Typical flu symptoms are a sudden high fever, sometimes accompanied by chills. Fever is the dominant symptom. It generally exceeds 38°C and can peak at 41°C. It usually lasts 3 days, but can sometimes evolve intermittently, particularly if the patient is taking fever-reducing medication. In this case, it may persist for several days or even up to 2 weeks.
The evolution of the disease is marked by the appearance of respiratory symptoms: cough, sore throat, cold, as well as headaches, muscle and joint pains. Finally, patients describe weakness, dizziness and loss of appetite. They sometimes report a sensation of eye burning and discomfort, particularly when moving sideways, photophobia (sensitivity to light) and watering.
Children often present significant digestive symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, stomach ache and diarrhea, which may be mistaken for viral gastroenteritis.
Symptoms can sometimes be milder, with no complications. Influenza is often mistaken for a cold, but unlike viral colds, influenza can lead to a number of complications, including angina, sinusitis, otitis media, pneumonia, myocarditis and neurological complications.
Vaccination is the most effective and economical way of reducing the risk of infection.
Vaccination is recommended for people at risk, such as :
- People over 65,
- Pregnant women,
- Premature infants up to 2 years of age
- People with chronic illnesses
It is also advisable to vaccinate all people who are in regular contact with these at-risk individuals, including family members and nursing staff.
The effectiveness of vaccination depends on age and state of health, as well as on the influenza virus strains in circulation.
Vaccination does not always protect. In fact, depending on the season and the people vaccinated, studies estimate efficacy at between 20 and 80. However, if influenza occurs despite vaccination, the symptoms are often milder and serious complications rarer.
The ideal vaccination period is from mid-October to mid-November, but it is possible to be vaccinated throughout the winter season.
Finally, it is sometimes possible to be vaccinated directly at the pharmacy.
