Flu

What is flu?

Flu is an infection of your airways. It's caused by the flu virus. The symptoms are similar to those of a cold, but flu is usually more serious.

You may have heard stories in the news about bird flu. This is a type of flu that some people have caught from birds. It's more serious than ordinary flu, but it's quite hard to catch. There have been only a few hundred confirmed cases worldwide. Cases have happened in several Asian countries, including Vietnam, Thailand and China. There haven't been any cases of bird flu spreading to people in the UK.

Most of the people who've caught bird flu live or work in close contact with birds. However, scientists are concerned that the bird flu virus could mix with a human flu virus. This hasn't happened yet, but if it did, bird flu could spread among people very quickly. Doctors are monitoring outbreaks of bird flu and looking at possible treatments.

What are the symptoms?

If you have flu, you may get a temperature (about 38°C to 40°C), a dry cough, muscle aches, a headache, a stuffy nose or a sore throat. You may also feel generally unwell and very tired.

See a doctor if you're elderly, pregnant or have a long-term medical condition, such as heart failure or asthma. You should also see a doctor if you feel very ill, have difficulty breathing, or are ill for more than a few days. If you have young children, take them to the doctor if you think they might have flu.

Should I get a flu vaccine?

A flu vaccine can help prevent flu. It's given as an injection. If you need a flu vaccine, you should get a new one each year, usually in the autumn.

About 8 in 10 children or adults given a flu vaccine are protected from flu. It may not work as well in older people, but doctors still think it's important to get the vaccine. A flu vaccine is recommended if you're over 65, live in a nursing home, or are taking care of someone elderly or disabled. It's also recommended for people with long-term medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease, diabetes, HIV or AIDS. Experts have also suggested that pregnant women could benefit from the jab, but you might not be able to get it on the NHS. There's no evidence of any risk to your baby if you have it. If you think you might need a flu jab, talk to your doctor.

You shouldn't have the flu vaccine if you're allergicto eggs. That's because eggs are used to make the vaccine. A flu jab can't give you flu. The viruses in the vaccine are dead and can't cause you any harm. You might have a sore arm where the needle went in, or get muscle aches or a mild fever.

What treatments work?

Most people with flu get better on their own. The best thing to do is to stay at home, rest and drink plenty of fluids. Paracetamol can help with aches or fever. Children under 16 shouldn't take aspirin, because it can be dangerous.

Doctors sometimes recommend treatment for elderly people, or people with a medical condition that could make having flu more serious.

Oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu) is a drug that helps fight the flu virus. You take it as a capsule or liquid. You need to take it within 48 hours of getting symptoms of flu.

In studies, people who took oseltamivir got better about a day quicker than people who didn't take it. There isn't any research to say whether it helps people over 65 or people with other health problems. But flu can be more serious for these people, so if you're elderly or have a long-term medical condition, your doctor may recommend oseltamivir. The side effects of oseltamivir include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhoea.

Zanamivir (Relenza) is a medicine that fights flu. It comes as a powder that you breathe in using a device called a Diskhaler. You have to take it within 48 hours of getting your first flu symptoms.

Some research found that people who took zanamivir improved about one day sooner than people who didn't take it. This treatment is recommended for people over 65 and people with long-term medical conditions. The spray can sometimes cause breathing problems in people who have asthma or lung problems.

What will happen to me?

You'll probably feel pretty ill for about a week. You may cough and feel tired for a couple of weeks. But most people recover from flu without any problems.

For some people, having flu is more serious. They may get problems such as pneumonia. This is more likely to happen if you're very young, older than 65, or have another medical problem, such as heart disease. About 1 in 100 people with flu need hospital treatment.