause mild to severe illness and sometimes lead to serious complications, especially in vulnerable populations. Here’s why it’s important:
- Prevention of Flu: The vaccine helps the immune system recognize and fight the flu virus, reducing the likelihood of infection.
- Reduced Severity: If someone does get the flu after vaccination, the illness is often milder and of shorter duration.
- Protection of High-Risk Groups: Vaccination is essential for high-risk individuals, such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and those with chronic health conditions, who are more likely to suffer severe flu complications.
- Herd Immunity: When a large portion of the population gets vaccinated, it limits the spread of the virus, protecting people who cannot get vaccinated, such as newborns or individuals with certain medical conditions.
- Public Health: Vaccination reduces flu outbreaks, easing the burden on healthcare systems and preventing hospitalizations, especially during flu season.
Since the flu virus evolves, annual vaccinations are recommended to address the most current strains.
Is flu a bad?
Yes, the flu can be severe, especially for certain groups of people. While many people experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover within a week or two, the flu can be “bad” for the following reasons:
- Severe Symptoms: The flu can cause high fever, body aches, fatigue, sore throat, cough, and congestion, which can be debilitating.
- Complications: In some cases, especially for high-risk groups (the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems), the flu can lead to complications like pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, or ear infections.
- Hospitalization and Death: Severe flu cases can result in hospitalization; in extreme cases, the flu can be fatal. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that seasonal flu causes 290,000 to 650,000 respiratory deaths globally annually.
- Exacerbating Existing Conditions: For people with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, the flu can worsen these conditions.
- Rapid Spread: The flu is highly contagious, meaning it can spread quickly through communities, especially in schools, workplaces, and public spaces, affecting many people.
That’s why flu prevention, such as vaccination, is essential to reduce its impact.
Is having flu healthy?
No, having the flu is not considered healthy. While experiencing the flu may stimulate your immune system to fight off the virus, the illness itself is harmful to your body for several reasons:
- It Weakens Your Body: The flu can cause symptoms like fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and respiratory issues, which can drain your energy and make it difficult for your body to function normally.
- Risk of Complications: As mentioned before, the flu can lead to severe complications like pneumonia, sinus infections, or ear infections, and in high-risk individuals, it can cause hospitalization or even death.
- The strain on Immune System: Although the immune system responds to the flu, the virus can significantly strain your body’s defences. While your immune system does build some level of protection after recovering, flu viruses mutate frequently, so previous infections don’t guarantee future immunity.
- Infecting Others: When you have the flu, you can quickly spread it to others, putting them at risk of getting sick, especially vulnerable individuals like older people or those with weakened immune systems.
It’s far healthier to prevent the flu through vaccination, good hygiene (like handwashing), and maintaining a robust immune system with proper nutrition and rest.
How can I treat flu?
If you have the flu, treatment primarily focuses on relieving symptoms, promoting recovery, and preventing complications. Here’s how you can treat the flu:
- Rest and Hydration:
- Rest: Get plenty of rest to help your body recover and fight off the infection.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink fluids like water, herbal teas, or clear broths to stay hydrated, especially if you have a fever, as dehydration can worsen symptoms.
- Over-the-Counter Medications:
- Pain Relievers: Medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can help reduce fever, headaches, and body aches.
- Decongestants: These can help relieve nasal congestion and make breathing easier.
- Cough Suppressants/Expectorants: Use these to manage coughs, depending on whether you want to suppress a dry cough or help loosen mucus.
- Antihistamines: These can alleviate runny nose or sneezing.
- Antiviral Medications (Prescription):
- If diagnosed early (within 48 hours of symptoms), your doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs like oseltamivir (Tamiflu), zanamivir (Relenza), or baloxavir (Xofluza). These medications can shorten the duration of the flu and reduce the severity of symptoms, especially in high-risk individuals.
- Home Remedies:
- Warm Fluids: Drinking warm liquids like soup, tea, or honey with lemon can soothe your throat and help with congestion.
- Steam Inhalation: Breathing in steam from a hot shower or bowl of hot water can ease nasal congestion.
- Saltwater Gargle: Gargling with salt water may help soothe a sore throat.
- Avoid Spreading the Flu:
- Stay home to avoid spreading the virus to others, especially in the first few days of illness when you’re most contagious.
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and wash your hands frequently.
- Consult a Doctor:
- Seek medical attention if symptoms worsen, last longer than usual, or if you are in a high-risk group (elderly, young children, pregnant women, or those with chronic health conditions).
- Healthy Diet and Supplements:
- Eating nutrient-rich foods, like fruits and vegetables, can support your immune system.
- Some people take supplements like vitamin C, zinc, or elderberry, though evidence supporting their effectiveness is mixed.
These steps can help manage flu symptoms, speed up recovery, and reduce the risk of complications.
What is the difference between cold and flu?
Cold and flu are respiratory illnesses, but their causes, symptoms, and severity differ. Here’s a quick comparison:
Cause:
- Cold: Caused by various viruses, with rhinoviruses being the most common.
- Flu: Caused by influenza viruses, specifically influenza A or B.
Symptoms:
- Cold: Symptoms develop gradually and include a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, sneezing, and mild fever. You might also have a slight headache or mild body aches.
- Flu: Symptoms come on suddenly and are more severe. They include a high fever, chills, body aches, fatigue, headache, sore throat, cough, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhoea.
Severity:
- Cold: Generally mild and manageable with over-the-counter medications and home remedies.
- Flu: This can be severe and lead to complications like pneumonia, especially in vulnerable populations like the elderly, young children, or those with chronic health conditions.
Duration:
- Cold: Usually lasts a week or so.
- Flu: Symptoms can last longer, often 1 to 2 weeks, and you might feel tired even longer.
If you’re unsure which symptoms you have or if symptoms are severe or worsening,