Winter is knocking on our door. And with it come viruses, including influenza, which causes the flu. And why? The cold dries out our skin and respiratory tract. Our mucous membranes become more fragile and permeable, rolling out the red carpet for this beloved virus. After a fairly short incubation period, flu sets in and causes intense symptoms.
How do you catch flu?
Flu is transmitted by droplets. For example, when a person sneezes, they produce and project these droplets into the environment. This is also the case when they speak, breathe or cough. If they are infected, direct or indirect contact with your mucous membranes is enough to infect you. After an incubation period, you are infected with influenza.
That’s why it’s important not to scratch your eyes, mouth or nose with dirty hands. Wash your hands often to avoid infection (or use disinfectant if you don’t have access to soap and water). Also remember to disinfect surfaces, including door handles, tables and even your mobile phone.
What is the incubation period for influenza?
In general, a person shows signs of the disease between one and three days after infection. Sometimes, flu symptoms can appear after only a few hours of incubation.
What should I do if I have the flu?
Treatment for flu consists of relieving its symptoms. If you have the flu, stay at home. This will prevent you from spreading your illness to anyone else.
If you need to consult a professional, consider teleconsultation. A doctor can diagnose flu without seeing you in person. As well as being practical and done from the comfort of your own home, you avoid spreading the virus on public transport or in the surgery.
If there are no complications, your flu will pass spontaneously after 8 days. It’s important that you get plenty of rest (but that’s something the flu will force you to do). Drinking plenty of water is also essential. To treat the symptoms, use paracetamol or ibuprofen.
How long is flu contagious?
You can pass flu on to those around you even before you feel the symptoms! That’s why it’s important to look after those around you, even when you don’t feel ill. The contagion period lasts around 7 days. To protect those around you, you can get vaccinated. Find out in our article whether flu vaccination is right for you.
🤝 This article was written in collaboration with Dr. Korine Pocquet
Dr. Korine Pocquet is a general practitioner at Médicentre Balexert (Geneva). She advises and treats her patients via teleconsultation, a practical way of avoiding the need to travel.
