Flu

Flu can show up in several ways, and these are some of the main symptoms:

• a sudden high temperature
• tiredness and weakness
• a headache
• general aches and pains
• a dry, chesty cough
• sore throat
• difficulty sleeping
• loss of appetite
• diarrhoea or tummy pain
• feeling sick and being sick
• chills
• a runny or blocked nose
• sneezing

Children get similar symptoms. They may also have pain in the ear and be less active than usual.

Flu can affect people of any age. But it's more common, and can be more serious, in some groups of people, including:

• babies and young children
• older people
• pregnant women (or up to 2 weeks after giving birth)
• people with other health conditions, like asthma, cystic fibrosis, or a heart, kidney or liver condition
• people with a weakened immune system, for example because of chemotherapy or HIV

People in these risk groups are more likely to need hospital treatment or antiviral medicine.

Flu symptoms usually start 1 to 3 days after you become infected. Most people feel better within a week.

But you may still have a cough that lingers, and you may feel very tired for a few more weeks.

• you have severe difficulty breathing, for example you struggle to speak without pausing, gasping or choking
• you have severe chest pain in the middle of your chest that isn't going away (it may feel like pressure, tightness or squeezing)
• you have pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck and jaw
• you feel more drowsy than usual or find it more difficult to wake up
• your lips or skin are turning very pale, blue or grey (on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of your hands)

Information on breathing problems in children

• are more short of breath than usual
• have pain when breathing in or coughing
• are feeling confused, dizzy or lightheaded
• feel sick or are being sick (for example, you can't keep food or fluids down)
• are coughing up blood (haemoptysis)
• have heart palpitations, which may feel like your heart is racing, going too slowly or skipping a beat, or like a fluttering feeling in your chest
• are peeing less than usual, which can be a sign of dehydration
• have a very high or low temperature (for example, you feel either hot or cold to touch, or you're shivering)

If you can't reach your doctor, phone a doctor or the 16263 health line.

• rest
• get plenty of sleep
• keep warm
• drink lots of water to avoid dehydration
• take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains
• stay off work or school until you feel better

• do not take paracetamol and flu remedies that contain paracetamol at the same time

Doctors don't recommend antibiotics for flu. They won't relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.

Flu spreads through germs from coughs and sneezes. These germs can live on your hands and on surfaces for 24 hours. Good hygiene can help protect you from catching flu, and it can stop you passing it on to other people.

• wash your hands often with soap and warm water
• clean surfaces such as your computer keyboard, telephone and door handles regularly
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin as soon as you can
• avoid unnecessary contact with other people while you're infectious
• stay off work or school until you're feeling better

Flu and a cold can be hard to tell apart sometimes.

Flu symptoms:

• come on quickly
• usually include fever and aching muscles
• are more severe

Cold symptoms:

• come on gradually
• mainly affect your nose and throat
• are fairly mild, so you can still get around and are usually well enough to go to work

Some people are more likely to get complications when they catch flu, particularly those who are already at higher risk. Pneumonia is one example, and so is a worsening of existing lung problems. These usually show up after a few days of symptoms.

The annual flu vaccine can help lower your risk of getting flu each year.

Further information about the flu vaccine for adults

Further information about the flu vaccine for children