Flu: what are the symptoms and how to treat

Common flu symptoms start to be felt about 2 to 3 days after being in contact with someone with the flu or after being exposed to factors that increase the chances of getting the flu, such as cold and pollution, for example.

The main flu symptoms are:

• Fever, usually between 38 and 40ºC; Chills; Headache; Cough, sneezing and runny nose; Sore throat; Muscle pain, especially in the back and legs; Loss of appetite and tiredness.

Usually, these symptoms appear suddenly and usually last from 2 to 7 days. In general, the fever lasts for about 3 days, while the other symptoms disappear 3 days after the fever subsides.

How to cure the flu

In order to cure a strong flu, it is important to rest, to take medication to relieve pain and fever, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, for example, to relieve other symptoms that may arise and to strengthen the immune system.

1. Stuffy and runny nose

To improve breathing, you can use inhalation of boiling water vapor or nebulization with saline, in addition to washing your nose with a saline solution or sea water, found for sale in pharmacies.

In addition, you can also use a nasal decongestant, with oxymetazoline, for example, but you should not exceed 5 days of use, as prolonged use can cause a rebound effect.

2. Cough

To improve the cough and make the secretion more fluid, one should drink plenty of water and use home remedies that calm the throat, such as honey with lemon, cinnamon and clove tea and nettle tea.

In addition, you can also use a syrup, which can be purchased at pharmacies, to relieve coughs and eliminate sputum. See which syrup to choose.

3. Fever

To lower the fever, one should take antipyretic medications, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, for example, take a slightly cold shower and place damp cloths on the forehead and armpits, to help regulate body temperature.

4. Headache and muscle pain

Some tips that can help to relieve the headache are rest, the intake of a tea, which can be chamomile, for example and put a damp cloth on the forehead. If the pain is severe, you can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen, for example.

Flu in pregnant women, children and the elderly

The flu in pregnant women, children and the elderly can cause stronger symptoms, and vomiting and diarrhea can also occur, as these groups have a weaker immune system, which makes the body more sensitive.

For this reason, and because it is not advisable for pregnant women and children to take medications without the doctor's recommendation, in addition to following the homemade tips to relieve symptoms, one should go to the doctor and only take medications according to medical advice, to not harm the baby or cause the disease to worsen. See how to treat flu in pregnancy.

Difference between flu and cold

Unlike the flu, the cold usually does not cause a fever and usually does not cause complications, such as diarrhea, severe headache and difficulty breathing.

In general, the cold lasts for about 5 days, but in some cases, the symptoms of runny nose, sneezing and coughing can last up to 2 weeks.

Difference between flu, dengue and Zika

The main difference between flu and dengue and zika, is that dengue and zika in addition to the common flu symptoms, also cause itchiness in the body and red spots on the skin. Zika takes about 7 days to disappear, while dengue symptoms are stronger and only improve after about 7 to 15 days. See also what are the symptoms of swine flu.

When to go to the doctor

Although it is not necessary to go to the doctor to cure the flu, it is advisable to see a general practitioner when:

• The flu takes more than 3 days to improve; The symptoms get worse over the days, instead of improving; Other symptoms appear, such as chest pain, night sweats, fever above 40ºC or cough with greenish phlegm.

In addition, children, the elderly, and patients with risk factors, such as asthma and other types of respiratory problems, should be vaccinated against influenza every year.

To find out if the flu secretion is worrying, see what each color of phlegm means.