Learn how to prevent this illness and some simple ways to recover from it.

There is no doubt that one of the most common ailments in the period from October to February is the flu. It is an illness caused by the influenza virus, a virus that mutates every year, which means that, although you may have suffered from it last year, you can still catch it this year.

Are you familiar with the symptoms that differentiate it from the common cold? Note the following.

• Flu starts suddenly, whereas a cold starts with less serious symptoms which worsen as the days go by.
• It causes moderate to high temperatures (38-39 degrees), much higher than the cold, which hardly causes any rise in temperature.
• It causes intense headache, and pain in muscles and joints.
• Unlike the cold whose most typical symptom is a runny nose, the flu does not cause an increase in mucous.
• It causes an irritating dry cough with no mucous being coughed up
• It usually occurs as an epidemic, it is very contagious and the number of cases increases exponentially.

As it is a virus, antibiotics are not recommended. What you should do is try to alleviate the symptoms, in order to feel a little better.

How?

• Stay in bed. Do not go to work or your colleagues will be infected.
• Antipyretics for reducing the fever.
• Abundant fluids. You will perspire profusely with the fever and you should replace the lost fluid.
• A soft, easily digestible diet. You will not be very hungry so have purées, broths, fruit and dairy products. You will also benefit from hot infusions.
• If you have a headache and joint pains, you can take a painkiller and a cough suppressant if you have a cough. Ask your doctor or chemist first. They will be able to advise you.

There is only one efficient way of avoiding the flu and that is a vaccine. The vaccination campaign gets underway in October and is recommended for people belonging to groups at risk, like the elderly, those suffering from cardiac, respiratory, metabolic diseases, kidney failure or the immunosuppressed, pregnant women and health workers. Consult your doctor to find out if he recommends a vaccine.

To avoid infection, remember: wash your hands after sneezing or blowing your nose. Disinfect common utensils, follow a balanced diet and do regular physical exercise.

This post is also available in: Spanish