2024-01-19 10:19:00
In our latitudes, seasonal flu epidemics generally start in November and end in April. They are more or less strong. Public Health France estimates that, each year in France, 2.5 million people are affected, on average (source 1).
Flu symptoms that last for a week
The symptoms of the flu are well known:
A high fever ;Of the body aches ;Of the headache ;And runny nose ;A cough ;The sore throat…
How long does the flu last? How long to heal?
The first five days are the most difficult to get through, but the symptoms generally fade following seven to ten days, observes Dr. Laure Dominjon, general practitioner and president of the ReAGJIR union (Autonomous grouping of young installed and replacement general practitioners). .
The flu is contagious a few days before the symptoms appear and for their entire duration, i.e. around ten days.
What medication should I use to treat the flu?
There is no specific treatment for the flu.
Of the antiviral drugs, oseltamivir and zanamivir, only showedvery low effectiveness in adults in good health, since they reduce the duration of symptoms by just one day. They are used mainly in hospitals to reduce the risk of complications. These medications can, possibly, be used for prevention, in subjects at risk of severe form and contact cases, for example in retirement homes, to avoid the spread of an epidemic. But they must be administered within 48 hours following symptoms appear.
In reality, we only have available once morest the flu symptomatic treatments for fever, cough and runny nose.
Antibiotics are ineffective once morest the flu
Antibiotics are ineffective once morest influenza viruses. They are only prescribed in the event of a bacterial superinfection affecting, in particular, the lungs.
In case of flu, what to take to lower the fever?
Fever is a natural mechanism that helps the body fight the flu virus. “ We only try to bring it back down if it is poorly tolerated.with intense headaches for example,” explains Dr. Dominjon.
Paracetamol as first line
In this case, the drug of choice is paracetamol.
For an adult over 60 kg, the maximum dose is 4 grams per day; For an elderly person or a patient with kidney or liver disease, the maximum dose will not exceed 3 grams per day; For a child, the dose maximum is 60 milligrams per kilogram per day.
Ibuprofen is not recommended
THE non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)like ibuprofen, are not recommended in case of fever or infection. “These medications can mask symptoms such as fever or pain, leading to a delay in treatment, with the resulting risk of complications from the infection. Be careful with self-medication,” warns Laure Dominjon.
Cough, cold: be careful with medications
In recent years, alerts have multiplied once morest cough and cold medications. These products, many of which are over-the-counter in pharmacies, may have serious side effects.
The Academies of Medicine (source 2) and Pharmacy, as well as the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) have recently warned once morest anti-cold medications which they consider ineffective and potentially dangerous. “Many of these medications contain pseudo-ephedrine, a vasoconstrictor which can have rare but serious adverse effects, such as myocardial infarction or stroke,” recalls Dr. Dominjon. The ANSM has published a practical sheet which indicates the medicines concerned.
Likewise, the cough suppressants contain “potentially addictive molecules which risk causing excessive drowsiness and which may lead to pauses in breathing. This is why these drugs are not for use in the elderly and are contraindicated in children. Their use in adults is limited as much as possible. The use of a medication is never harmless. Whatever the method of administration, the molecules pass into the blood and can have deleterious effects in the short or medium term.
Dr. Dominjon recalls that cough is a natural and essential defense reflex of the body which allows the respiratory tract to be drained. We only treat it if it is very bothersome. In this case, the simplest solutions are often the best.
What are grandmother’s remedies for the flu?
THEhot drinkscan help relieve sore throats. With a spoonful of Honey, it’s even better. The analysis of several scientific studies, published in August 2020 in the British medical journal, would suggest that honey relieves cough and nasal obstruction more effectively than standard treatments. However, honey is not recommended for children under 1 year old.
When the nose is blocked, or it leaks, it is more effective to do regular washing with salt water, using a spray or a pod. The action is purely mechanical: “The saline solution will thin the secretions and facilitate the evacuation of microbes and dust stuck to the mucous membrane,” explains the general practitioner.
Watch for signs of complications
In some people, these symptoms persist or worsen. Signs should alert you such as high fever for more than three days, altered consciousness, breathing difficultiesa feeling of tightness in the chest, dehydrationweight loss, difficulty eating, etc. You must be attentive to these warning signs in an elderly person, an infant, a pregnant woman or anyone weakened by a chronic illness.
Sometimes hospitalization is necessary. During the 2019-2020 epidemic, considered low-scale, more than 6,000 people were hospitalized for the flu, following a trip to the emergency room.
A Covid-19 test sometimes necessary
The flu and Covid-19 have many symptoms in common: fever, body aches, headaches, etc. In the current context, the risk of spreading the coronavirus is formidable. This is why it is recommended to consult a doctor to assess the advisability of a test for Sars-Cov2 in any person who presents this type of symptom; the aim being to isolate the patient if necessary and to screen their contact cases. “Faced with a patient who presents suggestive symptoms, the general practitioner assesses the situation and decides whether or not it is useful to prescribe a diagnostic test for Covid-19 to eliminate this possibility. If the test is negative, it will be more in favor of a diagnosis of influenza,” explains Dr. Dominjon.
And double flu and Covid-19 test, carried out on the same nasal swab, is indicated in certain situations (patients hospitalized or residing in a medical-social establishment, children). It is most often carried out in a hospital environment.
Essential barrier gestures once morest viruses
More than ever, THEbarrier gesturesremain relevant : wash your hands regularly, wear a mask, cough and sneeze into your elbow, ventilate very regularly… These simple measures help limit the spread of flu viruses such as Covid-19. When a case of flu occurs in a household, it is advisable to wear a mask for the duration of symptoms to protect the most vulnerable.
Vaccinate yourself for prevention
Vaccination remains the best way to protect the most vulnerable once morest the flu. It helps prevent serious forms of the disease. People at risk, their entourage and caregivers must be vaccinated, emphasizes Dr. Dominjon.
Each year, the vaccination campaign starts in mid-October and ends at the end of January. Certain profiles of people (those over 65, certain chronically ill people, obese people, pregnant women, those close to at-risk infants and immunocompromised patients) receive a voucher from Health Insurance for free care .
« It is essential to let people at risk be vaccinated as a priority. It is entirely possible to defer vaccination until December for healthy adults who would also like to be vaccinated once morest the flu. THE vaccine once morest influenza does not protect once morest Covid-19,” insists the general practitioner.
New in 2021, people who work in contact with patients at risk of severe flu, such as home help or the emergency and fire services, also receive an invitation to be vaccinated.
In the context of the Covid-19 epidemic,people at risk are invited to receive their third dose of vaccine once morest the coronavirus, at the time of the flu vaccination, which amounts to making a single appointment for two injections (each of which can be given in a different arm).
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