You've contracted the flu - what should you do now?

You've contracted the flu - what should you do now?

Cases of COVID-19, colds and flu are expected to increase during the winter months, making it more difficult to determine which respiratory virus you may have.

While the headlines in recent years have focused primarily on COVID-19, the flu is still the most common infectious disease in Germany. Every year around 5 to 10 million people in Germany get the flu.

The following symptoms may occur:

• Fieber/Schüttelfrost
• Husten
• Halsschmerzen
• Laufende oder verstopfte Nase
• Muskel- oder Gliederschmerzen
• Kopfschmerzen
• Müdigkeit
• Erbrechen/Durchfall

And if you're wondering how to distinguish the flu from COVID-19 - which have similar symptoms - the only way to know for sure is to get tested.

If you have tested positive for the flu or your doctor thinks you have the flu, what can you do to get well quickly?

The specialist in general medicine, Dr. med. Daniel Allan, explains what to do if you have the flu and how you can relieve your symptoms and achieve a speedy recovery.

Tips for managing flu symptoms

What to do if you have the flu? Dr. Allan recommends the following remedies and advice to help with flu symptoms.

Get some rest

Sounds like a no-brainer, right? But if you take it easy and rest, your body can recover better. So skip workouts, stay home from work, and postpone social activities.

While you sleep, your body releases cytokines, proteins that help it fight off infections. And when you rest, your body can use more energy to repair itself and fight the flu. “When it comes to recovering from the flu, less is more,” says Dr. Allan.

Drink enough fluids

Flu symptoms such as fever, vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration. Therefore, drink plenty of fluids such as water, broth, tea and electrolyte drinks to maintain hydration. Avoid fruit juices, which can be high in sugar, caffeinated drinks, and alcohol, while you are sick.

The first signs of dehydration include fatigue, increased thirst, feeling weak and irregular urination. And if you're dehydrated, your flu symptoms may get worse.

You may also want to use a humidifier, which can reduce the spread of the virus and relieve coughs and stuffy noses.

Another reason why it's important to drink plenty of fluids? It helps keep the mucous membranes in the nose, eyes and mouth moist, which can prevent bacteria from entering the body.

“The need for fluids is much higher during an illness than in normal times,” says Dr. Allan. "How much fluid should you drink? Enough so that your urine remains light yellow or almost clear."

warmth

If you have muscle or body pain, heat packs or hot water bottles can help relieve the pain. Muscle pain usually occurs when the body uses certain chemicals to fight an infection.

And if you don't have a fever, a steamy shower or hot bath can help relieve muscle pain by loosening tight muscles.

Take over-the-counter medications

So what do you take for the flu?

If your nose is runny or stuffy, you can also use a nasal spray or an oral decongestant.

However, the most annoying symptom of the flu can be a cough. If you develop one, you should take a cough suppressant. In addition to a cough suppressant, you can also take an expectorant to help loosen mucus from your lungs.

“Coughing is often the most disturbing symptom, especially when it comes to sleep,” explains Dr. Allan. “If your cough is significantly affecting your sleep, you should see your doctor, including virtually, for more effective relief.”
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