What Really Causes the Flu

The term “flu” has been used and abused over the past years, creating and spreading erroneous concepts regarding the disease. People often mistake a cold for the flu and refer to something known as “stomach flu” when they get a fever with stomach pain. These are some of the misconceptions that exist among people today. Doctor2Care, an online doctor consultation in India helps you to understand exactly what the “flu” is. So, check out this blog and clear your doubts.

What is the Flu?

The flu is a condition that affects the nose, throat and lungs, spreading from person to person easily. The influenza virus types A, B, and C cause the “flu”. Type A and B cause seasonal outbreaks while C is a much milder version of the condition. Furthermore, the flu vaccine helps to protect you from influenza of Type A and B while there is no immunization for type C influenza.

How Does the Flu Spread?

The flu spreads when people breathe in the virus from tiny airborne droplets when a person with the flu sneezes or coughs.

You can also catch the flu if you touch surfaces with the virus on them and then your nose, eyes, or mouth.

Sometimes you may get a virus that makes you throw up or have diarrhoea. People call this the stomach flu. This is wrong terminology according to this general medicine doctor in Kolkata as the flu is a condition that affects the nose, throat and lungs.

What Are the Symptoms of the Flu?

The symptoms of the flu appear very quickly. In around a day to a week of coming in contact with the virus, you can see symptoms of the disease. The first symptom of the flu is fever. Fever usually ranges from 101°F to 106°F. Other symptoms of the flu include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Lack of energy
• Headache
• Flushed face
• Dizziness
• Chills
• Body aches

Usually, these symptoms taper out in 2 to 4 days and are replaced by a runny nose, dry cough, sneezing and sore throat.

Typically, the symptoms go away in 4 to 7 days, while the weariness may last weeks. Sometimes the fever may come back. During the flu, people may not feel like eating.

This condition can exacerbate asthma, breathing problems, and other chronic illnesses.

Conclusion

So, get in touch with an online doctor consultation in India like Doctor2Care in case you have the symptoms of the flu. You can consult with any of the doctors on the Doctor2Care platform and get treated for the flu.

Now that some of the common misconceptions regarding the flu have been cleared, stay safe and stay healthy!