Influenza, caused by the influenza virus, is a highly contagious seasonal respiratory disease. Influenza viruses are constantly changing, with new strains emerging frequently.

Unlike a cold, flu symptoms come on quickly and can cause serious complications in some people. Older adults and young children are at particularly high risk for severe flu symptoms.

Typically, the flu lasts about 7-10 days. But as an infected person's body continues to recover, it's not uncommon for symptoms of tiredness and fatigue to persist for 1-2 weeks.

Flu type

There are three types of influenza viruses: A, B, and C. In the United States, influenza A and B cause runny noses, aches, coughs and high fevers in up to 20% of the population each year, leading to tens of thousands of deaths and approximately 200,000 hospitalizations.

Influenza A is not only infective to humans, but can also infect animals, and is the most serious; Influenza B only exists in humans, and its symptoms are not as severe as those of Influenza A; Influenza C has much milder symptoms. Influenza types B and C do not usually cause pandemics. The flu here is usually the nail flu.

flu symptoms

If you start to feel sick, you may be wondering: Do I have a cold or the flu? The only way to know for sure is to get a flu test. There are some obvious differences between flu and cold symptoms.

Cold symptoms tend to come on slowly—you may get a sore throat first, a runny or stuffy nose a few days later, and then you may develop a wet cough (a cough with phlegm), whereas flu symptoms usually come on faster and more intensely .

Common flu symptoms include: fever, chills, dry cough (no mucus or phlegm), headache, muscle aches, chills, sweating, shortness of breath, extreme tiredness, tiredness or weakness, chest discomfort, sore throat (sometimes), sore eyes , runny or stuffy nose (sometimes), vomiting, and diarrhea (common in children).

How to tell if you have COVID-19 or influenza

COVID-19 and seasonal influenza are both highly contagious respiratory diseases. They have some similar symptoms, such as high fever, chills, cough, headache, etc., but there are also some obvious differences, including the speed of symptom onset, cough type and severity.

COVID-19 appears to be more contagious and spreads faster than the flu. If you get COVID-19, you may lose your sense of taste or smell. Compared with influenza, COVID-19 is more likely to cause serious illness (such as lung damage), and the mortality rate from COVID-19 is also higher than that of influenza.

Signs and symptoms of both diseases range from no symptoms to mild symptoms to severe symptoms. Because the symptoms of COVID-19 and influenza are similar, it is difficult to diagnose which disease you have based on symptoms alone. Testing can be done to determine whether you have COVID-19 or the flu, or you may have both illnesses at the same time.

How to fight the flu at home

First of all, it is recommended to go to the hospital when you are sick. You can also choose home remedies. For adults whose symptoms are not very severe, the following methods can be used to treat and recover at home.

First, basic actions

Get plenty of rest – Going to bed early and taking naps are highly recommended as rest can help speed recovery.

Stay hydrated – Ensuring you are taking in enough fluids (especially water) can help you recover faster and reduce your risk of complications. Although the patient may not feel like eating or drinking, try taking regular sips of water, juice, or broth throughout the day.

Try a saline nasal spray – If symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, a saline nasal spray can help relieve stress and make breathing easier.

Use over-the-counter medications to help reduce some symptoms—Doctors often recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) to help reduce fever and relieve headaches. However, for children with the flu, it is important to only give them medications recommended by their doctor. Never give aspirin medication (acetylsalicylic acid) to a child or teen who has the flu because it can potentially cause the fatal Reye syndrome .

Second, eat anti-infection foods

Carrots contain beta - carotene.

Foods containing vitamin C , such as bell peppers.

Bananas and rice can soothe an upset stomach and curb diarrhea.

Chili peppers may open your sinuses and help break up mucus in your lungs.

Mustard or horseradish may help break up mucus in your airways.

Blueberries contain natural aspirin, which can reduce fever and relieve pain, and suppress diarrhea.

Onions contain phytochemicals that are said to help the body clear bronchitis and other infections;

Eating fruits, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins in general can help your body retain energy to fight the flu virus.

Ginger can help relieve nausea or vomiting , and simple options include ginger ale, ginger hard candies, ginger lollipops, or ginger tea.

Black and green tea contain catechins, phytochemicals that are said to have natural antibiotic and anti-diarrhoeal effects.

Third, use nutritional therapy for colds

If the above methods cannot make your body get better quickly, you may need to use Gao Lai Yi Cold Nutritional Therapy, which is an extremely effective treatment method for viruses that has no side effects, can quickly relieve symptoms, and shorten the duration of symptoms. You need to check this method yourself.

Fourth, prevent infection to other family members

If you get the flu, you probably don't want to make anyone else suffer as much as you are now. But because you need to stay home, your family or household members are at higher risk of getting sick. So take steps to protect them as much as possible. These measures include:

wash hands frequently;

keep distance;

Do not share food or drinks;

Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough;

To kill the flu virus in your house, disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects such as countertops, doorknobs, or remote controls.