17 December 2023 , 07:00
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Flu season has well and truly arrived with millions of people hoping they do not get ill over Christmas.
Coughs, sore throats and headaches are doing the rounds as cases in the UK continue to increase on a weekly basis. Cases rose by 2.3 per cent in the week before December 7, according to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
As we approach the festive season, it's vital people do all they can to protect themselves and others from getting the flu. One way to do that is to be aware of the symptoms of flu and know what to do should you be infected.
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Dr. Marcel Curlin, an associate professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at Oregon Health and Science University’s School of Medicine, insists it takes between one and five days for symptoms to occur. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, cough and runny nose, he told Huffington Post.
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Mask wearing is encouraged while you're around large groups, while it may also be wise to wear one around a person who has been exposed to lots of people. Frequent hand washing and the use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is also a good way to protect yourself from the flu, according to Dr Curlin.
It's vital people do all they can to protect themselves and others from getting the flu (Getty Images)“If I were in contact with someone in the community or elsewhere with a flu, I would probably wear a mask all the time, and be very careful to wash my hands and not get too close to people," he said. “If I developed symptoms, I would stay away from everybody."
Dr. Hilary Babcock, the chief quality officer at BJC Healthcare and an infectious disease doctor at Washington University in St. Louis, says flu symptoms can hit on the same day a person is infected. “One of the distinguishing features of the flu compared to colds is that often it has a very sudden onset," she explained.
The health expert said flu symptoms can strike all at once rather than gradually worsening. A good way to protect yourself is by getting a flu vaccine, she said.
Health experts have encouraged people to get a flu jab (Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF)“It is honestly never too late to get your flu shot until maybe March,” Dr Babcock said. She insisted that flu season "usually lasts into February, March and occasionally tails off into April".
10 early signs of flu
According to the NHS, flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:
- a sudden high temperature
- an aching body
- feeling tired or exhausted
- a dry cough
- a sore throat
- a headache
- difficulty sleeping
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea or tummy pain
- feeling sick and being sick
The symptoms are similar for children, but they can also get pain in their ear and appear less active, the NHS added. If you do have flu, there are some things you can do to help get better more quickly. These include; rest and sleep, keep warm, take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains, drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
People who are aged 65 or over, pregnant or have a long-term medical condition are urged to make an urgent GP appointment if they develop flu symptoms. Anyone who gets sudden chest pain, has difficulty breathing or starts coughing up a lot of blood is urged to call 999 or go to A&E.