Flu – symptoms and self-care tips

Having the flu affects us all in different ways – for some it means you can't get on with daily life for a while, and for others, it can cause complications that lead to serious illness.

Flu is the common name for influenza, a viral infection that’s spread easily between people (contagious) and affects your nose, throat and lungs (respiratory system).

The flu virus enters a healthy cell in your body, which it infects, and then it multiplies. These new viruses then infect other cells, and if your immune system can’t fight it off it causes an ‘inflammatory response’ – your body’s defense against flu, and also what causes symptoms.

Flu season – the period where the virus is most rampant – varies but tends to be during winter. It is not known for certain why the flu season may last longer or be more severe in one year than another, but evidence suggests it might be because it survives better in colder temperatures.

Plus, during winter, we spend more time indoors with the windows shut, so we’re more likely to be infected by breathing the same air as someone who has flu.

What are the symptoms?

Flu symptoms can be nasty and leave you feeling really sick. Unlike with a cold, they often come on quickly and can include:

• a sudden fever, or feeling feverish/chills
• muscle or body aches
• a dry cough
• a sore throat
• a runny or blocked nose
• headaches and eye pain
• feeling tired and not wanting to get out of bed
• not wanting to eat.

Tummy symptoms, such as being sick (vomiting) and loose poop (diarrhea) can develop but are less usual.

Flu signs can come on very quickly and last anything from a few days to 2 weeks, or sometimes longer.

Although flu tends to get better on its own, some people get complications, which means they will feel sick for longer and may need to see a doctor.

Certain symptoms such as sudden chest pain, difficulty breathing and coughing up blood mean emergency medical attention is needed.

How does flu spread?

Flu is common because it’s easy to catch:

• it passes from an infected person in droplets from coughs and sneezes, which contain the virus
• infected droplets can linger in the air, or live on surfaces for about 24 hours
• you can catch flu if you breathe in infected droplets, or touch a surface with them on, and then touch your face.

Flu symptoms usually show up about 2-4 days after you come into contact with the virus, known as the ‘incubation period’.

You can be contagious from about 1 day before your symptoms appear, and for about 5 days to a week after.

Because you won’t know straight away if you have flu, you can unknowingly pass it on. Plus some people don’t get any symptoms.

Different viruses cause flu, so you can get infected by various types, or ‘strains’, with new ones appearing every year.

Who’s most likely to get flu complications?

Some groups of people are more likely to get complications from flu, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, including if:

• you’re 65 or older
• you have a weakened immune system – such as due to cancer treatment, or long-term use of steroid tablets
• you have a long-term (chronic) health condition – including asthma, diabetes, heart disease
• you’re pregnant
• you’re obese – with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or over

If this describes you and you have flu, see your doctor as there are steps that can help.

Self-care for flu

Although it can make you feel really unwell, most people recover from flu in a week or 2 and you shouldn’t need to see a doctor.

Try these self-care tips to help you feel less sick while you’re recovering:

• get plenty of rest and sleep
• drink lots of water to avoid dehydration
• use a hot water bottle to soothe muscle pain
• gargle warm water or suck on sugar-free lollies or lozenges to ease a sore throat
• inhale warm, moist air to help unblock your airways
• clear a stuffy nose with saline nose drops or spray from a pharmacy
• stay hydrated and drink plenty of water.

Some people swear by supplements such as vitamin C, zinc, echinacea or garlic to help speed up flu recovery. However, there’s little evidence that they work.

Check with a healthcare professional before taking an herbal medication as some can interact with other medications and can have side-effects.

How your pharmacist can help with flu

Your pharmacist can suggest medicines to ease your symptoms, such as:

• acetaminophen (paracetamol) or anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen, to lower your temperature and relieve aches and pains. Don’t take acetaminophen at the same time as flu remedies that contain it, to avoid taking more than the recommended dose
• decongestant sprays or tablets, or antihistamines, to ease congestion, a cough, and runny nose.

Check with your pharmacist that a treatment is right for you if you’re taking any other medication, or if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

When to see a doctor

Flu will usually get better by itself but treatment called antivirals can shorten the time you’re unwell and help avoid complications if you’re at higher risk. In this case, see your doctor as soon as flu symptoms start.

Most people don’t need to take antivirals if they’re not in a higher risk group.

You should also see a doctor straight away if you have flu symptoms and:

• you have trouble breathing or shortness of breath
• you’re coughing up blood
• you have persistent chest or tummy pain
• you have dizziness, confusion or drowsiness
• you're having seizures
• you’re not able to pee
• you have severe weakness or muscle pain
• you have blue lips
• you have a fever or cough that gets better, but then suddenly comes back or gets worse
• there’s a worsening of any underlying medical condition.

Medical treatments from your doctor

Your doctor may prescribe the following for flu:

• antivirals – these may reduce how long you’re sick for, and help prevent more serious problems if you’re at higher risk of complications. They’re most effective if they’re started in the first 2 days after symptoms begin, and can be taken as a pill or liquid, inhaled as a powder, or given through a drip by a healthcare provider
• antibiotics – if you get a bacterial infection on top of flu, such as a sinus or ear infection, you may need antibiotics. But these won’t work against the flu virus itself, as they only fight bacteria.

How to avoid getting flu

To help reduce your risk of catching – and spreading – flu, you can:

• wash your hands often, using warm water and soap, or use hand sanitizer
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
• throw used tissues in the bin straight away
• stay home and avoid contact with other people if you have a fever or you feel too sick to do normal activities
• clean surfaces regularly
• avoid crowded places during peak flu season
• stay away from anyone who has flu-like symptoms
• get the flu shot each year – this is safe and reduces the risk of complications and serious illness.