Every year, the flu causes many people to suffer from aching limbs, coughs and other ailments. You can find out everything you need to know about this well-known disease here.
Fever, exhaustion, dry cough and aching limbs – the flu can keep you in bed for a few days, and not just in winter. The viral disease can manifest itself in a variety of ways and can even be completely symptom-free. For certain groups, however, influenza can have fatal health consequences. That is why a flu vaccination is recommended every year for risk groups.
Flu: How it manifests itself
The flu is caused by influenza viruses that attack the respiratory tract. There are different strains of the virus that are constantly changing. This is why you can become infected again year after year. According to the RKI, the flu season in Germany runs from the beginning of October to mid-May. The majority of influenza viruses circulate during this period.
By the way: In everyday language, flu and cold are often used synonymously. However, there is a clear difference between the two illnesses in terms of symptoms: a cold usually only affects the respiratory tract, while influenza affects the entire body and is accompanied by more severe symptoms.
The incubation period for flu is relatively short. According to the RKI, you will usually notice the first symptoms of the disease one to two days after you have been infected. These include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle and limb pain
- Sore throat
- dry cough
Influenza is usually uncomplicated and goes away on its own within five to seven days. The cough can also last for a longer period of time. In some cases, however, flu is completely asymptomatic, meaning there are no symptoms at all.
How dangerous is the flu?
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While flu is often uncomplicated in healthy and younger people, it can have serious health consequences for risk groups and can even lead to death. According to the RKI, older people in particular are at increased risk of developing a serious course of the disease. Pregnant women and people with pre-existing conditions are also considered to be particularly vulnerable groups, according to the Infection Control Agency.
The number of deaths per flu season varies greatly from year to year. According to the RKI, in some years there were several hundred cases, and in the winter of 2017/18 the number rose to 25,000.
For seniors, pregnant women and people with pre-existing medical conditions, it is therefore generally advisable to seek medical advice if you have the flu. Even if the symptoms have not subsided after seven days or have even gotten worse, you should seek medical treatment.
Influenza: What you can do for recovery
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If you have been infected with the flu and are suffering from symptoms, the first thing you should do is give your body some rest. The following measures will also help:
- Make sure you drink enough. Water and herbal teas are best for this.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol.
- Inhaling can help with a sore throat and a cold. You can find out more here: Inhaling for a cold and cough: What you need to watch out for with salt water and oils
- Ginger and cold calf compresses help with fever. Read more here: Reduce fever: home remedies for high temperatures
- For aching limbs, you can take a warm and relaxing bath. You can find more home remedies here: Aching limbs with a cold: These home remedies help
By the way, there is no medicine for the flu. You can only take painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol to relieve some of the symptoms.
In order not to infect those around you, it is also advisable to follow the following tips when you have the flu:
- Stay at home during the illness and generally reduce contact with other people.
- Be especially careful not to have contact with people who are in the risk groups – including people over 60, chronically ill people, pregnant women and residents of old people’s and nursing homes.
- Wash your hands regularly with soap.
- If you live with other people in a household, it is advisable to disinfect door handles and frequently used surfaces several times a day.
- Be careful not to cough or sneeze directly on other people, but sneeze and cough into your elbow if possible.
Preventing flu: What you can do
To protect yourself from influenza, you can get vaccinated against the current strains of the virus every year. This is particularly useful for people who belong to the risk groups or for people who frequently come into contact with risk groups.
In addition to vaccination, the following applies to the flu season:
-
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water regularly.
- Be careful not to touch your mouth, nose and eyes with your hands if possible.
- Avoid shaking hands.
- If possible, avoid contact with sick people.
- Basically, make sure you have a healthy lifestyle. This includes a balanced diet, sufficient rest and exercise. You can find out more about this here: 9 foods that protect against colds and flu
By the way: In summer, viruses can cause the so-called summer flu.
Read more on Techzle\.com:
- Dry throat: The most effective home remedies
- Proper ventilation when you have a cold: 2 things that really matter
- Preventing colds: How to stay healthy
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