Dr Lalitha Badul
It’s a virus that can make you feel miserable. Doctors call it influenza. Its symptoms are usually more serious than the sneezes and stuffy nose that you tend to get from a common cold.
You typically start to feel bad quickly instead of over time. You may have a high fever, headache and muscle aches, cough, sore throat, and tiredness. You also might have a runny or stuffy nose, chills, headache, and nausea or vomiting.
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Most symptoms get better after about five days. But sometimes they can last for a week or more. Even if your fever and aches are gone, you can still feel drained for a few weeks.
You can catch it when someone who has it sneezes or coughs, sending virus-filled droplets into the air that you breathe in. You can also get it if you touch somewhere that the virus landed and then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes.
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Flu is more common in winter because people spend more time in close contact with each other, so the virus spreads more easily.
Get lots of rest. Drink plenty of fluids (water, broth, and sports drinks) so you don’t get dehydrated. Most people recover after a few days without problems.
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