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Symptoms of influenza: what you need to know about it?

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 17.10.2021
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Symptoms of influenza are not always the same. Still: more than 200 viruses and bacteria that infect humans with this disease, mutate in the most bizarre compositions. It's not surprising that different people feel differently. What do you need to know about flu symptoms?

What do we know about the flu?

Everyone was ill with them, so everyone is familiar with the sensation of a headache, heat, aches in the whole body, which we are rewarded with the flu. About this disease it is worth knowing that this is a difficult tolerable viral disease that attacks both children and adults at any age.

For the flu, whatever it is, the general toxic damage of the body is typical, because of that, in fact, we are experiencing weakness, fatigue and joint aches. To this, there is also a cough due to the defeat of the bronchi, a stuffy nose and a runny nose, which doctors call rhinitis. But it is advisable to know the flu symptoms in more detail in time to consult a doctor and not to confuse the flu with a trivial cold.

Symptoms of influenza in detail

The flu usually starts suddenly. In fact, this is not so sudden, because the incubation period of this disease is from one to five days. That is, the flu virus lurks in our bodies, doing our own black work, and just one day, dumps the person off their feet. Doctors call this acute clinical manifestations. How hard a person will suffer from influenza depends on his age, his immunity, and the diseases he suffered before. And more on whether the body is familiar with this particular type of virus. If so, the disease will be less severe and will pass faster.

The forms and severity of influenza symptoms

The course of the disease and how it is transferred depends on the type of flu the person has: light, severe, moderate or hypertoxic (four in all). Each form of influenza differs in its symptoms.

Mild form of influenza

Symptoms of influenza of this form differ high, but not too high, up to 38 degrees, temperature, fatigue, but not excessive, nasal congestion, there is hyperemia (reddening of the skin).

Moderate form of influenza

It is quite high - above 39 degrees - temperature, headache, nasal congestion and body aches. To this can attach a strong separation of sweat, pain in the joints and muscles, weakness and sometimes - nausea.

With a moderate form of flu, a person may have catarrhal symptoms. These include hoarseness of voice and sore throat due to laryngeal lesions, as well as trachea, cough, causing pain, chest pains, severe nasal congestion and clogged respiratory nasal passages, dry nasal mucosa, dryness and choking in the throat. This form of influenza is also characterized by catarrhal symptoms. These include abdominal pain, sometimes diarrhea (although it is rare and can be a manifestation of other diseases).

Severe form of influenza

With this form, the temperature of a person exceeds the value of 40 degrees. This is especially dangerous for people with cardiovascular diseases, a fatal outcome is possible. In severe form of the disease, the same flu symptoms appear in a person, which are characteristic of a moderate form, but hallucinations, convulsions, vomiting, nosebleeds, high blood pressure are added.

Hypertensive form of influenza

With the fourth - hypertoxic form of influenza - the nervous system and all the other symptoms characteristic of severe influenza occur. Most often the disease ends in a lethal outcome.

It is worth knowing that with a mild and moderate form of flu, if a person complies with bed rest and is not supercooled, the disease can last from 5 days to 10 days. But a person can experience weakness and a headache for another three weeks after recovery. He can also have insomnia, increased irritability and fatigue.

Influenza and flu symptoms are not a joke, with this disease it is always necessary to see a doctor and to withstand bed rest. Then, with high probability, the flu will pass without complications.

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