Influenza is a viral respiratory illness. It produces high fever, cough, headache and malaise.
Risk factors. In very young children, the elderly, people with serious and/or chronic diseases, it can involve serious complications. In most cases, people recover in a week or two without treatment with specific drugs. Antibiotics do not cure the flu. It is important to follow proper hygiene practices.
Symptoms. The flu epidemic appears to coincide with the cold months. It starts suddenly with high fever (102.2 or 104.0 ºF - 39 or 40 °C), muscle aches, headache and neck ache, malaise, a dry cough and a stuffy nose. It can cause diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting (especially in children). The fever caused by the flu lasts four to five days, and the cough and fatigue can last three weeks.
To avoid spreading the flu, you should avoid coughing and sneezing into the air (cover your mouth with a tissue or the crook of your arm) and you should wash your hands frequently (especially when touching surfaces that may have been contaminated such as public transport, etc.).
Analgesics and antipyretics such as paracetamol help relieve some discomfort or shorten the discomforts of the flu, such as headache, fever and malaise. Apart from symptomatic treatment, all patients are advised to follow a series of general measures:
- Drink water, juices, wines, and teas galore.
- Do not smoke.
- Rest and lie down.
Flu viruses change continuously. That’s why you should be vaccinated every year - the vaccine is made to protect against viruses that arrive in the cooler months.
The vaccine is made from dead influenza viruses; therefore it can never produce the illness. Keep in mind that it protects against flu, but not against the common cold (there is no vaccine for the cold) or other viral respiratory infections.
Once given, the vaccine can cause mild local discomfort, but rarely fever or the feeling of illness. It is contraindicated in cases of acute illness, and when there is an allergy to a previous dose or to any component of the vaccine.
For more information visit:
Influenza
http://www.who.int/topics/influenza/en/
Symptoms
http://www.flu.gov/symptoms-treatment/symptoms/index.html
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