Facts on Flu

Although flu can be debilitating, healthy people suffering a mild bout of flu do not normally need to consult their GP.

In this article:

What is flu?

Diagnosis

How Chemist Online can help

Symptoms

Effect on your life

Causes

Treatment

What is flu?
Flu (also known as influenza) is an illness caused by a viral infection. The flu virus affects the lungs as well as the upper airways and can be much more debilitating than a common cold. In fact, compared to cold, flu symptoms can be much worse.

Symptoms
Symptoms of flu include:

headache

cough

fever

body aches (both muscular and skeletal), and

chills

Causes
Causes of flu include:

the influenza virus

close physical contact with someone that has flu

direct contact with hands upon an area contaminated by the flu virus

breathing in air/atmosphere into which others with flu have coughed or sneezed (e.g., in a shared bedroom, dormitory or workplace).

You can even catch the flu from another (infected) person simply by talking to them and breathing in the air between you as you converse.


Diagnosis
Most people make a self-diagnosis of flu. However, if you are concerned about your symptoms and would like a confirmed diagnosis from a medical professional, arrange to see your GP. He or she will take your medical history and then ask you some questions about your symptoms in order to assess your condition. Using a swab, your GP may take a viral culture to establish exactly which strain of flu you are suffering from, and then recommend an appropriate treatment option.

Effect on your life
Flu usually strikes swiftly. It generally affects the whole body and leaves you debilitated. Until the symptoms pass or your body responds to treatment, you will probably find that you are unable to do anything other than go to bed.

Treatment
Most cases of flu are cured through taking over-the-counter remedies. However, in severe cases, you GP may prescribe antiviral medicines.

In the UK, for some people (mainly the elderly) the flu vaccine is available free on the NHS and is usually administered in the autumn.

How Chemist Online can help
Through this website we have a range of treatments available to buy which can help ease the symptoms of flu, such as Lemsip Max Cold & Flu Capsules which deal effectively with heavy colds. We also have Nelsons Coldenza – a homeopathic remedy specifically designed to bring fast, effective relief for the symptoms of cold and flu.



www.chemistonline.co.uk



This information and advice is not intended to replace the advice of your GP or chemist. Chemist Online is also not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based upon the content of the Chemist Online website. Chemist Online is also not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites.


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