The flu or. Influenza is a common viral disease that mostly occurs in autumn or winter in Europe. The flu should not be confused with flu infections or gastrointestinal flu.
What is the flu?
The flu is caused by the influenza virus. They attack the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, allowing bacteria or other substances that cause infection to penetrate.
Flu epidemics often occur in the main flu season in the northern hemisphere between December and April, as the flu is very contagious.
Every year around ten to twenty percent of the population contract influenza. Occasionally, global epidemics or pandemics also arise, such as bird flu or swine flu.
causes
The triggers for the flu are the influenza viruses, which are transmitted from person to person via a droplet infection, i.e. by sneezing or coughing. Already during the incubation period, the time between infection and the onset of the disease, the sick person can infect other people.
When it comes to the flu, there are generally three different types of flu: The influenza A virus is the most common pathogen. Because of its ability to make small genetic changes, influenza epidemics arise from year to year. As a result of these changes, there is no endogenous defense against the influenza A virus.
The influenza B virus is the flu virus from which children and adolescents in particular suffer. However, the course is much milder than that of the influenza A virus.
The influenza C virus is very rare, especially in older people who no longer have a strong immune system.
Symptoms, ailments & signs
In about 80 percent of cases, the flu goes unnoticed or manifests itself only through mild cold symptoms, which quickly subside. In the remaining cases, influenza infection causes serious symptoms and discomfort. The typical signs of the flu usually appear suddenly and after a day or two. At the beginning there is a slight chill and an increasing feeling of illness.
This can be accompanied by a sore throat, dry cough, watery eyes and a high fever. Nausea and vomiting as well as headaches and body aches are typical symptoms. Sick people also feel tired and weak, and physical and mental performance is limited. If the course goes well, the symptoms subside within a few days to a week.
In severe cases, complications can arise. This often leads to inflammation of the lungs, ears or heart muscle, as well as severe malaise, which increases as the disease progresses. If there is no treatment or treatment too late, the flu can damage the heart permanently. Possible secondary diseases of the heart such as chronic pericardial inflammation or an appropriated heart defect are expressed, among other things, by cardiac arrhythmias and reduced resilience.
course
After being infected, the flu usually begins with "feeling unwell". A high fever, headache, headache and fatigue are often the first signs of the flu.
Typical symptoms of the flu are the sudden onset of illness, the above-mentioned malaise and a strong fever that is over 39 ° C. There are also chills, as well as muscle and body aches.
Constant tiredness, exhaustion and a feeling of weakness are typical symptoms of the flu, as the body is fully focused on defending itself against the influenza viruses.
Features that apply to a normal cold also appear in the flu. For example, there are headaches, sore throats, dry coughs and sensitivity to light. However, the symptoms of the flu are more severe than those of the common cold.
Complications
In the case of influenza flu, there is an increased risk of complications, especially in children, the elderly and people who suffer from immunodeficiency. In the worst case, the disease can even be fatal. Pneumonia is one of the most common sequelae of severe flu.
In some cases, influenza viruses immediately infect the lungs, which medical professionals call primary influenza pneumonia. But it is also conceivable that the lungs are attacked by bacteria due to the weakened immune system. We are talking about secondary influenza pneumonia. Sometimes there are also mixed forms of both variants.
The influenza viruses, to a certain extent, pave the way for bacterial pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus or pneumococci on the airway mucosa. The germs can now penetrate more easily and cause pneumonia or otitis media. If the patient suffers from a weakened immune system, the secondary infection can be severe. The result is usually a high fever, which in turn puts a heavy strain on the heart and circulation.
Influenza complications outside the lungs are less common. Mostly it is Reye's syndrome, which usually shows up in children. There is a risk of impairment of the brain and liver in connection with an influenza B infection and the intake of acetylsalicylic acid. However, since children have taken aspirin less often, this complication has decreased significantly.
Other complications of influenza that occur only rarely are inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) and severe damage to muscle tissue.
When should you go to the doctor?
Serious flu should not be underestimated and should be treated by a doctor. In the worst case, it can also lead to the death of the patient. However, the flu should always be differentiated from a cold, which can usually be treated with simple home remedies. A visit to the doctor is necessary in the event of flu if the person concerned has a very high fever that does not go away on its own.
