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FLU
SYMPTOMS
ABOUT
INFLUENZA (FLU)
What is
flu?
Influenza
(flu) is a highly infectious illness caused by a virus - the influenza virus. It
tends to start suddenly with symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, aching
muscles and feeling generally unwell, together with a cough or sore throat. It
is usually much more than a simple head cold, although people sometimes call a
heavy cold 'flu'. Colds are more likely to start gradually with a sore throat
and stuffy or runny nose and to be less severe.
SWINE FLU
The symptoms of swine flu are broadly the same as those of ordinary flu, but it is harder to predict the course of the disease
The typical symptoms are:
- sudden fever over 38 centigrade, and sudden cough.
- (consider getting a thermometer to check your own temperature)
Other symptoms may include:
- headache, tiredness, chills,
- aching muscles, limb or joint pain,
- diarrhoea or stomach upset,
- sore throat, runny nose,
- sneezing, and loss of appetite.
Most people who have contracted swine flu recover within a week and do not suffer complications, even without being given antiviral medication.
However, experts point out that as this is a new virus, its behaviour cannot be predicted with certainty.
Swine flu is different from seasonal flu in that most serious illnesses have been in younger age groups, as happened in all three 20th-century influenza pandemics.
A doctor faced with a symptomatic patient cannot yet predict with certainty the course of their illness and has to weigh up the potential benefits of treatment with the possible side effects .
High-risk groups
Some groups of people are more at risk of serious illness if they catch swine flu, and will need to start taking antiviral medication as soon as they are confirmed with the illness.
Scientists are still learning more about the risk profile of the virus, but it is already known that the following people are particularly susceptible:
- people with:
- chronic lung disease,
- chronic heart disease,
- chronic kidney disease,
- chronic liver disease,
- chronic neurological disease,
- immunosuppression (whether caused by
disease or treatment) and
- diabetes mellitus,
- patients who have had drug treatment for
asthma within the past three years,
- pregnant women,
- people aged 65 years and older, and
- young children under five years old.
It is important that people in these higher-risk groups who catch flu contact their doctor or flu line when available as soon as possible.
Complications
For most people, the illness appears to be mild and self-limiting. Cases have been confirmed in all age groups, but children and younger people seem much more likely to be affected, whereas fewer cases have been confirmed to date in older adults.
For a minority of people, the virus has caused severe illness. In many, but not all, of these cases underlying risk factors have been identified that are likely to have contributed to the severity of the condition.
Worldwide, just over 0.4% of the laboratory-confirmed cases reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) have died, which would be a rate consistent with that normally observed with seasonal influenza. However, the true number of swine flu cases is likely to be significantly higher than that reported to WHO and therefore the figure of 0.4% is likely to be an overestimate of the death rate.
Where complications do occur, they tend to be caused by the virus affecting the lungs. Infections such as pneumonia can develop.
Checking symptoms
If you have flu-like symptoms and are concerned that you may have swine flu:
More detailed questions and answers on swine flu
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