FLU

Flu is a common infectious viral illness spread by coughs and sneezes. It can be very unpleasant, but you'll usually begin to feel better within about a week.

You can catch flu – short for influenza – all year round, but it's especially common in winter, which is why it's also known as "seasonal flu".

It's not the same as the common cold. Flu is caused by a different group of viruses and the symptoms tend to start more suddenly, be more severe and last longer.

Some of the main symptoms of flu include:

• a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
• tiredness and weakness
• a headache
• general aches and pains
• a dry, chesty cough

Cold-like symptoms – such as a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, and a sore throat – can also be caused by flu, but they tend to be less severe than the other symptoms you have.

Flu can make you feel so exhausted and unwell that you have to stay in bed and rest until you feel better.

Read more about the symptoms of flu.

What to do

If you're otherwise fit and healthy, there's usually no need to see a doctor if you have flu-like symptoms.

The best remedy is to rest at home, keep warm and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. You can take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower a high temperature and relieve aches if necessary.

Stay off work or school until you're feeling better. For most people, this will take about a week.

Read more about treating flu at home.

When to see your GP

Consider visiting your GP if:

• you're 65 years of age or over
• you're pregnant
• you have a long-term medical condition – such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease or a neurological disease
• you have a weakened immune system – for example, because you're having chemotherapy or have HIV
• you develop chest pain, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or start coughing up blood
• your symptoms are getting worse over time or haven't improved after a week

In these situations, you may need medication to treat or prevent complications of flu. Your doctor may recommend taking antiviral medicine to reduce your symptoms and help you recover more quickly.

Read more about antiviral medication for flu.

How long does flu last and is it serious?

If you have flu, you generally start to feel ill within a few days of being infected.

You should begin to feel much better within a week or so, although you may feel tired for much longer.

You will usually be most infectious from the day your symptoms start and for a further three to seven days. Children and people with weaker immune systems may remain infectious for longer.

Most people will make a full recovery and won't experience any further problems, but elderly people and people with certain long-term medical conditions are more likely to have a bad case of flu or develop a serious complication, such as a chest infection.

Read more about the complications of flu.

How you catch flu

The flu virus is contained in the millions of tiny droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when someone who is infected coughs or sneezes.

These droplets typically spread about one metre. They hang suspended in the air for a while before landing on surfaces, where the virus can survive for up to 24 hours.

Anyone who breathes in the droplets can catch flu. You can also catch the virus by touching the surfaces that the droplets have landed on if you pick up the virus on your hands and then touch your nose or mouth.

Everyday items at home and in public places can easily become contaminated with the flu virus, including food, door handles, remote controls, handrails, telephone handsets and computer keyboards. Therefore, it's important to wash your hands frequently.

You can catch flu many times, because flu viruses change regularly and your body won't have natural resistance to the new versions.

Preventing the spread of flu

You can help stop yourself catching flu or spreading it to others with good hygiene measures.

Always wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water, as well as:

• regularly cleaning surfaces such as your computer keyboard, telephone and door handles to get rid of germs
• using tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
• putting used tissues in a bin as soon as possible

You can also help stop the spread of flu by avoiding unnecessary contact with other people while you're infectious. You should stay off work or school until you're feeling better.

In some people at risk of more serious flu, an annual flu vaccine (see below) or antiviral medication may be recommended to help reduce the risk of becoming infected.

Read more about how to stop the spread of flu.

The flu vaccine

A flu vaccine is available for free on the NHS for:

• anyone over the age of 65 
• pregnant women
• children and adults with an underlying health condition (particularly long-term heart or lung disease)
• children and adults with weakened immune systems

An annual flu vaccine nasal spray is also offered to healthy children aged two and three, and to children in reception class and school years one, two, three and four.

The best time to have the vaccine is in the autumn, from the beginning of October to early November. If you think you might need it, contact your local GP surgery.

You should have the flu vaccination every year so you stay protected, as the viruses that cause flu change every year.

For more information on who should have the flu vaccine and how to get it, read the sections on the flu jab for adults, the flu jab for pregnant women and the children's flu vaccine.

Other types of flu

As well as seasonal flu, there are several other types of flu. These include:

• bird (avian) flu – a type of flu spread among birds that affects humans in rare cases
• swine flu – the type of flu that was responsible for the flu pandemic in 2009-10
• "gastric flu" (gastroenteritis)  – an infection of the digestive system, which can be caused by bacteria or viruses such as the norovirus

Click on the links above for more information about these types of flu.