The Flu – Symptoms, causes and best influenza treatment options

Aches, chills and fevers—the flu is an unpleasant illness. By detecting and treating symptoms early, you can help prevent the spread of the flu. But what are the symptoms? How does a flu differ from the common cold? And is Panadol good for flu?

Flu – What are the signs, causes, and treatment options for influenza?

The flu is a seasonal viral infection of the respiratory tract. It can range from mild to severe.

The flu is caused by influenza viruses that can spread quickly from one person to another. It is incredibly common, and most people will get the flu at some point in their lives. It can cause serious illness and, in some cases, even death.

The World Health Organization estimates that around three to five million people suffer severe cases of influenza each year. An average 290,000 to 650,000 people die from respiratory issues caused by flu viruses annually1. However, most cases of flu can be treated at home with flu medicine and bed rest.

What are the top three flu symptoms?

It can be difficult to distinguish influenza from the common cold. But the flu usually comes on more suddenly. A fever is often the first sign of the illness.

Influenza usually begins abruptly. The exact symptoms will differ from person to person, but some of the first signs include fever, muscle pain, and a general feeling of discomfort.

1. Fever: A fever happens when your body is trying to fight an infection. If your body temperature rises above 37°C or 100°F, you have a fever.

2. Muscle pain: Muscle pain (or myalgia) is a common complaint of the flu. Your muscles might ache only in some places or it can feel like your entire body is hurting. There are many other reasons for myalgia, so if this is your only sign, it may not be influenza.

3. Malaise: Malaise describes a sensation of general weakness and discomfort. You will notice that something is not right and start to feel unwell. It’s often accompanied by fatigue when you have the flu.

Flu symptoms – What to look out for?

Signs and symptoms of seasonal influenza include a fever, body aches and muscle pain, chills, fatigue and a general feeling of discomfort.

Because the flu spreads quickly, detecting symptoms early can encourage people to isolate and prevent further spreading of the virus. You’ll also be able to treat yourself quickly and avoid the illness getting worse.
Common signs of the flu are:

 

  • Fever: A high temperature is a sign that your body is trying to fight a viral infection. For a reliable result, you should use a thermometer and measure your temperature inside your ear, mouth or buttocks. But not everyone with the flu gets a fever. According to estimates, around 70% of people get a flu without fever2.
  • Body aches: When you’re coming down with a flu or cold, body and muscle aches are incredibly common. You may feel achy in the back, legs, and head more than in other areas of the body.
  • Chills: Shivers are a common reaction to your body preparing for a fever and often come on just before you notice a raised temperature.
  • Fatigue: Feeling weaker and more tired than normal is one of the earliest symptoms of the flu. But be aware that fatigue alone is not always an indication of influenza. Exhaustion is a common sign of many other illnesses.
  • Cough: A dry cough, a tight chest, or wheezing may be indicators that you’re coming down with a flu. More often though, respiratory tract ailments come after the body aches and chills. Coughing can be very uncomfortable. It’s normal to cough up phlegm or mucus, but a persistent or lingering cough should be looked at by a doctor.
  • Sore throat: That itchy or sore throat you’re feeling is a common sign of influenza. It may also be painful to swallow food or even drinks.
  • Vomiting or diarrhoea: Not everyone who has the flu will suffer from gastrointestinal upset. But some people (and more commonly children) can feel nauseous and get diarrhoea.

What’s the difference between a cold and the flu?

Although they share many symptoms such as cough, sore throat, fatigue, and body aches, influenza is not the same as the common cold. The main difference between cold and flu is that a flu comes on much more suddenly. Exhaustion, muscle pain, fatigue and headaches are also more common when you have influenza. Here’s what to look out for:

Symptom

Common cold

Flu

Onset

Slow

Sudden

Fever

Not common in adults or mild; more common in children

Very common

Headaches

Sometimes

Common

Body aches

Sometimes

Common

Fatigue

Common

Very common

Stuffy and runny nose

Very common

Sometimes

Sore throat

Very common

Sometimes

Cough

Common

Common

What are the complications from the flu?

The flu is a very common seasonal illness that affects many people worldwide. People who get the flu are usually contagious for up to four days.
The flu is a respiratory infection caused by influenza type A, influenza type B, or influenza type C viruses. Influenza type A is found in many species including humans, pigs, and birds; while types B and C mostly occur in humans. Although dogs and pigs have been known to be infected with type C.

