What is Flu?

The flu is a very common viral infection. It is caused by viral particles known as Influenza A, B & C. These viruses attack the cells of the body in the nose, throat and lungs.

What are the symptoms of flu?

The symptoms of flu are: High temperature, headaches, muscle aches, tiredness, chest pain, coughing, feeling bunged up, sore throat etc.
These symptoms are very similar to those of the common cold however flu symptoms tend to be much more severe and will come on within a matter of hours.

Who gets Flu?

Anyone can get flu however certain groups of people are more prone to this infection than others. People at higher risk of catching flu are;. Elderly peo-ple, very young children and those with weakened immune systems such as those undergoing cancer treatment, HIV treatment and organ transplant patients.

How do we treat Flu?

Flu is typically a self limiting disease meaning that it will go away on its own with time. The best course of action for those suffering is to manage the symptoms through; drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, paraceta-mol to control temperature and pain and decongestants such as Sudafed to deal with the stuffiness in the nose and head.

Anti-viral medicines such as Tamiflu are used infrequently and are generally only given to those at risk of complications associated with the flu or those who have reduced ability to fight infection such as the very old or the very young.

How can Flu be prevented?

The Influenza vaccine is the main way in which flu can be prevented. It is not fool-proof but has shown positive results to date. Good hygiene is also important in preventing the transmission of flu from person to person—good hand hygiene is of particular importance.