Influenza is a respiratory infection caused by a virus. The rapid spread of this virus causes millions of people to become sick with influenza every year. It is usually a mild illness but can be serious or even fatal in some cases.
Influenza is caused by a virus that spreads from person to person. Small droplets are expelled when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks; Most people become infected by inhaling these droplets.
What are the symptoms of influenza?
Influenza mainly affects the nose, throat and lungs. most common symptoms For people affected by the flu, they are:
- cough
- General malaise
- fever
- Muscles, headaches and sore throats
- runny nose
- fatigue or tiredness
- Some people, especially children, may also experience vomiting or diarrhea.
People with chronic medical conditions may find symptoms worsen when they get the flu. For example, Asthma patients may experience an attack When they have the flu.
In some cases, complications from the flu can occur More severe symptoms occur Such as: bronchitis, ear infection, sinusitis, pneumonia or inflammation.
What can be done to cure the flu?
Generally speaking, influenza Cures without treatment Medications are usually given to relieve symptoms rather than cure the infection. The best way to prevent the disease is to Vaccination. The flu vaccine not only helps us prevent the flu, but also reduces the likelihood of complications if you become infected.
General advice for people affected by the flu is: rest and drink lots of fluids.influenza is a disease spread easily Therefore, it is recommended to stay at home and avoid places where the spread is rapid, such as schools.
The World Health Organization recommends that people with influenza:
- Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
- wash hands often
- drink lots of water
- Don’t take antibiotics
- For immunosuppressed patients, take antiviral medications.
When people develop more severe symptoms, they usually need medical attention and should talk to their doctor. high risk groups Like this:
- pregnant
- Newborn
- Over 65 years old
- people with other illnesses
How long can the influenza virus survive in the body?
How long the virus lasts in the body depends on each person and each case, but in general They will recover on their own within a week.
In most cases, symptoms appear 2 or 3 days after exposure to the virus, and the most severe symptoms (such as fever) usually disappear by 4 days after infection, but coughing and feeling tired may last longer.
What is the difference between the flu and a cold?
Generally speaking, we tend to have difficulty to determine if we have flu or coldbut the reality is that they have a range of differences.
in this case influenza, symptoms appear suddenly, while colds have a gradual process.this muscle pain and fatigue They are common symptoms of the flu, but don’t always appear with a cold.as far as he is concernedfever and headache They are normal in the flu but usually do not occur during a cold.
Instead; this congestionthis sneeze and sore throat Common symptoms are coldbut they are not normal in the case of the flu.