Learning about flu

Annual flu epidemics are thought to result in between three and five million cases of severe illness every year around the world*. Flu can become a life-threatening disease, especially for old people, newborn babies and people suffering from compromised immune systems or certain chronic diseases. Flu viruses are more severe than cold viruses, therefore, the cellular invasion of the respiratory tract is more successful and wider. This triggers an intense inflammatory and generalized body response. That is why there is a sudden onset of symptoms:

Shivering, fever

Muscle pain, aches

Loss of appetite

Severe fatigue

Strong headache

Furthermore, more localized symptoms appear, such as cough and congestion, even though they tend to be less strong than in a cold.
Once the flu is over, tissues usually recover without permanent damage and after a week to 10 days, we are usually up and about. Fatigue is the longer-lasting symptom after having flu.

*Proffesor Dr. Ronald Eccles, Common Cold Centre, Cardiff University, Wales, United Kingdom. Presentation Aspririn® for treatement of common cold/flu. Aspirin Update - International Press Workshop 2008. Bitterfield, Germany, June 19, 2008.