Common flu symptoms begin to appear about 2 to 3 days after contact with a flu patient or after being exposed to factors that increase the risk of getting the flu, such as colds and contamination.
The main symptoms of the flu are:
- These symptoms usually appear suddenly and usually last 2 to 7 days; Fever usually lasts about 3 days.
- While the other symptoms go away 3 days after the fever goes away.
To cure severe flu, it’s important to rest, take pain and fever relief medications, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, for example, relieve other symptoms that may occur, and strengthen the immune system.
To improve breathing, you can use inhalation of boiling water vapour or misting with a saline solution, as well as washing your nose with a saline solution or seawater, which is available 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.
To improve coughing and make the secretion more fluid, it is advisable to drink plenty of water and use home remedies that soothe the throat, such as honey with lemon, cinnamon tea and cloves and nettle tea.
In addition, you can also use a syrup, which can be purchased from pharmacies, to relieve coughing and eliminate sputum.Look what syrup to choose.
To reduce fever, antipyretics, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, should be taken, such as taking a slightly cold shower and placing wet rags on the forehead and armpits to help regulate body temperature.
Some tips that can help relieve headache include resting, drinking tea, which can be chamomile, for example, and putting a damp cloth on your forehead; If the pain is severe, you can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen, for example.
Influenza 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, making the body more sensitive.
For this reason, and because pregnant women and children are not advised to take medications without the doctor’s recommendation, in addition to following home advice to relieve symptoms, the doctor should be taken and the medication should be taken only on medical advice, so as not to harm the baby or aggravate the disease.Learn how to treat the flu during pregnancy.
Unlike the flu, the common cold usually doesn’t cause fever or complications, such as diarrhea, severe headaches, and breathing difficulties.
In general, the common cold lasts about 5 days, but in some cases, symptoms of runny nose, sneezing and coughing can last up to 2 weeks.
The main difference between influenza, dengue and Zika is that dengue and Zika, in addition to common flu symptoms, also cause itchy body and red spots on the skin.Zika takes about 7 days to go away, while dengue symptoms are stronger and only improve after about 7 to 15 days.See also the symptoms of swine flu.
Although you don’t need to see your doctor to treat the flu, it’s a good idea to see a family doctor when:
In addition, children, the elderly and patients with risk factors, such as asthma and other types of breathing problems, should be vaccinated annually against influenza.
To find out if flu secretion is a concern, see what each color of mucus means.