Flu - Symptoms & Causes

What is Influenza?

Influenza, or, more famously, the ‘flu’, is a viral infection that affects your nose, throat and -lungs. It’s extremely contagious and spreads from person to person through sharing drinks and cutlery, direct contact, and coughing and sneezing. (Flu germs don’t care if they’re spreading from touch or through the air, just as long as they hit!)

Symptom summary

Prevention tips

Hygiene Habit

Beat the germs!
If germs are stopped, flu can be stopped too! You and your family can prevent germs spreading by improving hand hygiene through regular hand washing with Lifebuoy liquid soap or using hand sanitiser - and by covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Remember to dispose of used tissues responsibly as well.

Nutrition

Boost your immune system!
Power up your body’s natural defences against flu by exercising and eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Medical Practices

Get vaccinated!
Vaccines are constantly being developed to target the most common strains of flu — so it’s important that you and your children (especially those under two) get the jab every year.

I’ve had flu already this year so I can’t get it again…

You’re immune to the type of flu that you had — but you could still catch another strain.

I shouldn’t have the flu jab because I’m pregnant…

The opposite is true! Not only does your baby need protecting from the virus, your baby needs you to be as healthy as possible too. So no fevers, please!

Medical source : British Health Authority