How many days does it take to recover from the flu?

Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
Updated on September 12, 2024
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Influenza is primarily a disease caused by an infection of the upper respiratory tract with the influenza virus. It is a contagious disease that can spread among people, leading to an outbreak. Although influenza is a frightening illness, it is a viral infection characterized by being self-limiting, meaning that whether or not medication is used, the patient's condition can improve on its own. Typically, the course of influenza can improve on its own within about 7 to 10 days. At this time, it is sufficient to use medications that reduce fever, relieve pain, or treat nasal congestion and coughing, since patients generally recover on their own after about 7 days, and medication is only needed to alleviate symptoms. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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How to prevent the flu

Influenza, also called flu, is caused by influenza viruses, which are categorized into three types: A, B, and C. After infecting a human, symptoms exhibited by a patient include fever, sore throat, cough, and phlegm, which characterizes the disease called influenza. This disease is classified as a Class B infectious disease in China and has a certain level of contagiousness among populations. It can also be transmitted to humans from certain animals, such as birds and pigs. In the prevention of influenza, the first step is to isolate the patient and the source of infection. The patient must not be contacted. Second, it is necessary to cut off the transmission routes, for example, industries related to the slaughter of poultry and pork should be avoided. Third, it is important to boost resistance and nutrition. Fourth, opening windows to ventilate and avoid overly polluted air can also help in preventing influenza.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Do you need to isolate for the flu?

Influenza can be classified into three types based on the surface membrane proteins and nucleocapsids: type A, type B, and type C. Type A influenza usually causes major outbreaks in populations. Due to frequent genotypic changes in type A influenza, the general population often lacks immunity against it. Generally, influenza is a legally designated class B infectious disease in the country, and it can be transmitted to normal or healthy individuals through droplets, sneezing, or aerosols. Therefore, if an outbreak occurs, isolation measures should be taken, people should avoid crowded public places as much as possible, and maintain ventilation by keeping windows open, to prevent transmission from infected patients or certain animals.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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How many days does it take to recover from the flu?

Influenza is primarily a disease caused by an infection of the upper respiratory tract with the influenza virus. It is a contagious disease that can spread among people, leading to an outbreak. Although influenza is a frightening illness, it is a viral infection characterized by being self-limiting, meaning that whether or not medication is used, the patient's condition can improve on its own. Typically, the course of influenza can improve on its own within about 7 to 10 days. At this time, it is sufficient to use medications that reduce fever, relieve pain, or treat nasal congestion and coughing, since patients generally recover on their own after about 7 days, and medication is only needed to alleviate symptoms. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Does the flu cause vomiting?

Influenza refers to a group of diseases characterized by cough, sore throat, and fever following upper respiratory tract infection by influenza virus. However, influenza has its peculiarities. Apart from respiratory symptoms, influenza can also present with nausea, vomiting, and even abdominal pain and diarrhea. Thus, it is entirely possible for influenza patients to experience vomiting. However, due to some doctors' lack of understanding of influenza, the vomiting caused by influenza is often mistaken for acute gastroenteritis or treated as acute gastritis. This can lead to inappropriate medication use, resulting in prolonged illness. Therefore, if a patient has fever, nausea, vomiting, or sore throat, it is crucial to promptly consider the possibility of influenza to avoid delaying the diagnosis and treatment.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Is the flu serious?

Influenza is a contagious disease, mainly caused by the spread of the influenza virus among people. Patients may display symptoms such as sore throat, cough, and fever. The severity of influenza can vary. Typically, for people with normal immunity, influenza goes through a self-limiting process, and generally, patients can recover on their own without treatment in about 7 to 10 days. However, certain special populations, such as the elderly, infants, pregnant women, cancer patients, or those who have been taking immunosuppressive drugs for a long time, often experience prolonged symptoms after contracting influenza. Additionally, influenza can lead to influenza pneumonia, and in severe cases, it may cause myocarditis or meningitis, potentially leading to life-threatening conditions. Therefore, special attention should be paid to these vulnerable groups.