What should you know about apakah influenza?

It can also cause chills, sore throat, a runny or blocked nose, and a strong feeling of being unwell. Some people do not develop a measured fever, and children may also have vomiting or diarrhoea.

Influenza viruses infect the nose, throat, and lungs. Virus-containing droplets and smaller airborne particles can spread when an infected person breathes, speaks, coughs, or sneezes; contaminated hands can also carry secretions to the face.

Compared with a typical cold, flu often begins more abruptly and produces more prominent feverishness, muscle aches, headache, and exhaustion. Symptoms alone cannot always distinguish flu from other respiratory infections. Pneumonia can develop as a complication and may present with worsening breathlessness, chest pain, confusion, or a return of fever after initial improvement.

Rest, drink regularly, and use fever or pain medicine only if it is suitable for your age, health conditions, and other medicines. Stay away from work, school, and close contact while acutely unwell; cover coughs, wash hands, improve indoor ventilation, and avoid sharing cups or utensils.

Contact a clinician early if you are pregnant, immunocompromised, have a long-term heart or lung condition, or become significantly unwell. Prescription antiviral treatment is most useful when started promptly for people likely to benefit, so the clinician will consider symptom timing and medical risk rather than waiting for severe illness.

Seek emergency care for severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, persistent chest pain, confusion, collapse, a seizure, difficulty waking, or signs of severe dehydration such as very little urine with marked drowsiness. A child who is struggling to breathe, unusually floppy, difficult to wake, or unable to drink needs urgent assessment.

Arrange prompt medical review when fever or cough improves and then returns or worsens, breathing becomes harder, an existing condition deteriorates, or symptoms are not following a steady recovery. These patterns can signal pneumonia or another complication rather than uncomplicated flu.

Ask whether testing would alter treatment, whether an antiviral is appropriate, which fever medicine is compatible with your current prescriptions, and what worsening signs apply to your health conditions. Also discuss seasonal vaccination after recovery and how household members at higher risk can reduce exposure.