Influenza (FLU) is a highly contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and lungs.
When you have the flu, your body’s ability to fight off other infections is lowered and more serious, sometimes fatal complications can occur, like:
- pneumonia
- bronchitis
- kidney failure
- heart failure
Antibiotics have no effect on viral illnesses like Influenza. The best defense is an annual vaccination every autumn, regular exercise, and a healthy diet.
Flu symptoms most often include;
- high fever (often 38 to 40° C)
- head aches
- severe muscle aches and pain
- extreme fatigue and weakness
- chills
- dry cough
- sweating
- and sometimes include; sore throat
- runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing
In many cases the fever will lessen on the second or third day followed by the upper respiratory symptoms like nasal congestion and a sore throat.
Unlike the flu, the common cold is almost always accompanied by a stuffy nose, and a sore throat: it rarely causes a fever, and doesn’t usually last as long. Flu sufferers can be bedridden for up to 10 days.
The Flu almost never causes gastrointestinal symptoms: the illness that people often call “stomach flu” is not influenza.