Flu

Symptoms and treatment of the flu

Because having the flu is such a common problem, many people fail to recognize that it kills thousands of people in this country every year. In many of those cases, the deaths were preventable either with the flu vaccine or proper identification of the issues and treatment of the problems. Today, flu is very much in the news as the H1N1 virus, or so-called swine flu, has affected thousands and is predicted to spread even more widely.

Flu Symptoms

Detecting what is and is not a case of the flu is not always easy, and that’s because the symptoms are so commonly experienced. However, following are some things to look for. Symptoms can either be relatively mild or quite severe and onset can occur very rapidly; they include body aches, fever, headache, chills, dry cough, fatigue, runny nose and various stomach symptoms, such as vomiting, general nausea or diarrhea. Both runny noses and stomach symptoms are more common in children than in adults. It is important to understand that not all of these symptoms need to be present in order for the flu to be active in your body.

What’s commonly referred to as “stomach flu” is actually not a flu at all. The flu is caused by the influenza virus. There are several viral infections that cause symptoms of severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramping, and these are properly termed gastroenteritis.

Cold and Flu Treatments

There are a few well-known paths taken to address flu symptoms and to create a good cold and flu defense. The first line of defense is the flu shot. While flu shots have sometimes been controversial, because they can come with their own side effects, most experts agree that the benefits outweigh the risks. Antiviral drugs are sometimes prescribed in serious cases. It cannot be emphasized enough, however, that antibiotics should not be taken for the flu. The flu is caused by a virus, not bacteria, so antibiotics will have no beneficial effect.

There are also several over-the-counter treatments available on the market today for treatment of symptoms. And there are non-medical steps you can take for prevention for yourself and others, such a washing your hands frequently and using a tissue when you sneeze.

Colds and flus are often an uncomfortable but ultimately not serious situation. However, it can also lead to life-threatening levels of illness, so be sure to monitor the symptoms closely and consult a doctor if they persist or become severe.