What is Flu?
Influenza is a viral infection. However, it makes you feel much more ill than normal coughs and colds.
In fact, if you have a touch of anything, it's highly unlikely to be real influenza, which always makes you feel very unwell. Influenza causes the following symptoms:
- high fever (usually between 39° and 40° C)
- muscle aches and pains
- headache
- dry cough or 'chestiness'
Because flu is caused by a viral infection, antibiotics do not help at all. However, most people recover from influenza without any ill effects within 5-7 days. Some groups are more likely to get serious complications from flu than others. This may apply to you if you:
- Are over 65
- Live in a nursing home
- Suffer from diabetes
- Have heart or lung disease (including asthma)
- Have kidney failure
- Have problems with your immune system, which may reduce your ability to fight off the infection, this includes anyone on chemotherapy, who has had their spleen removed, who is HIV positive, etc.
If you are in any of these groups, you should talk to the surgery about getting a 'flu jab' every year, starting from early October. While flu cannot be cured, having a flu jab can reduce your risk of getting the illness by 70%. It does not protect you against other viral coughs and colds. Richford Gate runs 'walk in' flub jab clinics, where you can get a flu jab without making an appointment. Click here to read more about the Richford Gate Flu Clinic.
What are the Symptoms of Flu?
Symptoms of influenza include:
- fever of 39° to 40° C
- headache
- muscle aches
- aching eyes
- chills and shivers
- sore throat and / or aching in the sinuses and ears.
- cough (usually dry and harsh)
The NHS has a wide range of information on the flu.
NHSFlu »
Should I See My Doctor?
You should see your doctor if any of the following signs and symptoms exist?
- your child has flu like symptoms which persist for more than four days
- you develop shortness of breath, sharp pain or coughing up of blood or blood-streaked mucus
- you are in one of the high risk groups above and your symptoms persist for more than four days.
How Can I Help Myself?
You can avoid a pointless visit by following the advice on 'how to help yourself'.
- Go to bed
- Take regular painkillers such as paracetamol (gargled if you have a sore throat). These will relieve the headache, muscle aches and fever
- Sip honey and lemon drinks to soothe your throat
- Drink plenty of fluids, avoiding caffeine and alcohol
- Get lots of rest
- Ask a friend or relation to visit the Pharmacist to discuss remedies to relieve your symptoms
- Use steam inhalations for your cough (add a teaspoon of Olbas oil, Vicks etc to a bowl of steamy water and sit over it with a towel over your head for a least fifteen minutes twice a day)
- Take a couple of days off work even after you feel better, to make sure you are fully recovered
- Don't worry about eating if you don't feel like it. Taking in enough fluids is far more important. Easy swallow foods such as soups and porridge may appeal.