Some symptoms of the flu usually subside within a week or two, however, some cases of the influenza virus may cause additional complications - especially for those people who are at a higher risk.In the early stages of becoming sick with the flu, there are some signs and symptoms that you can monitor and seek relief from. 1. Fatigue
Fatigue can be quite commonplace in people as the seasons change, however, these are usually due to reductions in sunlit hours and longer periods of darker hours. The kind of fatigue that can indicate influenza is more sudden and excessive. Fatigue may be a symptom of the common cold, but in the case of influenza, it is more severe. It may even interfere with how you go about your daily activities, as your body becomes weak and tired. Taking a few days to allow your body to rest and recuperate is important and can assist it to heal quicker.
2. Body aches and pains
It is easy to dismiss body aches, joint pains and stiffness to something like a recent workout or a longer walk, however, when you are becoming sick with flu, these can be a sign that you are getting the influenza virus. These aches and pains may occur anywhere in the body, including the head, in the back and spine, and in the legs.
What is an indicator of the influenza virus, is that these body aches may be accompanied by chills too - even before a fever may develop. Watch out for signs of such symptoms.
3. Sore throat and a cough Having a dry cough that just doesn’t go away may be an indicator of the first signs of the influenza virus. It may cause a cough with wheezing and chest tightness which makes you bring up phlegm and mucus. Such flu-related coughing may swiftly lead to a sore throat or inflammation of the internal passages of this region. However, it is good to note that some viruses, including the influenza virus, can actually cause a swollen throat without a cough.
Signs that the flue may be developing may include having a scratch and irritated throat - which may make swallowing difficult. Should you find that you have a sore throat in the initial stages of coming down with the flu, it may happen that it could get worse as the infection progresses.
4. Gastrointestinal issues Some of the early symptoms of the influenza virus may result in some gastrointestinal issues. These may include having stomach pains, nausea, diarrhea or vomiting. As a result of these, dehydration may occur. To avoid this, it is recommended to take in a sufficient amount of fluids to keep the hydration levels of the body maintained.
Overall, the flu is a progressive illness - meaning that symptoms are likely to worsen before they improve. Moreso, no everyone responses in the same way to the influenza virus, or its different strains. In light of this, it is recommended that immediate medical care be sought out should you notice that there are symptoms progressing.