How to treat and protect yourself from the flu

2025-02-07 17:45:00, Shëndeti Dr. Ilir Allkja

The flu is the most common illness that we experience several times during our lives, which generally affects the respiratory tract and is caused by the influenza virus.

Symptoms often include fever, headache and body aches, cough, nasal congestion or runny nose.

How common is the flu?

Influenza is one of the most common infectious diseases. Each flu season, over 2 billion people worldwide are infected with influenza.

What is the difference between the flu and the common cold?

The flu and the common cold may have similar symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose and a cough. But cold symptoms are usually mild, and flu symptoms can be more severe and lead to serious complications. Both conditions are caused by different viruses.

How do I know if I have the flu or COVID-19?

Flu and Covid-19 have similar symptoms, the only way to differentiate them is to get tested. Both flu and Covid-19 carry a risk of serious illness.

How to treat and protect yourself from the flu

Which individuals are at higher risk for complications from the flu?

People with underlying health conditions are at increased risk of developing severe flu symptoms, including life-threatening complications that require hospitalization.

Such are:

Asthma, COPD or other lung disease.

Kidney disease, liver disease, neurological problems including stroke.

Heart or blood vessel disease.

Diabetes disease.

Weakened immune system (from HIV/AIDS, cancer or medications).

You have a blood disease, such as sickle cell disease.

Obesity.

Age under 5 years old or over 65 years old.

Pregnancy.

How to treat and protect yourself from the flu

Symptoms

The flu, Covid-19, and the common cold have many symptoms in common, which makes it difficult to distinguish between them.

Flu symptoms usually appear quickly and may include:

Fever, high temperature, chills.

Body aches.

Cough.

Headache.

Sore throat.

Muscle and bone pain.

Runny or stuffy nose.

Physical fatigue, weakness.

Diarrhea or vomiting (usually only in children).

You may have some of these symptoms.

What causes the flu?

Viruses of groups A, B and C are the most common types that infect humans. Influenza caused by viruses A and B are seasonal (mostly in winter) and have more severe symptoms.

How to treat and protect yourself from the flu

Influenza C does not cause severe symptoms and is not seasonal.

Swine flu and bird flu are both subtypes of influenza A.

Is the flu contagious?

Yes, the flu is contagious, it spreads from one person to another.

How does the flu spread?

The flu virus spreads through direct or indirect contact with someone else who is infected.

From someone near us who coughs, sneezes or talks. Droplets can land on your hands or travel through the air to enter your nose or mouth.

By touching a surface that has been contaminated with the flu virus, then touching your face, nose, mouth, or eyes. This includes things like doorknobs, desks, computers, and telephones.

By touching the hands or face of someone who has the flu, then touching your face, nose, mouth, or eyes.

How long after exposure does one get the flu?

If you become infected, you will usually have flu symptoms one to four days after exposure (the incubation period).

Diagnosis and tests

How to treat and protect yourself from the flu

How is the flu diagnosed?

Your doctor diagnoses the flu by judging your symptoms and testing a sample of mucus from your nose (rapid swab). The results may take a few minutes. Your doctor or nurse can send the sample to a laboratory for molecular testing, and you will get the results within a day or two.

How is the flu treated?

Doctors can treat the flu with antiviral medications under certain circumstances.

Antivirals can reduce the risk of serious illness and shorten the time you are sick. Many people can treat the flu without prescription medication.

Antibiotics have no role in treating the flu; on the contrary, they often complicate the condition.

How to manage the flu yourself at home?

Many people can manage flu symptoms at home without antivirals or antibiotics, simply with supplements and over-the-counter medications:

Sufficient rest. It is important to take a few days off work to protect yourself from complications.

Drinking fluids: natural tea, squeezed fruits and citrus fruits, water, chicken broth, which nourish the body but also prevent dehydration.

Hot packs or hot water bottles can soothe muscle pain.

Taking acetaminophen, paracetamol, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories can help reduce fever and relieve headaches and body aches.

How to treat and protect yourself from the flu