A strong cough and hoarseness also indicate the flu. Most people also experience pain in their limbs and nausea or loss of appetite. There is also vomiting and a severe runny nose and chills. Bed rest should be kept in the case of the flu so that it is not carried off. If the symptoms persist longer than usual, a medical examination should be carried out. A visit to a general practitioner or pediatrician is usually sufficient. Those affected are only dependent on an inpatient stay in a hospital in serious cases.
Doctors & therapists in your area
Treatment & Therapy
Treatment for the flu consists primarily of alleviating the symptoms. The administration of medication, for example a neuramidase inhibitor, blocks the neuramidase enzyme so that the flu can no longer multiply.
Lighter complaints such as fever or body aches can be alleviated with simple painkillers. Since the immune system is very weak at the time of the illness, secondary infections such as pneumonia can result. To prevent this, other antibiotics are administered, which are very effective against the bacteria.
In addition to treatment by the doctor, the patient can do something himself to make the flu subside faster. Bed rest should be kept during illness so that the entire organism can recover and there should also be enough drinking, as a lot of fluid is lost through the fever.
Antipyretic agents such as leg wraps should also be used. Vaccination is recommended as a prevention against seasonal flu.
Aftercare
The flu is a serious illness, but in many cases it heals without complications. However, consistent follow-up care is necessary to avoid a flare-up of the disease or superinfection with bacteria. Follow-up care is initiated by the attending physician, usually the family doctor, and monitored if necessary.
Patients with serious or chronic comorbidities, pregnant women, people with a weak immune system, the elderly and small children should especially heed the follow-up instructions from their doctor. Then the flu can be completely resolved without relapses to a high degree. A healthy lifestyle and protection are the two factors on which follow-up care for the flu is based.
First and foremost, this includes not stressing the body too early. Sport may only be practiced after consulting a doctor, so as not to expose the cardiovascular system too early to a great deal of stress. The immune system also needs time to rest in order to be able to regenerate sustainably. A sufficient amount of drinking serves to stabilize the circulation and to compensate for fluid loss through sweating in the case of a fever.
A healthy diet also stabilizes the immune system of the body, which is often severely weakened by the flu. The effects of cold should be avoided during follow-up care. Cold feet are just as unfavorable in this context as drafts. Getting enough sleep also helps the body to regenerate.
Outlook & forecast
In many cases, the flu heals completely and without complications in both adults and children. However, the prognosis can worsen, especially if the doctor's instructions are not followed or only inadequately followed.
Bed rest and rest are very important when you have the flu. If this is not adhered to, the flu can be spread and lead to the sometimes life-threatening myocarditis. A worsening of the already weakened general condition of the patient can also be triggered by inadequate drinking with the risk of dehydration. This can lead to febrile seizures, especially in young children. Other possibilities that can worsen the prognosis include symptoms such as loss of consciousness or a drop in blood pressure.
The prognosis of the flu can also worsen locally if it does not heal properly. In the area of the nose, the paranasal sinuses and the frontal sinus, congestion of secretions can lead to pain and chronic findings. In the area of the descending airways, chronic bronchitis or pneumonia can negatively affect the prognosis.
Strong involvement of the tonsils can lead to the tonsils becoming severely fissured and no longer functioning properly. Then there is often a problematic change of level to the bronchi and lungs. A dry cough, which often occurs at the end of the flu, can also worsen the prognosis if it causes a hyperreactive bronchial system.
You can do that yourself
If you have flu, you should always consult a doctor. In addition, the usual measures are recommended: bed rest and physical rest, drink a lot and light food. Further measures depend on the prevailing symptoms.
Inhaling tea or salt water at 42 to 47 degrees helps against coughs, runny nose and difficulty swallowing. Acute runny nose can be relieved by decongestant nasal drops or herbal preparations from specialist shops. A gentle alternative is to rinse your nose with lukewarm water or chamomile tea.
For severe sore throats, gargling with sage tea or preparations from the pharmacy is recommended. Essential oils and solutions from various medicinal plants such as chamomile, lemon balm, ginger or anise have also proven themselves. High fever can be counteracted with leg compresses and cooling pads, among other things.
In case of doubt, however, the emergency doctor should be called, since high temperatures can endanger life. Otherwise, the following applies: pay attention to a damp climate in the bedroom. However, drafts or cold should be avoided. In the case of flu, the chest, feet, and neck and neck region should always be well warmed.
↳ More information: Home remedies for flu
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