What causes flu?

A very common infection caused by a number of viruses that tend to change from year to year. The flu requires medical advice as it may lead to more serious infection such as bronchitis, pneumonia and middle-ear infection. The flu is highly contagious and is contracted via the nose and mouth. Always consult your medical practitioner.

What happens with flu?

Colds and flu have many common symptoms. Flu symptoms include body chills and a high fever, body and muscle aches. Severe headache, a dry or chesty cough and watery eyes occur. A flu attack is often accompanied by sore throat and a runny nose. You usually know when you have the flu as it lays you low for 5 days or more.

For older persons over 75, the flu may have more serious consequences and consultation with your medical practitioner is advised and recommended. Everyone over 65 years should have an annual flu injection.

Traditional Pharmacy

It is best to try to avoid catching the flu by having a vaccine injection each year. There is no definitive cure. It's best to try to avoid contracting it. Once contracted, the goal of any treatment is to relieve symptoms and keep you comfortable whilst it takes its course.

Symptoms of headache and fever are relieved by analgesics such as paracetamol and codeine.

Dry unproductive cough associated with nasal congestion may be relieved by an antitussive cough medicine containing codeine, pholcodine or dextromethorphan and the nasal decongestant pseudoephedrine. Dry unproductive cough associated with sneezing, watery eyes and nasal congestion may be relieved by one containing chlorpheniramine, pseudoephedrine and dextromethorphan.

Chesty cough by an expectorant (to loosen mucus) cough medicine containing bromhexine and guaiphenesin. Expectorant cough medicines may also contain pseudoephedrine for use in a chesty cough with a runny nose. If you are taking medication for blood pressure, a suitable expectorant medicine containing diphenhydramine (antihistamine) and ammonium chloride and sodium citrate (mucus loosening) is suitable.

A decongestant nasal spray may give short term relief to blocked nose and nasal congestion.

Suitable medication for reducing the discomfort of cold and flu symptoms, fever and pain in infants and children include paracetamol drops, elixir and suspension.

Consult your pharmacist for advice and a suitable remedy for your condition or for children's coughs and flu.

Secondary infections such as pneumonia and bacterial sinusitis, brought on by the flu, require treatment with antibiotics. Consult your medical practitioner.

Natural Pharmacy

The flu will generally run its course with the best advice bed rest, warm environment and try to maintain comfort. Echinacea lozenges helps reduce severity of symptoms including sore throat. A supplement of Vitamin C may help reduce severity of flu symptoms.

Consult your pharmacist for advice.

What else to do?

• Take care if you have had a recent illness and the 'flu' is around.
• Ensure adequate bed rest and relaxation.
• Drink plenty of fluids including fruit juices and water.
• Tea and chicken broth are warming and help relieve flu symptoms such as sore throat.

Prevention and Cautions

Avoid contact with infected individuals.

Seek professional advice if

• Your symptoms are severe or you suffer from any chronic disorder.
• You develop croup or bronchitis or develop a very high fever.
• You flu symptoms last longer than one week

References

• The Merck Manual 17th Edition
• Encyclopaedia of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition