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Facts About Flu

A Simple Guide to Influenza Symptoms and Treatment

Oct 21, 2008 Jen Syrkiewicz

As the winter months draw in, more and more people will contact flu, or influenza. This is an extremely common virus which is easy to manage in most instances.

Flu (also known as influenza) is a disease of the lungs and upper airways caused by infection with a flu virus. The virus spreads in the lungs and airways. There are three flu viruses, known as A, B and C.

Symptoms of Flu

The main symptoms are a high temperature that comes on quickly and general aches and pains. People may also experience a loss of appetite, nausea and a harsh dry cough. Symptoms will usually peak after two to three days and the patient should begin to feel much better within five to eight days, although a cough and general tiredness may last for two to three weeks.

The flu virus is usually spread in the small droplets of saliva coughed or sneezed into the atmosphere by an infected person. Direct contact with hands contaminated with the virus can also spread infection.

It takes between one and four days (average two days) to go from being infected to having the full symptoms. People with flu are usually infectious a day before symptoms start and remain infectious for approximately five days after the start of the flu symptoms.

Children and people with lowered immune systems may remain infectious for longer. Avoid all unnecessary contact with others during the infectious period.

Flu usually occurs during the winter months, from October to April in the UK. Complications such as a chest infection can affect people who are elderly, or those with certain medical conditions. This can result in serious illness and can be life threatening.

Flu Epidemics

The number of people who consult their GP with flu-like illness during the winter varies considerably from year to year (usually between 50 and 200 for every 100,000 population). However, healthy people with flu do not need to consult their GP.

An epidemic can be declared if more than 400 people per 100,000 of the population consult their GP with flu or a flu-like illness every week. Flu-like illness describes a variety of other illnesses, which result in similar symptoms.

Treating Flu at Home

If people are usually fit and healthy, they can treat the symptoms of flu at home using remedies commonly available from pharmacies. Antibiotics are not prescribed for flu as they have no effect on viruses. However, occasionally it may be necessary to control complications, especially serious chest infections or pneumonia.

Flu sufferers should stay at home and in bed for as long as the acute symptoms persist, which is usually for two or three days after the symptoms peak. They should drink plenty of fluids and to treat the symptoms as necessary.

Alternative Treatments for Flu

A GP may prescribe the medicines listed below if someone is at risk of complications and Flu type A or B is circulating in the community. Well-developed clinical guidelines exist to guide doctors in the treatment of flu. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) have also produced guidelines on the use of specific treatments for people at risk of complications.

Drugs that fight the flu virus are called antiviral medicines. They do not cure the virus but may reduce the severity and length of time that the symptoms last.

Zanamivir

Zanamivir is a dry powder that is taken by breathing it in through a device called a diskhaler. It needs to be taken within 48 hours of the first flu symptoms and the dose is two inhalations twice a day for five consecutive days. Most people can safely take zanamivir.

Oseltamivir

Oseltamivir is taken by mouth (orally) in tablet or liquid form. As with zanamivir, you need to start taking oseltamivir within 48 hours of getting the first symptoms of flu. The dose is one tablet twice a day for five consecutive days. Most people can safely take oseltamivir, but it is usually taken by people over 65 or those with the medical conditions described above.

Amantadine

Amantadine is another oral medicine, which only works against type A flu virus. It comes in tablet or syrup form and can help prevent flu if you have recently come into contact with the virus. However, at the moment in the UK, amantadine is not recommended to treat or prevent flu.

Source:

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

The copyright of the article Facts About Flu in General Medicine is owned by Jen Syrkiewicz. Permission to republish Facts About Flu in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.