Author:
Robert Simon
Date Of Creation:
17 June 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
Flu syndrome, often called the flu, is an infectious virus that attacks your airways (nose, sinuses, throat, and lungs). Although flu lasts only one to two weeks for many people, it is very dangerous for children, the elderly, people with weak immune systems or chronic illnesses. Getting a flu vaccine every year is the best way to prevent it, but if you do get sick, you also need to know how to handle your symptoms.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Identify the flu
Recognize the symptoms of the disease. Before you can effectively handle them, you need to make sure you have the flu. The flu symptoms are the same as the common cold, but it happens more quickly and seriously. The disease can last 2-3 weeks. The following are the symptoms of a cold:
- Cough, often severe
- Sore throat
- Fever above 38C
- Headache, body aches
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Chills and sweating
- Fatigue, weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Not delicious
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea (common in young children)
Distinguish between the flu and a cold. Both have similar symptoms, but colds progress more slowly and follow a regimen of escalation and then go away. Symptoms of a cold usually last less than a week or two and include:- A mild cough
- Low-grade fever, possibly no fever
- Headache or dizziness in the body
- Shortness of breath
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Itchy throat or sore throat
- Sneezing
- Weep
- Fatigue, maybe not tired.
Distinguish between the flu and the "stomach flu". Actually the "stomach flu" that people often call it is not the flu, it's just gastritis caused by a virus. Influenza affects your respiratory system while "stomach flu" only affects the intestinal tract and it is not too serious. Common symptoms of viral gastroenteritis include:- Diarrhea
- Cramps and pain in the abdomen
- Flatulence
- Nausea or vomiting
- Mild, occasional headache, body aches
- Low-grade fever
- Symptoms of viral gastroenteritis usually last only one to two days, but sometimes up to 10 days.
Know when to go to an emergency medical center. In severe cases, the flu can cause dehydration or severe symptoms that require urgent hospitalization. You or your child should be taken to the emergency room if you experience any of the following symptoms:- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Chest pain, heaviness in the chest
- Persistent, intense vomiting
- Dizziness or lethargy
- Pale skin, pale lips
- Epileptic
- Signs of dehydration (e.g., dry skin, dullness, sunken eyes, low urination or dark colored urine)
- Severe headache, pain or stiffness in the neck muscles
- The symptoms resemble the flu but get better, then come back with more seriousness
Method 2 of 4: Treating the Flu with Natural Remedies
Rested. You can still continue to go to school or work from time to time when you have a cold, but if you have the flu it's important to rest. Take a few days off to give your body time to recover.
- Because flu is so contagious, rest at home is essential and should be done for your body to recover.
- You may find it hard to breathe when you have the flu. Put extra pillows to support your head or sleep in a chair to make breathing easier at night.
Stay hydrated. The flu can cause a fever to dehydrate the body so it is important to drink plenty of fluids.
- Drink hot water such as warm tea or lemon juice. When rehydrating their body, they also help calm the throat and clear the sinuses.
- Limit drinks with caffeine, alcohol, and soda. Choose waters that help restore the body's nutrients and minerals, not deplete them.
- Drink hot soup. You may experience nausea and anorexia when you have the flu. Drinking hot soup or soup is the best way to get food into your body without upsetting your stomach. Studies have shown that chicken soup can reduce the ongoing inflammation in the respiratory tract, so if you feel good enough, you should eat one to two bowls, it will be very good for your body.
- If you induce vomiting at the same time you may experience an electrolyte imbalance. Use some rehydration products like Oresol (available at drugstores) or sports drinks that provide electrolytes to restore your body.
Supplement with vitamin C. Vitamin C is important in supporting the body's immune system. Science has shown a "large amount" of vitamin C can reduce cold and flu symptoms.
- Give your body 1000mg of vitamin C every hour for the first 6 hours as soon as symptoms begin to appear. Then take 1000mg 3 times a day. Do not continue taking high doses of vitamin C if you feel better. Vitamin C toxicity is minimal, but it is still possible.
- Orange juice is a natural source of vitamin C but cannot provide in large amounts.
- Talk to your child's doctor before giving them high doses of vitamin C.
Remove mucus from your nose regularly. When nasal congestion occurs, it is important to remove mucus from the airways regularly to prevent ear and sinus infections. Try the following:
- Blowing nose. It's simple, yet effective: blow your nose every time it is blocked to keep your airways clear.
- Use a nasal wash. A nasal wash is a natural way to remove runny nose from the airways.
- Take a hot bath. The hot steam will help reduce mucus in your nose.
- Putting a humidifier or nebulizer in a room can help make breathing easier.
