General Information
Influenza — commonly called the flu — is a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system, including your nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs. If you’re generally healthy and you catch influenza, you’re likely to feel rotten for a few days, but you probably won’t develop complications or need hospital care. If you have a weakened immune system or chronic illness, though, influenza can be fatal.
Initially, the flu may seem like a common cold with a runny nose, sneezing and sore throat. But colds usually develop slowly, while the flu tends to strike suddenly. While a cold feels like a nuisance, you usually feel much worse with the flu. Signs and symptoms of the flu include:
- Fever
- Chills and sweats
- Headache
- Dry cough
- Muscular aches and pains, especially in your back, arms, and legs
- Fatigue and weakness
- Nasal congestion
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea and vomiting in children
Flu viruses travel through the air in droplets when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes, or talks. You can inhale the droplets directly, or you can pick up the germs by touching an object where the droplets have landed, such as a telephone or computer.
Not all flu is the some
The flu is caused by three types (strains) of viruses — influenza A, B, and C. Type A can be responsible for the deadly influenza pandemics (worldwide epidemics) that strike every 10 to 40 years. Type B can lead to smaller, more localized outbreaks. Either type A or B can cause the flu that circulates almost every winter. Type C has never been connected with a large epidemics.
DIY Home Remedy / Natural Treatment
- Drink plenty of liquids. Choose water, juice and warm soups to prevent dehydration. Drink enough so that your urine is clear or pale yellow.
- Rest. Get more sleep to strengthen your body and help your immune system fight against the infection.
- Try chicken soup. It's not just good for your soul -- chicken soup really can relive flu symptoms by helping to break up sinus congestion.
- Consider pain relievers. Use an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) cautiously, as needed. Remember, pain relievers may make you feel more comfortable, but they won't make your symptoms go away any faster. They may also have side effects. For example, ibuprofen may cause stomach pain, bleeding and ulcers. If taken for a long period of time or in higher than recommended doses, acetaminophen can be toxic to your liver. Don't give aspirin to children or teens because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease.
Prevention
To reduce your risk of the flu:- Get an annual flu vaccination. The best time to be vaccinated is October or November. This allows ample time for your body to develop antibodies to the flu virus before the peak flu season starts, which is typically between December and March in the Northern Hemisphere. However, getting a flu shot later is better than not getting one at all, and may still protect you. It takes up to two weeks to build immunity following a flu shot.
- Wash your hands. Thorough and frequent hand washing is the best way to prevent many common infections. Scrub your hands vigorously for at least 15 seconds, rinse well and turn off the faucet with a paper towel. Or use an alcohol-based hand gel containing at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Eat right, sleep tight. Both poor diet and poor sleep can lower your immunity and make you more vulnerable to infections. A balanced diet emphasizing fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and small amounts of lean protein works best for most people. That amount of sleep needed for a health immune system varies. In general, adults seem to do best on seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Older children and teens need more rest -- between nine and ten hours every night.
Medical Help
