The Flu & its Symptoms

Each year, the influenza virus causes symptoms that result in missed days from school and work and in extreme cases death. This viral infection chiefly affects the respiratory system, including the lungs, nose, throat and bronchial tubes. The virus has many strains, including the H1N1 virus, which has been shown to cause more severe symptoms in patients that were not previously associated with the flu, including nausea and vomiting.

Causes and Transmission

• There are three strains of flu virus: type A, B and C. Type A viruses have been associated with pandemics and can experience mutations in their DNA makeup. An example of a type A virus was the Hong Kong avian flu that affected the country in the late 1990s. Type B viruses are also capable of mutating, but are more associated with localized outbreaks and not major pandemics, making them a lesser threat than type A viruses. Type C viruses are the least serious forms and have not been associated with a pandemic.

  The flu is transmitted via close contact with infected individuals. The virus can travel via air droplets and inhaled by others. When a person coughs, sneezes or transmits the droplets to surfaces such as doorknobs, food and drink or other surfaces. Therefore, one of the best ways people can avoid getting the flu is covering their coughs or sneezes and frequently washing their hands.

Symptoms

• Once a person does become infected with the flu virus, she experiences symptoms such as a fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, muscle aches and headache. The duration of the flu often varies, from a few days to two weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another strain of the flu, known as the H1N1 virus (a strain of type A flu) also is associated with severe nausea and abdominal cramping symptoms.

Differences from a Cold

• Some may confuse symptoms of a flu with those of a cold. However, several factors distinguish a flu from a cold. The first is duration. A cold typically lasts a much shorter time--a few days vs. possible weeks for the flu, according to the Mayo Clinic. In addition, symptoms of the flu tend to be more severe than a cold. For example, those with a cold do not typically have a fever as well.

Treatment

• Because the flu is a virus, antibiotics are not effective in cessation of symptoms. However, a group of medications known as antivirals--such as Tamiflu--have been shown to be effective in reducing the duration of the flu if taken within the first two days of symptom onset.

  Other medications can be taken to simply reduce the severity of symptoms. These include aspirin or ibuprofen to reduce headache, fever and body aches; nasal decongestants to reduce runny nose; and other medications that reduce coughing. Also, flu sufferers should drink plenty of fluids and rest to facilitate healing in the body.

  As a general rule, you should avoid returning to work or school until your flu-related fever has ceased for 24 hours. This is a sign you are no longer contagious.

At-Risk Patients

• While the flu may represent an inconvenience for some sufferers, for others the flu can represent a serious threat to their life. Those with weakened immune systems due to chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and others are at higher risk. Infants and children who may not have as developed an immune system as adults also are at higher risk. In the case of influenza types (except the H1N1 virus), the elderly also are at heightened risk due to a generally weaker immune system. Pregnant women also are at increased risk, according to the CDC. These populations should discuss their risks with their primary care physician to pinpoint methods to prevent getting the flu, such as the flu vaccination and others.