The same picture every year in winter: the flu is spreading very quickly, everyone around you is sniffling and before you know it, you too feel the first butterflies in your throat. Annoying! Fortunately, flu is usually harmless and the disease follows the same phases. You can read here how the flu progresses, how long you are contagious and what you can do for a speedy recovery.
What are the symptoms of flu?
With the flu, the mucous membrane in your airways is inflamed, which can cause various complaints. It often starts suddenly with symptoms such as:
- (high fever
- cough and sore throat
- muscle pain and chills
- fatigue
- decreased appetite or hunger
- sniffle
- headache
Sometimes flu can also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, although these symptoms are less common.
How long is the flu contagious?
Flu is caused by the influenza virus, which is found in snot, mucus and saliva. By coughing, sneezing or even talking close, you can infect the people around you. Once you are infected with the virus, you can also infect others, even if you do not yet have any symptoms. According to experts, this is what makes it so difficult to control the spread of flu: we pass on the virus before we know we are (or are becoming) ill.
According to experts, once you have symptoms, you are still contagious for five days. Are you down with annoying flu complaints? Then a good rule of thumb is: stay at home until you have not had a fever for at least 24 hours.
When should you go to the doctor with the flu?
In general, you do not need to go to the doctor if you have the flu, provided you do not have any underlying diseases that affect your resistance. However, there are a number of symptoms that may indicate complications:
- shortness of breath or shortness of breath
- pain in the chest
- dizziness
- confusion
- getting sicker (or first better and then sicker again)
If you have the flu and experience (one of) these symptoms, contact your doctor.
The different stages of flu
In general, the flu progresses the same way for most people.
Day 0
Day 0 is not one day, but describes the incubation period: the moment when you are already infected with the virus, but have no symptoms yet. It can take one to four days before you experience the first flu symptoms.
Day 1
Subtle symptoms may emerge during the first day. For example, you may wake up with a stuffy nose or feel a little weaker than normal. Towards the end of day 1, symptoms may quickly worsen or other common flu symptoms may emerge.
Day 2
The symptoms really start on day 2. You start to get a fever and cough a lot, you get muscle pain or a stuffy nose. Other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, may also emerge.
Day 3 – 4
Everyone experiences the flu differently and there are many factors to take into account, such as how strong your immune system is or whether you have had a flu shot. Someone who has been vaccinated will experience less severe symptoms than someone who has not been vaccinated.
Still, day three to four is normally considered the peak. That means: still fever, pain and fatigue. Get the rest your body needs to recover quickly, because sleep is important for your immune system.
Day 5
There is light at the end of the tunnel! By day five, most people should see the first signs of improvement. You are still sick, but feel less miserable, and your fever should also drop now.
Day 6
By day six, most people will notice that their fever is gone, or only appears occasionally. Sore throats and muscle pain also get better, you can breathe better and have more energy.
And it is precisely this improvement that can also be a pitfall. You finally feel better and want to get back to everything, but realize that your body is still recovering. Take it easy until you are sure you feel better. Exercising with a cold or flu is usually not a good idea.
Day 7
By the end of the week, you should feel able to leave the house, do activities, or get back to your normal routine. There is a chance that you have a persistent cough or suffer from fatigue for longer. Continue to listen to your body and avoid doing too much too quickly.
However, if someone enters day seven and suddenly experiences difficulty breathing and chest pain along with a recurring fever, this could be an indication of post-flu complications. This can lead to pneumonia, either from the flu itself or from a new bacterial infection. In this case, contact your doctor. You may need antibiotics to prevent further complications.
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2024-02-13 21:24:39
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