Flu Symptoms in Adults

Flu is that one ailment which can affect anyone from an infant to an adult! Flu is like a nick name for 'influenza' which is a very serious respiratory ailment which can cause a lot of discomfort with its symptoms and signs. Flu is caused by the attack of the influenza A or influenza B viruses which target the upper, lower or both respiratory tracts of the human body and make the person very ill... and the worst part about flu is that it is highly contagious! This means that even if you breathe the air wherein the affected person has sneezed or coughed, you too will get the infection. Many a time, the flu viruses can enter your body by merely touching the respiratory secretion of the person by accident, the droplets from their sneeze for example. Therefore one must be really careful and cautious when it comes to saving yourself from the viral attack.

Common Flu Symptoms Observed in Adults

Because the flu virus is extremely contagious, it becomes extremely important for a person to identify the early symptoms of flu as soon as possible to prevent further complications. In fact, experts believe that the earlier flu is diagnosed, the shorter is the duration of the ailment. The severity of the symptoms also varies from person to person depending upon their individual health condition and the type of flu that they have been infected with. Mentioned below are some of the most commonly observed flu symptoms. Have a look...

High Fever
The most common sign and symptom of a flu attack is high fever that appears all of a sudden. The body temperature elevates from normal to more than 100°F. Fever is accompanied by chills and shivering making the body feel all the more vulnerable. Therefore, if the body temperature is high and you are also experiencing feverish chills, then go through some more symptoms to confirm if you have flu.

Body and Muscle Aches
This usually happens when one is tired or too much physically exerted! However, if you are experiencing body aches without any reason and that too all of a sudden, then there are chances that the influenza virus has entered your respiratory tract. One usually feels severe body and muscle aches while suffering from flu. Check out some more symptoms to confirm...

Constant Fatigue and Tiredness
A person suffering from a viral attack will obviously feel sick and tired all the time. If you have been experiencing tiredness and fatigue lately, and that too all of a sudden... without any reason, then consider this to be a prominent sign of encountering flu.

Non-productive Cough
As mentioned earlier, most of the people associate the symptoms of flu with that of seasonal cold. However, both are very different from each other. One key difference is the pattern of cough. This means, if you have a non-productive cough, meaning that there is plain dry cough and no mucus, accompanied by other symptoms, then there are high chances that you are suffering from flu. On the other hand, when it comes to cold, the cough is usually productive, meaning it has mucus.

Sneezing
Didn't I tell you that flu is contagious and can be spread through sneezing? So here comes another classic symptom of flu in adults - sneezing! The nose feels stuffy and most of the people also suffer from runny nose. Therefore the respiratory fluid, and the fluid from the nose can infect the environment making others prone to this disease. Which is why it becomes very important for the infected person to carry a tissue with him and keep a sanitizer handy.

Redness and Burning Sensation in the Eyes
Well, because the body's immune system has been affected, most people who are experiencing the symptoms like fever, headaches and muscle aches also experience redness or/and burning sensation in the eyes. Obviously, an elevated body temperature leads to burning sensation and redness in the eyes.

Sore Throat
The influenza viruses firstly affect the respiratory tract. Therefore, one of the most commonly observed flu symptom is sore throat. If your throat feels dry and sore and it hurts even while talking, then this can be due to the influenza virus attack.

Other Symptoms
Apart from the aforementioned symptoms which are more than enough to determine that the ailment is associated with flu, mentioned are some additional symptoms that may or may not occur in a person. However, there is no harm in taking a note of it, is it?

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Headaches
• Flushed skin
• Nasal Congestion

Flu Treatment for Adults

Before we get on to discussing the treatment for flu, it is important for you to understand that the treatment also depends upon the medical history, health condition and the type of flu that has affected the person. Therefore, if you can identify yourself with the aforementioned symptoms, then you must immediately get yourself checked by your health care specialist. Depending upon the symptoms, your doctor may prescribe you certain antiviral drugs and medications like Relenza. However, these drugs also result in some bothering side effects, so always consume them only after consulting your doctor.

Apart from that, there are many home remedies for flu which can help a person deal with the condition. It is advisable to consume plenty of fluids as flu can also lead to dehydration. Drinking lots of soups, fresh juices and water will definitely help in minimizing the severity of these symptoms. The patient should also take adequate amount of rest and avoid taking any sort of mental or physical stress. Pain killers are also advised in case of severe body ache.

The sooner you identify the symptoms and start the treatment, the better it is! It is also advisable to refrain from social gatherings when suffering from flu and continuously wash your hands to prevent the infection from spreading through physical contact. Always use a cloth or a tissue paper to cover your mouth while coughing or sneezing so that the respiratory secretion doesn't spread much. These simple steps and timely treatment can help one successfully overcome flu and also minimize its spreading. So get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible and take the necessary precautions today... and have a safe tomorrow. Take care.