Strictly speaking influenza (flu) is caused by specific influenza viruses (see Influenza/flu). Many people who claim to be suffering from the flu are in fact infected with different sorts of viruses which can cause illnesses quite similar to flu, although usually these illnesses are less severe. It is currently impossible for a GP to be able to say exactly which virus is causing a patient's illness so a working diagnosis of 'flu-like illness' is usually made.
Indeed, many people will claim to have flu when in fact they are merely suffering from a bad cold (see common colds in adults and older children). Flu and flu-like illnesses are different from a cold (or viral upper respiratory tract infection) and cause a general unwellness with widespread muscular aches, high temperature with associated sweating, headache, generalised weakness and often a dry cough. They can affect anybody and tend to make the affected person need to rest in bed while the body mounts an immune response to the virus. Although the acute unwellness typically settles over a period of a week or so it is not uncommon for a generalised feeling of lack of energy to persist for a further week or so.
As flu and flu-like illnesses are viral illness the vast majority of people will make a full recovery after their own body's immune system deals with the virus. As with other viral illnesses antibiotics will make no difference to the outcome, although not infrequently, they may cause side effects such as diarrhoea or a rash. Whilst suffering from the illness symptoms can be helped by resting, drinking plenty of fluids and taking regular Paracetamol or Aspirin (avoid Aspirin in children under the age of 12) to deal with the raised temperature and aches and pains.
Although most people make an uneventful recovery certain groups of people e.g. the elderly and those with lung, heart or kidney diseases can be prone to developing complications such as a secondary chest infection/pneumonia. Development of this would usually declare itself as a significant deterioration in the patient's condition and medical advice would be sought. In this instance antibiotic treatment would be required.
As we have seen flu-like illnesses are caused by a variety of viruses and can affect anybody at any time of the year. However, the specific influenza virus often causes an epidemic in the UK each winter. As complications from influenza can require hospital admission and occasionally even cause death an immunisation programme occurs each autumn to target people most at risk of developing complications if they were to catch the influenza virus and has been very effective in recent years at reducing the complications from influenza. Currently all people over 65, together with people with kidney, heart or lung problems or diabetes are advised to have a flu vaccination. Unfortunately as the specific virus which is responsible for each epidemic is slightly different each year, it is necessary to have a vaccination on an annual basis as previous vaccine will have only very limited effectiveness against virus strains for which they were not specifically developed.
Those of any age, but especially the elderly, who have any of the following:
Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice or substituted for professional advice. Always consult your doctor with your questions and concerns.
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