Winter is here and that means flu season.
The flu is more than a bad cold; cold symptoms last one to two days, while the flu can last up to a week.
A cold can sometimes cause a mild fever, while the flu causes a high fever. Muscular pains and shivering attacks occur with the flu, while not with a cold. A cold causes a runny nose, while the flu starts with a dry sensation in the nose and throat. Flu is the kind of infection that happens to most people every five to ten years.
Flu symptoms develop one to three days after infection and include high fever, chills and sweating, sore throat, weakness, headache and muscle and joint pains.
The recommended treatment for flu is:
- Stay in bed and rest until the temperature has been normal for 48 hours
- Drink enough fluids to maintain normal urine output
- Take paracetamol to control fever, aches and pains
- Use antiviral medication early, as this may shorten the length and severity of illness
- Avoid exposure to dust, alcohol, fumes and tobacco smoke as much as possible
- Consult a doctor if symptoms such as difficulty breathing, coughing up green/yellow phlegm or severe headache develop.