What is the flu?

Fever, upset abdomen, diarrhea, sore throat, chills, coughing, sneezing and headache all could make you’re feeling depressing. And while you’re not feeling properly, it typically might be exhausting to know precisely what’s fallacious and how one can assist your self really feel higher.

With flu season approaching, it is a good time to take a look at the signs of what’s—and isn’t—the flu.

Frequent chilly

A runny or stuffy nostril, sneezing, congestion, headache and sore throat probably herald the frequent chilly. This viral an infection of your nostril and throat normally is innocent, though it may not really feel that method.

Whereas there is not any remedy for the frequent chilly, most individuals get higher with out therapy―normally inside every week to 10 days. Antibiotics aren’t efficient towards viruses, and overusing them can contribute to the event of antibiotic-resistant strains of micro organism.

Way of life and residential cures for symptom aid embrace loads of fluids and relaxation. There are execs and cons to generally used chilly cures, equivalent to over-the-counter ache relievers, decongestants, nasal sprays and cough syrups.

Viral gastroenteritis, or abdomen flu

What many individuals name the flu is definitely viral gastroenteritis, or abdomen flu. Attribute signs embrace diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps and ache. Signs normally final only a day or two, however sometimes they might persist so long as 10 days.

There’s typically no particular medical therapy for viral gastroenteritis. Self-care measures can assist with symptom aid, although. Get loads of relaxation and let your abdomen settle by avoiding stable meals for a number of hours. As an alternative, suck on ice chips or take small sips of water. Then ease again into consuming with a bland food regimen. If nausea returns, cease consuming once more. Keep away from meals equivalent to dairy merchandise, caffeine, and fatty or extremely seasoned meals till you’re feeling higher.

Influenza

Influenza is the true flu. It is is a viral an infection that assaults your respiratory system, together with your nostril, throat and lungs. At first, the flu could appear to be a typical chilly with a runny nose, sneezing and sore throat. However colds normally develop slowly; whereas, the flu tends to return on all of a sudden. And though a chilly could be a hassle, you normally really feel a lot worse with the flu.

For most individuals, the flu resolves by itself. However typically the flu and its problems might be lethal. Folks at increased threat of creating flu problems embrace younger youngsters, pregnant woman and people two weeks postpartum, individuals over 65, individuals with weakened immune techniques and a few continual diseases, and people who find themselves overweight.

Normally, you may want nothing greater than relaxation and loads of fluids to deal with the flu. However in case you have a extreme an infection or are at increased threat of problems, your well being care supplier could prescribe an antiviral drug to deal with the flu.

In contrast to the frequent chilly and stomach flu, there’s a vaccine for the flu. Whereas it isn’t 100% efficient, getting vaccinated for the flu can scale back your threat of changing into contaminated with the flu, and reduce its severity and decrease your threat of hospitalization if you’re contaminated. The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everybody 6 months and older, with uncommon exceptions. Vaccination is your finest protection towards the flu.

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