Flu & Throat Infection

The flu is an abbreviation for the influenza virus. The flu is highly contagious and spreads in communities at a rapid rate. Flu symptoms are fever, chills, weakness, loss of appetite and a sore throat. When a person has a weakened immune system, she is more susceptible to infections setting in, especially in the throat if it is already irritated.

Cause

• A person can develop a throat infection as a result of the flu, which weakens his immune system and can cause excess mucus to build up in the throat. The most common throat infection is strep throat.

Effects

• The effects of a throat infection include severe pain in the back of the throat, difficulty in swallowing, chronic cough and excess mucus buildup.

Prevention

• The best prevention to avoiding a throat infection if you catch the flu is to remain under a doctor's care. He can observe your symptoms and check periodically for any infection.

Treatment

• Although there is no drug treatment to cure the flu, antibiotics can be prescribed to cure the infection in the throat. Antibiotics are only effective on bacterial infections, not viral. To recover from the flu virus, a person should rest, drink at least six 8-oz. glasses of water daily and avoid contact with people.

Complications

• If a throat infection forms as a result of the flu, a person is at higher risk of the infection spreading into the chest, sinuses and ears if not treated with antibiotics. Because the immune system is run down from fighting the flu, infection may spread faster than normal.