The illness passes from person to person through droplets in the air when people sneeze or cough. Around 8% of the U.S. population get influenza each season. Children are twice as likely to get the flu than adults up to the age of 65 years4.

Although anyone can get the flu, some people are at higher risk of developing complications. They include:

  • Adults over the age of 65
  • People with chronic health conditions like asthma, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease
  • People with blood disorders or chronic lung disease
  • People who are obese
  • Children
  • Adults who are immunocompromised
  • Pregnant women

Flu medicine – How to treat influenza?

Treatment of seasonal influenza usually includes bed rest, staying warm, and pain medication like Panadol. If your symptoms persist or get worse, you should see a doctor.
The flu can leave you feeling weak, tired, and unable to focus on your daily tasks. One of the most important things to do when you’re sick is to rest to help your body heal more quickly. From flu tablets to home remedies, which influenza treatment you choose will often depend on the severity of your symptoms.

1. Rest and stay warm: If you notice flu symptoms, you should stay in bed. Sleep has been shown to be restorative and helps the body recover more quickly when you have the flu. It’s important that you stay at home to avoid spreading the virus to other people. Also wash your hands more often and use a tissue when sneezing.

2. Rehydrate: Drink plenty of fluids—water, electrolyte-enhanced drinks or decaf tea—to replenish lost fluids from diarrhea or vomiting. When your body sweats because of fever, you need to replace the lost water. Avoid caffeinated drinks as these can dehydrate you further.

3. Flu tablets: Paracetamol (e.g. Panadol) or ibuprofen can help lower a fever and make you feel better. It can take around an hour for acetaminophen like Panadol to work and you should feel relief for up to five hours. Because of the wide range of over-the-counter flu medications available, you may wonder is Panadol good for flu? Panadol Cold & Flu + Decongestants caplets is a special formulation that helps you feel better much more quickly than standard flu tablets. It doesn’t just treat the fever and aches, but also a stuffy and runny nose, so you can rest more comfortably.

4. Antiviral drugs: Antiviral tablets are prescription medicines that help reduce the duration of the flu. They’re given to people who are at higher risk of developing complications from influenza to avoid severe health consequences.

A Flu Shot for Prevention

While influenza is treatable and, in most people, does not cause severe complications, the best treatment is prevention. Anyone older than six months and without any life-threatening allergies should get vaccinated, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 5
Washing your hands regularly and avoiding touching your nose and mouth is another recommended preventative measure.

References

1. World. Influenza (Seasonal). Who.int. Published November 6, 2018. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal) [Aaccessed 9 November 2020]
2. CHUGHTAI AA, WANG Q, DUNG TC, MACINTYRE CR. The presence of fever in adults with influenza and other viral respiratory infections. Epidemiology and Infection. 2016;145(1):148–155. doi:10.1017/S0950268816002181 [Aaccessed 9 November 2020]
3. Top 20 Pneumonia Facts—2015.; 2015. https://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/resources/top-pneumonia-facts.pdf [Accessed 9 November 2020]
4. Tokars JI, Olsen SJ, Reed C. Seasonal Incidence of Symptomatic Influenza in the United States. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2018;66(10):1511–1518. doi:10.1093/cid/cix1060 [Accessed 9 November 2020]
5. Ohwada K, Kitame F, Sugawara K, Nishimura H, Homma M, Nakamura K. Distribution of the antibody to influenza C virus in dogs and pigs in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Microbiology and Immunology. 1987;31(12):1173–1180. doi:10.1111/j.1348-0421.1987.tb01351.x [Accessed 9 November 2020]
6. Davis CJ, Dunbrasky D, Oonk M, Taishi P, Opp MR, Krueger JM. The neuron-specific interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein is required for homeostatic sleep and sleep responses to influenza viral challenge in mice. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2015;47:35–43. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2014.10.013 [Accessed 9 November 2020]
7. What You Should Know About Flu Antiviral Drugs. Published 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/whatyoushould.htm [Accessed 9 November 2020]
8. Who Should and Who Should not get a Flu Vaccine. Published 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/whoshouldvax.htm [Accessed 9 November 2020]

 

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