Flu

Flu

The symptoms of flu, such as high fever, pain in muscles and joints and a dry cough, often come on suddenly. Influenza is contagious, and good hand hygiene is therefore important if you or someone close to you is infected.

What can you do about the flu?

Make sure you get enough rest and relaxation.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Fever, muscle and joint pain can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers. Paracetamol and ibuprofen act as pain relievers and fever reducers. Ibuprofen also has an anti-inflammatory effect which can be beneficial for aching muscles and joints. Medicines with acetylsalicylic acid can also be used, but are not recommended for children under 12 years of age.

Treatment of influenza

In the case of influenza, it is primarily relevant to treat the symptoms and not the virus infection itself. But in some cases your doctor may find it appropriate to treat with antiviral agents. These must be taken within 48 hours of noticing the first symptoms and can then shorten the course of the disease by 1-2.5 days. The medicines can also be used as preventive treatment for some people.

Antibiotics will only be effective if you have had a bacterial infection in addition to the viral infection.

Duration of influenza

If you get the flu, the illness usually lasts somewhere between 7 - 10 days. Some people still find that the form is considerably reduced longer than this.

What is influenza?

Influenza is a viral infection of the respiratory tract, both the upper and lower respiratory tract can be affected. The type of virus that causes the flu is called the influenza virus. Influenza viruses have the ability to change slightly from year to year, this means that no one becomes completely immune to the flu. A new vaccine against influenza must therefore also be made every year.

How is the flu transmitted?

Influenza is contagious if you breathe in droplets from someone who has the flu and coughs or sneezes. The droplets with infection can "hang" a bit in the air, so the flu is easily contagious. You can also become infected if you have direct contact with someone who has the flu.

It normally takes 1-3 days from the time you are infected until you become ill, but you can infect others from the time you notice the first symptoms and for about 5 days afterwards.

A preventive measure against influenza is a vaccine, and this is an effective way to protect yourself against influenza disease.

Symptoms of influenza

Symptoms of flu often come on suddenly

Pain in muscles and joints
Fever
Headache
Impaired general condition (flabby and tired)
Dry cough
Vomiting and diarrhea (most common in children)

Some people can get a bacterial infection as a complication of the flu, for example sinusitis, pneumonia or otitis media. A flu usually lasts 7-10 days.

Flu or cold?

Influenza and colds can look similar. But as a rule, the symptoms are stronger with the flu than with a cold. In addition, it is quite rare that a cold causes muscle pain and a reduced general condition to the same extent as the flu can.

How to prevent the flu?