Are you also feeling achy these days? Do you have a cold with a fever, cough, or runny nose? You must have seen someone at home, a friend at the office, or a child having this problem. This is the condition we all know as 'viral flu' or medically called flu or influenza. This is a little more severe than a common cold. So, let's talk about this in detail and simply today.
What exactly is influenza?
Simply put, the flu is an infection of the respiratory system, which is the nose, throat, and lungs, caused by a virus called influenza . When this virus enters the body, it causes symptoms such as headache, body aches, sore throat, fever, and cough. These can sometimes be very severe.
In Sri Lanka, we have a lot of rain and cold weather, that is, during the monsoon season, you may have seen that this type of viral fever spreads more frequently. During this time, many people can be infected with this disease at once.
What is the difference between the flu and the common cold?
This is something that many people struggle with. You may be wondering, "Do I have a cold or the flu?" Although the symptoms of both are somewhat similar, there is a big difference.
Think of it this way: a common cold is a minor annoyance. You have a runny nose, sneezing, and a slight sore throat for a couple of days, but you can still get on with your work. But the flu is not like that. It's a major annoyance. You can suddenly feel weak and have difficulty getting out of bed.
Let's understand this difference more clearly from the table below.
| Characteristic | Flu (Influenza) | Common Cold |
|---|---|---|
| Onset of symptoms | It starts suddenly, suddenly. | It starts slowly, little by little. |
| Fever | Often there is a high fever. | Fever rarely occurs, but it is a low-grade fever. |
| Body pain | My body hurts badly. | You may experience slight body aches. |
| Tiredness/fatigue | I feel very tired. | I usually feel a little tired. |
| Cough | Often a dry cough, which can be severe. | A cough with mucus may occur. |
| Headache | Often a severe headache occurs. | Headaches occur rarely. |
What is the difference between the flu and COVID-19?
Since the symptoms of both are very similar, it is difficult to say exactly which one is causing the two based on the symptoms alone. This can only be determined with a medical examination. Since the two viruses are different, the treatments given are also different. So if you are having trouble, definitely see a doctor and get checked out.
Who is at higher risk of complications from the flu?
When you get the flu, some people will get better just like a normal cold, but others can develop serious complications that require hospitalization. There are several groups that are at higher risk.
| Risk category | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Age | Children under 5 years of age and people over 65 years of age. Both of these people have weak immunity. |
| Pregnant mothers | The risk is higher during pregnancy due to changes in the body's immune system. |
| People with chronic diseases |
|
| Obesity | For those with a body mass index (BMI) of over 30. |
| Other | People under the age of 19 who take aspirin long-term, and those living in nursing homes. |
How is the flu transmitted?
The flu is a disease that spreads very easily from person to person . Imagine you're riding on a crowded bus. If someone near you has the flu, when they cough, sneeze, or talk, small droplets from their mouth and nose can enter your nose or mouth.
Not only that,
- If you touch things like doorknobs, tables, computers, and phones that the patient has touched, and then touch your face, nose, or mouth with the same hand, the virus can enter your body.
- It is still possible to be infected in this way after shaking hands with the patient.
Symptoms usually begin to appear between 1 and 4 days after the virus enters the body.
What are the treatments for the flu?
Most of the time, a healthy person can recover from the flu at home without any special medication, just by resting and drinking fluids. However, in some cases, doctors prescribe antiviral medications.
Who is given antiviral drugs?
- This medicine is most effective if taken within 48 hours (2 days) of the onset of symptoms .
- If you belong to one of the risk groups mentioned above.
- If the symptoms are very severe .
- If you are caring for or living with someone in a high-risk group.
Some antiviral drugs recommended by doctors are `(Oseltamivir - Tamiflu®)`, `(Zanamivir - Relenza®)`. These should only be taken under medical advice .
How to control symptoms at home?
If you're not having too much trouble, you can do these things from home and get relief.
- Get plenty of rest: Stay in bed. Give your body the strength to fight the illness.
- Drink plenty of fluids: Drink plenty of fluids like water, broth, soups, and fruit juices. This will help prevent dehydration.
- For fever and body aches: You can take a painkiller like Paracetamol on medical advice. Never give Aspirin to children under 16 years of age without medical advice.
- Hot compresses: Applying a hot water bottle to painful areas of the body can provide relief.
- For coughs and sore throats: Steaming with hot water and gargling with salt water can help.
The most important thing is, if you're having trouble, definitely see a doctor. Don't just go to the pharmacy and buy whatever medicine you feel like.
How long can you infect others after getting the flu?
This is very important. You can spread the flu to someone else from the day before you start having symptoms until 5 to 7 days after symptoms start . The first 3-4 days after symptoms start are the most contagious.
So, if you have the flu,
- Avoid going to work or school.
- Do not take fever-reducing medication, and stay home and rest until you are fever-free for at least 24 hours .
- Stay away from others.
When to seek immediate medical advice
Flu symptoms usually subside within a few days. However, if you have any of the following severe symptoms, do not waste time and go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
| Warning signs - go to the ETU immediately! | |
|---|---|
| Difficulty breathing | Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath. |
| Chest or stomach pain | A constant, severe pain. |
| Confusion or loss of consciousness | Frequent dizziness, loss of consciousness. |
| Seizures | Having a fit-like condition. |
| Blue lips or skin | This is a sign of lack of oxygen in the body (Cyanosis). |
| Recurrence of symptoms | Symptoms such as fever and cough subside a little, then reappear. |
How to protect yourself from the flu?
"Prevention is better than cure," they say. So there are several things we can do to prevent getting the flu.
- Get the Flu Vaccine: This is the best protection. Because the influenza virus changes frequently, it is recommended to get the vaccine every year . This is especially important for people in high-risk groups.
- Wash your hands often: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your face: Always avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with your hands.
- Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or a handkerchief. If you don't have one, cough into your elbow. Don't cough into your hand.
- Stay away from sick people: If you are sick, stay away from others. If others are sick, stay away from them.
- Don't share utensils: Don't share eating and drinking utensils, such as plates, cups, and spoons, with others.
Take-Home Message
- Influenza is a viral infection that can be more severe than the common cold.
- Especially young children, the elderly, pregnant mothers, and those with chronic diseases should be very careful about this.
- It is very important to get plenty of rest, drink fluids, and seek proper medical advice.
- If you have severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, or confusion, go to a hospital immediately.
- Getting the flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from the disease.
- If you are sick, stay home and rest to prevent spreading the illness to others. Always follow your doctor's advice.
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