- Use a saline spray for your nose. You can also make your own saline sprays or drops.
Use a hot pack. The effects of heat can help relieve aches and pains caused by the flu. You can also use a hot water bottle if you don't have an ice pack, place it on your chest, back, or wherever it hurts. Do not let the water too hot as it can burn the skin, and do not place it too long on the body. Remember, never go to bed with a hot pack or hot water bottle on.
Relieve fever paint with a cool cloth. You can reduce the discomfort of fever by placing a cool, damp washcloth on hot spots on your skin. You can also ease sinus congestion by applying it to the forehead and around the eyes.
- The reusable fever-reducing patches bought from pharmacies can help you feel cooler.
- If your child has a fever above 39 ° C or the child feels very uncomfortable with the fever, put a cold washcloth on his or her forehead to cool down.
Gargle with salt water. This is an easy way to relieve the sore throat that accompanies the flu. Mix a teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water.
- Gargle for more than a minute. Then spit it out. Do not swallow the salt water gargle.
Try an herbal remedy. There are countless herbs that can cure the flu, but only a few have been scientifically proven. However, your illness may improve if you try one of the herbs below. But be sure to consult your doctor before using any herbal remedy if you are on medication, have a chronic medical condition, or plan to treat your baby.
- Take 300mg of Wild Cucumber 3 times a day. Bairnwort may help shorten the time of illness. However, contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women, people with immunodeficiency syndrome, people allergic to rosemary.
- Take 200mg of American ginseng per day. American ginseng (different from Tay Ba Loi A and Asian ginseng) can help improve flu symptoms.
- Drink 4 tablespoons of Sambucol (a cold and flu syrup, an elderberry extract) daily. Sambucol is very effective in shortening the duration of the disease. You can also make your own elderberry tea by adding 3-5g of dried elderflower in 1 cup of boiling water, soaking for 10-15 minutes. Strain and drink it three times a day.
Try eucalyptus steam therapy. This therapy can help relieve coughing and stuffy nose. Boil about 2 cups of water, then add 5 to 10 drops of eucalyptus oil. Continue to heat for a minute and then turn off the heat.
- Carry the pot of water on a flat surface, like a table or top of a kitchen cupboard.
- Cover your head with a clean towel and place your head above the pot of water. Keep your face at least 30 cm away from the pot to avoid burns.
- Inhale the steam for 10-15 minutes.
- You can also use peppermint oil or peppermint oil as a substitute for eucalyptus if you prefer. The active ingredient in peppermint or peppermint oil is an excellent natural decongestant.
- Do not let any pure essential oils get inside. Some types can cause poisoning if swallowed.
Drink Oscillococcinum. A popular remedy in Europe - Oscillococcinum is a natural medicine derived from duck organs that can be used as an alternative to flu medicine.
- Science has yet to conclude about the effectiveness of Oscillococcinum. Some people may experience negative side effects such as headaches from using this medicine.
Method 3 of 4: Treating the Flu with Medicinal Remedy
Buy over-the-counter medications for treatment. Common cold symptoms can be effectively treated with medications sold at your local pharmacy. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the right medicine for you if you have health problems such as high blood pressure, poor liver, kidney, other medications, or pregnancy.
- The pain and aches of the flu can be cured with non-steriod anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin. Please read the instructions carefully before use. Children under 18 years of age should not take aspirin.
- Use antihistamines and decongestants to treat airway obstruction.
- Expectorants and cough suppressants can reduce coughing attacks. If you have a dry cough, a cough suppressant that contains dextromethorphan is best. However, if the cough is accompanied by sputum, guaifenesin may be a better choice.
- Be careful to avoid an overdose of acetaminophen. Many other drugs may also contain the same active ingredients, so read labels carefully. Follow the directions for use of the drug on the package and should not exceed the recommended dose.
Give the child the correct dosage. Children's use of acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Follow the directions on the package for the correct dosage. You can also alternate between acetaminophen and ibuprofen if your child's fever does not go away with just one medication, but make sure you keep an eye on your baby while giving any medications.
- Ibuprofen should not be given to children who are vomiting and dehydrated.
- Never give aspirin to children under 18 years of age. It increases the risk of Reye's syndrome (a rare condition of the brain and liver).
Take prescription medications. If you decide to see your doctor for treatment, depending on your condition, you may be prescribed one of the following medications. They help reduce symptoms and shorten the duration of illness if taken within 2 days:
- Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) as an oral tablet. Tamiflu can be used for children under 1 year.
- Zanamivir (Relenza) is inhaled. Children 7 years of age and older can use this medicine. Contraindicated for people with asthma or lung problems.
