Those at highest risk include:. Most people who get flu will recover on their own in a few days to two weeks, but some people will experience severe complications , requiring hospitalization. Some of these complications are listed above. People at higher risk of complications or who have been hospitalized for COVID or flu should receive supportive medical care to help relieve symptoms and complications.
Prescription influenza antiviral drugs are FDA-approved to treat flu. People who are hospitalized with flu or who are at increased risk of complications and have flu symptoms are recommended to be treated with antiviral drugs as soon as possible after illness onset.
FDA has issued emergency use authorizations external icon EUAs to allow healthcare providers to use investigational products that are not yet approved, or that are approved for other uses, to treat patients with COVID if certain legal requirements are met external icon. There are multiple FDA-licensed influenza vaccines produced annually to protect against the 4 flu viruses that scientists expect will circulate each year.
To receive weekly email updates about Seasonal Flu, enter your email address:. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Influenza Flu. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. Learn more about how to protect yourself and others from flu this season. Signs and Symptoms Similarities: Both COVID and flu can have varying degrees of signs and symptoms, ranging from no symptoms asymptomatic to severe symptoms.
Flu Typically, a person experiences symptoms anywhere from 1 to 4 days after infection. When asbestos fibres become airborne, people working with asbestos may inhale particles which remain in their lungs. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only.
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Skip to main content. Home Infections. Flu influenza. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. What is the flu influenza? How can I avoid the flu? I think I have the flu — should I see a doctor? When to seek medical attention How can I avoid giving the flu to other people? What medications should I take for the flu? Tips for buying over-the-counter medications Looking after yourself when you have the flu Other useful tips for flu recovery Where to get help.
It is estimated that flu contributes to more than 3, deaths in Australia each year. Other symptoms can be: chills aching behind the eyes loss of appetite sore throat runny or stuffy nose. Having the flu is even more likely if you have been in contact with someone who already has it. Diagnosing flu Flu, and other kinds of viruses, can only be confirmed by a doctor after a nose or throat swab has returned positive results.
What to expect with the flu Symptoms of the flu hit very quickly and may last several weeks. A bout of the flu typically follows this pattern: Days 1—3: Sudden appearance of fever, headache, muscle pain and weakness, dry cough, sore throat and sometimes a stuffy nose.
Day 4: Fever and muscle aches decrease. Hoarse, dry or sore throat, cough and possible mild chest discomfort become more noticeable. It can sometimes be difficult to tell if you have flu or just a cold , as the symptoms can be quite similar. The main differences are:. If you are otherwise fit and healthy, there's usually no need to visit your GP if you have flu-like symptoms.
You should just rest at home until you feel better, while keeping warm, drinking plenty of water and taking painkillers if necessary.
Read more about how to treat flu. In these situations, you may need extra treatment to prevent or treat complications of flu. Usually, you can manage flu symptoms yourself at home and there's no need to see a GP. Most people feel better within a week. You should consider seeing your GP if you're at a higher risk of becoming more seriously ill. This includes people who:. If you're otherwise healthy, you can look after yourself at home by resting, keeping warm and drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
If you feel unwell and have a fever, you can take paracetamol or anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen to lower your temperature and relieve aches. Children under 16 shouldn't be given aspirin. See your GP if your symptoms get worse or last longer than a week. Read the page on preventing flu for more information about stopping the infection spreading to others. In , the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence NICE recommended that doctors should consider treating people in the at-risk groups mentioned above with the antiviral medications oseltamivir Tamiflu or zanamivir Relenza to reduce the risk of complications of flu.
Antivirals work by stopping the flu virus from multiplying in the body. They won't cure flu, but they may help slightly reduce the length of the illness and relieve some of the symptoms.
Recent research has suggested that Tamiflu and Relenza may not be effective at reducing the risk of flu complications and could cause side effects, so not all doctors agree they should be used.
But there is evidence that antivirals can reduce the risk of death in patients hospitalised with flu. In the light of this evidence, Public Health England says it is important that doctors treating severely unwell patients continue to prescribe these drugs where appropriate. For more information read the NICE guidelines on antivirals to treat influenza. Antibiotics aren't prescribed for flu as they have no effect on viruses, although they may be prescribed if you develop a complication of flu, such as a bacterial chest infection.
Complications of flu mostly affect people in high-risk groups, such as the elderly, pregnant women and those who have a long-term medical condition or weakened immune system. This is why it's important for people in these groups to have the annual flu vaccination and consider seeing their GP if they develop symptoms of flu.
The most common complication of flu is a bacterial chest infection , such as bronchitis. Occasionally, this can become serious and develop into pneumonia. A course of antibiotics usually cures a chest infection or pneumonia, but it can very occasionally become life-threatening, particularly in the frail and elderly. For example, people with lung conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD may find that their symptoms become more severe when they get the flu.
In people with diabetes , flu can affect blood sugar levels, potentially causing hyperglycaemia high blood sugar or, in people with type 1 diabetes , diabetic ketoacidosis a dangerous condition caused by a lack of insulin in the body.
If you get flu while you're pregnant, there's a risk that the infection could cause problems with your pregnancy. Flu may cause you to go into premature labour before 37 weeks of pregnancy , or it may result in your baby having a low birth weight. Occasionally, getting flu during pregnancy can result in a miscarriage or stillbirth. Taking the antiviral medicines oseltamivir Tamiflu or zanamivir Relenza to prevent flu is recommended if all of the following apply:.
If there's an outbreak of flu in a residential or nursing home — where the flu virus can often spread very quickly — antiviral medication may be offered to people if they've been in contact with someone with confirmed flu. Home Illnesses and conditions Infections and poisoning Flu. Flu See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About flu 2.
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