How Long Does the Flu Last in Adults and Children ?
If you think you have influenza the first question you’ll want an answer for is how long does the flu last for whether it be swine flu, stomach flu and if it is different in children or adults ?
We have covered articles such as common cold remedies and relief and information about the swine flu incubation period but just how long does the flu last once you have caught the virus ? Let’s start to look at the following:
What is the flu ?
The flu or influenza is a virus people catch from others via airborne particles or from touching something that already has the virus because someone else has sneezed and once you have it on your hands and touch your mouth you’ll likely pick it up. It’s a respiratory illness that’s most common in the winter months because of the dry air and spreads through the body’s respiratory tract.
A common cold is less severe although the symptoms can often feel the same. The flu will keep you bedridden for a few days and you’ll likely not want to eat or do much at all. The main difference people notice is that with the flu you’ll also have a high temperature (so if you don’t have this then you’ll likely have a cold – but if you are in any doubt then speak with your doctor).
Other symptoms include fatigue, sore throat, chills and shivering and they come on suddenly as the incubation period once you have contracted the virus can be as little as 2 days.
Stomach flu is a common term but not a medical term and it is often used to describe gastroenteritis which is common with food poisoning and you will likely get nausea (a feeling of wanting to be sick) as well as abdominal cramps.
Preventing the flu
You may not be able to completely prevent having the flu and some groups of people such as young children and the elderly are more likely to contract it as their immune systems are not as strong as healthy adults and perhaps their environment leads to being more likely to contract it.
Washing your hands often with soap and water before touching your mouth is the best prevention and some people also have a vaccination each year which increases immunity to the flu virus.
What happens when I have the flu ?
You’ll of course have all the symptoms mentioned above including the high fever – just ensure you don’t have the common cold as the symptoms are similar but flu makes you feel a lot worse.
If you really have the flu it’s best to tell others so they don’t become infected as well and make sure your personal hygiene routine is improved for yourself and others, especially if there are children or elderly relatives in your family as flu is highly contagious.
In children there are 2 types – type a and type b flu viruses and are more likely to spread in classrooms as they generally share pencils and toys which they will put into their mouths. The symptoms are more severe with very high temperatures and it will come on very quickly once they have caught the virus.
For anyone in high risk groups all government advisers suggest getting the annual flu vaccine.
Treating Flu
There are some anti-viral drugs which may be able to help reduce the length of the symptoms by a couple of days if they are taken within 48 hours of getting the virus in the first place. Over the counter medicines will not reduce the length of time you have the flu but may just make you feel a little better.
If you think you have the flu then speak with your doctor but generally all you can do is go to bed and get as much rest as you can and drink plenty of water.
Just how long does flu last ?
So getting to the question on how long does flu last it can be from around 4 days to 10 days in total depending on how you rest and recover. If you still are active and/ or continue to work it will continue for longer although it’s unlikely you’ll be able to do much at all in the first few days. Rest until you have fully recovered.
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