Influenza

Be prepared and protect yourself from the flu.

Antiviral medications can help with prevention and recovery.

Influenza is a highly contagious virus that spreads very quickly from one person to another. It's an uncomfortable condition that most of us can fight in time, but some groups such as the very young or old and those with underlying conditions can be put at serious risk if they catch the virus.

There's no need to put up with this illness; prescription treatment can be used to alleviate the symptoms and speed up your recovery time. Tamiflu and Relenza are proven to fight the virus and help you to recover quicker. These influenza treatments can also be used as preventative measures if you think you are at risk of catching the virus from someone who already has it.

What is influenza?

This condition is caused by viruses that circulate in the air and in numbers that can vary greatly throughout seasons. You can catch the airborne virus through your respiratory system or through your skin and, once infected, can transmit the virus to other people very quickly. You can suffer from the flu from three to 15 days and will likely suffer from a variety of uncomfortable symptoms including headaches, coughing, lethargy and muscle ache.

What are common influenza symptoms?

Influenza symptoms usually appear very suddenly, with the full onset taking place within 24 to 48 hours. Some of the common influenza symptoms include:

• High fever
• Chills and shivering
• Headaches
• Tiredness due to restless sleep
• Vomiting and diarrhoea
• Cough
• Lack of appetite
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches

While most people can fight off these influenza symptoms providing they take plenty of rest, some people can experience serious complications as a result of contracting the flu in which case medication like Tamiflu is recommended. Complications that can arise from the flu include dehydration, bacterial pneumonia and worsening of certain medical conditions like cardiovascular problems, asthma or diabetes.

It is important to know the difference between the flu and a common cold so you can take the most appropriate remedial action. A cold will typically last for a few days and is classed as a minor respiratory illness. You may experience a runny nose, a cough and have some trouble breathing. The flu is very much a longer lasting illness and can take hold of you for days or weeks. It is much more extreme and needs to be dealt with quickly before it spreads and it becomes more serious.

What are the different types of flu virus?

Normally the flu is brought on by one of two strains of the virus: the influenza A type virus or the influenza B type virus. Both of these viruses are very similar in nature and both bring on the same symptoms. They can only properly be differentiated by a sputum and blood test. There is a third strain of the virus, Influenza type C, but this is a much less virulent form of the virus and rarely causes a serious impact.

Influenza strains A and B frequently mutate and new viral strains are created every few years. These viruses spread very quickly and the most serious strains, usually type A, can cause a serious pandemic leading to many fatalities.

What influenza treatments are available?

Tamiflu is an anti-viral prescription treatment that provides protection for all three types of the influenza virus. It helps to provide relief from unpleasant influenza symptoms and improves your recovery time by one to two days if taken within the first 24 hours. Tamiflu prevents the virus from spreading in your body, so that the virus is contained and your own immune system can tackle it more effectively. You can also use Tamiflu to prevent the onset of flu if you think you may have caught the virus from someone who is infected.

Relenza is a very similar treatment to Tamiflu, and can also protect you against all three types of influenza. Relenza is taken through an inhaler, rather than as a tablet. This allows it to pass quickly into your lungs, helping the medication to work faster.

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