Flu

What is the flu?

Influenza (flu) is an infection caused by influenza viruses. It affects your upper respiratory tract (your nose, throat and mouth) and can range from mild to severe.

It can cause a range of symptoms, and usually lasts from a few days to a couple of weeks. Influenza can be very mild or considerably more serious, and often comes on very suddenly and without warning.

Most people who get flu will be fine within a few days to two weeks, but some people, particularly those classed as vulnerable such as the elderly, can get complications which can lead to conditions such as pneumonia. This may be life-threatening.

Who gets the flu?

Anyone can get the flu, but some groups are more vulnerable to it. This includes infants, pregnant women, seniors over 65, and people with chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and asthma

Flu is highly contagious, spreading through contact with an infected person or surfaces they’ve touched. It’s very easy to catch it as you go about your day-to-day life, so it’s important to take preventative measures to limit your chances of catching the flu. These measures include washing your hands when you go to the toilet and sanitising your hands when you eat.

How common is the flu?

The flu is widespread. Each year, about 9% of the global population contracts it, with up to a billion cases annually. Severe cases number between three to five million, and flu-related deaths range from 300,000 to 500,000 worldwide. ^[1]

What causes flu?

Flu is caused by the influenza virus, which is highly contagious. It’s spread through the air when infected people cough or sneeze, and it can also live on surfaces, where it can be picked up by touch.

What are the symptoms of flu?

Common symptoms of flu may include:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Stomach pain and diarrhea
• Loss of appetite or changes in eating habits
• Trouble sleeping
• Headaches
• Sore throat and dry cough
• Fatigue and muscle aches
• High fever of 100°F or more, which comes on quickly

Can flu lead to other health problems?

For most people, the flu isn’t serious, and they recover without needing prescription treatment. But if you’re in a more vulnerable health group it can create complications due to your immune system not being strong enough to defeat the virus on its own. A secondary infection may progress, such as pneumonia, or it may worsen pre-existing illnesses, such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease.

Some of the effects of flu in those of us with chronic medical conditions can be much more serious, such as a persistent pressure in the chest, difficulty breathing, seizures or dizziness and confusion.