- Peramivir (Rapivab) has an injection form. People aged 18 years and over can use.
- Amantadine (Symmetrel) and rimantadine (Flumadine) are used to treat influenza A, but for some types of influenza (including H1N1) these drugs are still effective, although not commonly prescribed.
Understand that antibiotics are not for the flu. The flu is a viral illness. If necessary, your doctor will prescribe you medication anti-virus like Tamiflu. Do not use antibiotics to treat the flu.
- There are also cases where you have both bacteria and flu viruses, then your doctor may give you an additional antibiotic. Take medication exactly as directed.
- Overuse of antibiotics will make the bacteria resistant, making it difficult to treat. Never take an antibiotic if you have not prescribed it.
Method 4 of 4: Preventing the Flu
Get vaccinated before flu season. In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will monitor global health trends to statistic and develop a preventive vaccine for strains of influenza viruses that may be dangerous in that year. # * Flu vaccine is available at doctors' offices, health clinics and even pharmacies. While the vaccine does not guarantee that there will be no flu cases during the season, it protects people from many different strains of influenza virus and reduces the incidence rate to 60%. In Vietnam, you can go to the Pasteur Institute to get a flu shot. The flu vaccine is usually given through an injection or a nasal spray.
- In Vietnam, the flu season starts from October to April of the following year, with a peak in January or February.
- You may experience mild symptoms such as aches and pains, headache or mild fever after the vaccine is given. Remember vaccines are not cause flu.
Talk to your doctor before getting the flu shot if you have certain health conditions. In general, everyone over 6 months of age should get a flu vaccine unless they have contraindications. If you have any of the following symptoms, talk to your doctor before getting vaccinated:
- Severe allergy to chicken eggs or gelatin
- Have had a flu vaccine shock
- Have a moderate or severe illness that causes a fever (you can get vaccinated when the fever subsides)
- Have a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome (Acute polyneuropathy)
- Have a chronic illness such as heart or lung disease, kidney or liver disorder, etc. (for the nasal spray vaccine)
- Asthma (only for the nasal spray vaccine)
Choose between the nasal spray and the injection. The flu vaccine comes in two forms: a nasal spray and an injection. Most people can choose either, but you should make the right choice based on your age and health.
- The injection vaccine is suitable for children over 6 months of age, both pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses.
- People under 65 years of age should not get a high dose shot. People under 18 and over 64 years old should not be injected deeply intramuscularly, the vaccine should only be administered under the skin. Children younger than 6 months of age cannot get the vaccination form.
- Nasal sprays can be used for ages 2-49.
- Children younger than 2 years old and adults over 50 years old cannot get the spray vaccine. Children 2-17 years old who are on long-term aspirin use should not prevent the flu with the nasal spray vaccine.
- Pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems should not get the nasal spray vaccine. Caregivers of people with extremely weak immune systems should also not get the vaccine, or they can take it but keep distance from the person they care for for 7 days after getting the vaccine. please be put into the body.
- You should also not get the spray vaccine if you have been taking the anti-cold virus for the first 48 hours.
The flu is very dangerous. It is contagious and can cause serious complications. Thanks to vaccines, mortality from colds and flu has steadily decreased over the decades, from 40 people per 10,000 (1940) to 0.56 people per 100,000 (1990). However, it is important that since it is so contagious, seek treatment as soon as symptoms are found and quarantine to avoid spreading.- The 2009 H1N1 pandemic took the lives of more than 2,000 people worldwide. A similar pandemic could happen if people are not fully immunized, the CDC says.
Good hygiene. To prevent yourself from getting the flu, wash your hands often, especially after returning from public. Bring an antibacterial handkerchief with you if there is no sink and soap available in your destination.- Use an alcohol-based handrub or antibacterial soap.
- Limit your hand to your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough. You should use a tissue if you have one. Otherwise, cover it with your elbow - you will reduce the spread of germs when you cough or sneeze.
Keep yourself in good shape. Eating well, providing the body with the necessary vitamins and nutrients, keeping fit through exercise is a way to prevent colds. If you unfortunately get sick, you are well enough to fight it.- Vitamin D plays an important role in preventing the flu. Scientifically proven providing 0.03 mg of vitamin D per day can help prevent influenza A. Natural sources are sunlight, fatty fish like salmon and vitamins A and D are abundant in milk.
Advice
- Sleeping with a pillow or two under your head will help with congestion.
Warning
- Call your doctor right away if your flu includes symptoms such as fever above 39 ° C for more than 2 days, chest pain, difficulty breathing or loss of consciousness. Also, if your illness does not go away or gets worse in 10 days, you must go to the hospital quickly to be examined and monitored.
