What is the Flu(Influenza)?

Influenza or ‘the flu’ is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that affect the nose, throat and lungs^. The flu can often come on quite suddenly, resulting in symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose and muscle and body aches². Each year in Australia, the flu is responsible for many hospitalisations, and hundreds of thousands of doctor visits¹. It can also lead to severe health complications, and even death – so it is especially important to get vaccinated.

The best protection against the flu is with an annual flu vaccine and to maintain good hygiene¹. As the flu virus changes very quickly, a new flu vaccine is released each year to keep up with the rapidly adapting flu virus and help protect against the most common strains*.

What causes the flu?

The flu is easy to catch, but can be hard to avoid. The virus is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and those droplets are breathed in or spread through direct contact to someone else^. In fact, did you know a single sneeze can spray 100,000 germs into the air³? The flu can also be caught by touching a surface contaminated with flu virus droplets, and then touching your nose, mouth or eyes^.

Someone with the flu can be infectious from 24 hours before symptoms start right up until 1 week after symptoms start, and the flu virus is spread rapidly in high contact environments (workplaces, schools)^.

The first signs of the flu

Sometimes people confuse flu symptoms such as runny nose, cough, sore throat and sneezing with the common cold (which is another respiratory illness), however flu symptoms often come on suddenly and are generally more severe than a common cold⁴. Flu symptoms usually appear about 1-3 days after catching the flu and can last for a week or more^.

What are flu symptoms?

Flu symptoms experienced can range from mild to very severe, and may include²:

Fever and chills
Headaches
Muscle and body aches
Lethargy or feeling tired and weak
Sneezing and runny or stuffy nose
Sore throat
Cough
Vomiting and diarrhea – more common in children

Other symptoms to watch out for

Loss of appetite
Difficulty breathing
Chest pain

The severity of symptoms is different for each individual and it is recommended you consult your doctor immediately should you experience any of the above symptoms.

Pharmacist giving Flu shot

How do you get relief from symptoms?

A mild flu will get better on its own usually within about a week, without any treatment². However for more severe cases of the flu, you may need to see a doctor who can prescribe medications, or in some cases hospitalisation, if necessary. For severe cases, antiviral medication may assist with reducing the severity of symptoms or length of illness. While this kind of treatment is not advised for a mild flu, there are a few ways to help relieve flu symptoms²:

Rest and adequate sleep
Medication including cold and flu tablets or mild pain killers may help relieve body aches and pain. It’s important to speak to a pharmacist first about dosage and what other medication you are taking.
Nasal sprays may help relieve a blocked nose, however it’s important to discuss which type is suited to your symptoms and how to use it correctly
Throat lozenges can assist in relieving a sore throat
Stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, especially water
Try to stay nourished by eating nutritious foods, high in vitamins and minerals
Speak to your local TerryWhite Chemmart pharmacist for expert advice on managing your symptoms

Antibiotics

Often people enquire about taking antibiotics to treat the flu. Antibiotics are not effective in treating a cold and the flu because these health conditions are caused by viral infections. Antibiotics are useful for helping to treat bacterial infections. Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them puts you and your family at risk of developing resistance to the antibiotic, so it is not recommended.

How TerryWhite Chemmart can help

Your local TerryWhite Chemmart pharmacist can help with expert advice on managing your cold symptoms, and recommend products that may be right for you.

You may also consider getting a flu shot. While it won’t protect you from the viruses that cause the common cold, it will help better protect you from getting the seasonal flu, and potentially doubling up on symptoms of cold and flu.

For more information about 2021 Flu Vaccination, please visit our Flu Vaccine page here.

Or make a booking via the link below:

Book Now

Sources

^: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/flu-influenza

*: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/news-events/news/flu-vaccine

1: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/flu-trends-in-australia

2: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/influenza-a-flu

3: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/news-events/news/difference-between-cold-flu-virus