As flu season arrives, many people are understandably worried about getting ill. Statistics from February this year show the increased strain on the NHS with 3,372 patients a day with flu. But what is the difference between the various strains of flu, how can we prevent it and how should we respond if we fall ill with it?
Flu is seasonal and each year a new strain will begin to spread.
Flu is a highly infectious disease, and symptoms usually appear very quickly. While colds can make you feel miserable, they are considerably less serious. They usually start gradually with a runny nose and sore throat. Flu, however, is likely to flatten you completely, causing fever, chills, headache, aches and pains in the joints and muscles, and extreme tiredness.
Healthy individuals usually recover within two to seven days, but it can be very serious, in some cases leading to hospitalisation, permanent disability and even fatality!
What causes flu?
Influenza viruses affecting your respiratory system cause flu. Unlike bacterial infections, you cannot treat viruses with antibiotics. In some cases, however, you may receive a prescription for antibiotics if there are additional opportunist bacteria that cause complications and need treating.
How do you catch flu and can I avoid it?
Flu virus is spread liberally in tiny droplets of saliva released when someone with the virus coughs or sneezes.
These droplets are then inhaled by other people, or they are infected by touching surfaces where the droplets have landed. The virus can survive on surfaces for many hours.
To prevent the spread of the virus ensure that you cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Avoid touching your face in a public environment such as a bus or train, use hand gels while out and wash your hands regularly.
However, the best way to protect yourself against flu is by having a flu vaccination before flu season commences.
One of the ways to prevent getting the flu is the flu jab.
Each year teams of experts try and predict the most likely viruses to affect us and match them into the vaccine as closely as possible.
However, flu is unpredictable and there is always a risk of a change in the virus. A 2022 study showed that flu vaccination reduced children’s risk of severe life-threatening influenza by 75%.
Only the child’s nasal flu vaccine includes cover for Japanese flu – and this is okay, as it is predominantly children that get this strain.
Immunity takes a couple of weeks to build up, so it is important to get the vaccine before the beginning of flu season. While it is not a live vaccine and should not make you feel ill, some people have a low-grade fever and aching arm for a couple of days after the vaccination
Who should get the flu vaccine?
If someone has additional medical conditions, is pregnant, is the sole carer for someone dependent upon them, or a care worker – they should see if they are eligible for the free jab. Flu is serious and will put you out of action if you get it as well.
Anyone can pay for it and can just make an appointment with their pharmacist.
However, you are entitled to a free flu vaccine if you are pregnant or have one of the following long-term conditions:
a heart problem
a chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including bronchitis, emphysema or severe asthma
kidney disease
low immunity due to disease or treatment (such as steroid medication or cancer treatment)
liver disease
had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
diabetes
a neurological condition, e.g. multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral palsy or learning disability
a problem with your spleen, e.g. sickle cell disease, or you have had your spleen removed
are seriously overweight (BMI of 40 and above).
are 65 or over
are the main carer for someone who is extremely vulnerable, or work in a care home
The Pneumococcal vaccine
The pneumococcal vaccine is another helpful vaccine that protects against serious and potentially fatal pneumococcal infections. It is often referred to as the pneumonia vaccine. Pneumococcal infections are caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and can lead to pneumonia, septicaemia (a kind of blood poisoning) and meningitis.
This is a separate vaccine to the flu vaccine and is not routinely offered for free. However it is available for more vulnerable people, and it can also be bought privately.
What to do if you suspect someone has flu:
There is no need to visit your GP if you are suffering from flu as there is nothing, they can do to help you fight it. Antibiotics will not help with flu, as it is a viral disease. However, if you develop complications or are seriously worried, please phone the surgery and get additional medical advice. Remember this is a contagious disease so ensure you let the medical services know that the person has flu. It is important that you protect yourself too. Think Covid19 precautions; wear a mask, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water, wear gloves if handling infected items and ensure tissues are disposed of carefully, ideally flushed down the loo.
The key advice to recover as quickly as possible is:
Rest and sleep
Keep warm
take paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat aches and pains which will also lower your temperature.
Drink plenty of water or sports drinks to avoid dehydration (urine should be pale yellow or clear)
Don’t sweat out a fever – allow fresh air to circulate but avoid a draft. Wear loose cotton clothing and if you have a raised temperature don’t add additional blankets or clothes but help the body cool down.
Pharmacists can give treatment advice and recommend flu remedies that can help you to feel better. Some of these will also help you to reduce your temperature.
Recognising when something is seriously wrong:
Flu is a nasty virus and can make you feel incredibly unwell. It is often difficult to decide when you should phone your GP or 111 for medical advice, or when they are seriously ill and you need an ambulance. Remember to tell the medical team that you are calling about someone with flu, as it is a contagious disease.
You should phone an ambulance if they:
Struggle to breathe, they are extremely wheezy, taking a lot of effort to breathe, sucking in their tummy, using their shoulders, or needing to tripod – sitting forward to try and get their breath.
Begin to develop blue lips or become cyanosed or the extremities of their fingers look blue.
Haven’t passed urine for 12 hours.
Are unable to drink fluids and have become seriously dehydrated.
Have an underlying health condition which makes them more vulnerable, and they are feeling extremely unwell and struggling to breathe.
Develop an extremely high temperature that you cannot bring down, or they are hot, but unable to sweat.
Have a seizure or rigor (shivering and feeling cold when they have a high temperature).
Show signs of meningitis or Sepsis.
Develop chest pain
Start coughing up blood
Becomes extremely confused or unresponsive
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