Coughing, sneezing, spluttering and feeling hit by a truck. Perhaps many would dismiss such symptoms as resembling nothing more than a common cold. But there is something far more sinister and nasty than the common cold, which many individuals get every year in every nation on earth - the flu.
The flu, or its proper medical term, influenza, is a highly contagious disease belonging to the ribonucleic (RNA) virus classification group. People who are especially vulnerable include the elderly and young children, and many deaths on account of influenza have resulted.
Flu Symptoms
There are a lot of symptoms unique to all different strains of the flu virus. On a basic level, the symptoms of the flu include but are not limited to watery eyes, a red nose, throat and mouth, a stuffy, runny and blocked nose, aching joints and body, headache, cough, bloodshot eyes, general weakness and severe chills and shivering due to fever.
Normally, symptoms do not appear until at least three days following exposure to the virus. Influenza is contracted when one infected person sneezes and coughs in the direction of another person. The onset of symptoms can be sudden and debilitating and become progressively worse as the body fights the disease.
Flu Treatment
Individuals suffering from influenza are generally recommended to keep their fluid intake up, to get a lot of rest and to take pain killers, such as ASPIRIN® and paracetamol for muscular cramps and aching joints.
Flu treatment isn’t always straightforward for every patient. Some individuals are at risk of developing serious complications as a result of influenza. Such complications include the development of pneumonia and an inflammatory reaction affecting the brain and heart. Those who are most at risk, such as elderly and child patients and people with pre-existing medical conditions affecting the respiratory system, should seriously consider getting vaccinated against influenza, especially during the winter months of the year.
Recognising Influenza and Fighting it
The flu is quite a debilitating virus that can smite anyone at any time, even during the warmer months. No one is immune. There are ever different strains of the disease, leading to many sorts of influenza epidemics. The medical profession works tirelessly to update flu vaccines to deal with constant new strains.
Treatment is advised the moment flu symptoms appear. People who are at greatest risk of developing serious complications following the onset of the flu virus are strongly urged to see their doctor for flu vaccination.
Among those who are at high risk of developing serious influenza complications are asthmatics
Source:
The Reader’s Digest. (1989). Medical Question & Answer Book. Surry Hills: Reader’s Digest Association Far East Pty Ltd.
Matthew Steel - Matthew is the owner of a small business called Matscopy. He specialises in writing media releases for small to medium enterprises. He is ...
