You want to stay healthy and live life to the fullest – but then out of nowhere the flu strikes. You want to get better, fast! But how?
From flu symptoms to vaccines, antivirals and more, there can be confusion around what to do when you get hit with the flu – a term we like to call ‘conflusion’.
Despite your ‘conflusion’ the flu should not be ignored – even in otherwise healthy people, the flu can lead to a wide range of severe and life-threatening complications such as pneumonia, blood poisoning (sepsis) and multiple organ failure.1,2
The flu is a virus that spreads from coughs and sneezes.3 It can cause a range of symptoms, and in some people can lead to life-threatening complications.1
Is it a cold or the flu? The sudden appearance of symptoms such as fever, body aches and more could suggest you have the flu.1 It is important to know what to look out for so that you can get medical help quickly if the flu is suspected.
Flu antivirals can help you feel better faster than doing nothing.7 However, to be most effective, they must be taken within 48 hours of your symptoms starting.7
Uncertanties about flu symptoms? Confused about treatment? It can be hard to know what’s true and what’s not when it comes to flu. That’s why we’ve separated the fact from the fiction for you.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Study of flu-related deaths in children shows healthy children at risk. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/news/flu-death-children.htm. Last accessed: December 2018.
Cowling B et al. Nat Commun 2013; 4: 1935.
Lehnert R et al. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2016; 113(47): 799–807.