Coping with flu – the ultimate guide
Before Christmas, hospitals were struggling with Australian Flu, after Christmas they were inundated with Japanese Flu. What are these different strains, what is Flu, how can we protect ourselves and what should we do if we succumb to the flu!
Flu is seasonal and occurs every year, however each year we are infected by different strains.
Flu is a highly infectious disease and symptoms usually come on very quickly. Colds are considerably less serious and usually start gradually with a blocked or runny nose and sore throat. Flu is on a different level to a cold: and is likely to flatten you completely, causing fever, chills, headache, aches and pains in the joints and muscles, and extreme tiredness.
Healthy individuals usually recover within two to seven days, but it can be a lot more serious, leading to hospitalisation, permanent disability or even kill you!
What causes flu?
Flu is caused by influenza viruses affecting your respiratory system. Because these are viruses and not bacteria, antibiotics will not help. Antibiotics are only prescribed if there are additional opportunist bacteria that cause complications and need treating.
How do you catch flu and can I avoid it?
When an infected person coughs or sneezes, the flu virus is spread liberally in tiny droplets of saliva.
These droplets are then inhaled in by other people or they are infected by touching surfaces where the droplets have landed. The virus can survive on surfaces for many hours.
You can prevent the spread of the virus by covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your face in a public environment such as public transport and use hand gels to reduce the risk of picking up the virus.
By far the best prevention is by having the vaccination before the flu season starts.
The best way to prevent getting the flu is to have a flu jab.
Every year experts try and predict the most likely viruses that will affect us and match them into the vaccine as closely as possible.
However, flu is unpredictable and there is always a risk of a change in the virus. During the last ten years the vaccine has generally been a good match for the circulating strains.
This year there was a quadruple vaccine that was given to people attending for vaccinations from September to November. When this ran out, Chemists offered the triple vaccine. Both these vaccines cover Australian Flu and neither cover Japanese Flu.
Only the child’s nasal flu vaccine includes cover for Japanese flu – but it is predominantly children that are affected by this strain.
You should have the flu jab as early as possible before the flu season as the immunity takes a couple of weeks to build up. It is not a live vaccine so should not make you feel ill, although some people have reported a low-grade fever and aching arm for a couple of days after the vaccination.
Many Pharmacists are currently running extremely low on the flu vaccine.
Who should be vaccinated?
If someone has additional medical conditions, is pregnant, or is the sole carer for someone dependent upon them, or a care worker – they should try and get vaccinated. Flu is serious and will put you out of action if you get it.
Anyone can pay to be vaccinated and can just make an appointment with their Pharmacist.
However, you are entitled to a free flu vaccine if you are:
• pregnant or have one of the following longterm conditions:
• a heart problem
• a chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including bronchitis, emphysema or severe asthma
• kidney disease
• lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as steroid medication or cancer treatment)
• liver disease
• had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
• diabetes
• a neurological condition, eg multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral palsy or learning disability
• a problem with your spleen, eg sickle cell disease, or you have had your spleen removed
• are seriously overweight (BMI of 40 and above).
What to do if you suspect you have flu:
There is no need to visit your GP if you are suffering from flu as there is nothing they can do to help you fight it. However, if you develop complications or are seriously worried please phone the surgery and get additional medical advice.
The key advice to recover as quickly as possible is:
rest and sleep
keep warm
take paracetamol or ibuprofen treat aches and pains and this will lower your temperature too
drink plenty of water and avoid dehydration (urine should be pale yellow or clear)
Pharmacists can give treatment advice and recommend flu remedies that can help you to feel better.
Written by Emma Hammett for First Aid for Life
It is strongly advised that you attend a fully regulated Practical or Online First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency.
Please visit https://www.firstaidforlife.org.uk or call 0208 675 4036 for more information about our courses.
First Aid for Life is a multi-award-winning, fully regulated first aid training provider. Our trainers are highly experienced medical, health and emergency services professionals who will tailor the training to your needs. Courses for groups or individuals at our venue or yours.
First Aid for life provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. First Aid for Life is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information.
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