Influenza, most often referred to as the flu, typically affects the respiratory system. That means symptoms usually focus on the nose, throat, and lungs. When a person is physically healthy, flu symptoms can be managed via rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain medication. However, serious complications can also occur that can be life-threatening in some cases.
While similar to the common cold, symptoms of the flu tend to be more severe. They also tend to worsen abruptly. Flu symptoms include:
When children have the flu, they can also experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. When these symptoms are prolonged, children can face a risk of dehydration, which calls for immediate medical attention.
Most healthy people will not experience complications from the flu. However, children and adults that fall into a high-risk category (typically older adults and people suffering from chronic health problems) can also experience the following complications:
Emergency medical care is required when a person experiences problems breathing, significant weakness in the muscles, chest pain, or seizures.
The flu is caused by a virus that is transmitted via infected respiratory droplets. Upon inhaling these droplets, a person can become ill. The virus can also be transmitted by handling an object that an infected person has recently handled. People can transmit the flu virus the day before symptoms start and up to four days after symptoms present.
The flu can be diagnosed by checking symptoms and performing a medical exam. A viral test can also be performed, but this isn’t always necessary to determine whether a person is suffering from the flu. As for treatment, most people are prescribed bed rest and fluids until the symptoms subside. For people with a higher risk of complications, antiviral medications may be administered to prevent the infection from getting worse.
It’s also possible to prevent the flu via a vaccine. While different flu strains can be present, the yearly vaccine is designed to combat the strains most likely to cause issues during the year. People are also encouraged to wash their hands on a regular basis, disinfect surfaces most likely to harbour germs, and avoid touching their faces, as doing so can transmit the virus.