What Are the Symptoms of Influenza and How Is It Spread?
What Are the Symptoms of Influenza?
Influenza is a highly contagious viral disease of the respiratory tract.
Influenza is characterised by rapid onset of respiratory and generalised signs and symptoms including: a high fever, headache, muscle aches and pains, fatigue, cough, sore throat, or a runny nose.
What Is the Difference between Influenza and a Common Cold?
What Is the Difference between Influenza and a Common Cold?
| Symptom |
Influenza |
Common Cold |
| Fever |
Usual, sudden onset 38°C-40°C and lasts 3-4 days |
Rare |
| Headache |
Usual and can be severe |
Rare |
| Aches and pains |
Usual and can be severe |
Rare |
| Fatigue and weakness |
Usual and can last 2-3 weeks or more after the acute illness |
Sometimes, but mild |
| Debilitating fatigue |
Usual, early onset can be severe |
Rare |
| Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea |
In children <5 years old |
Rare |
| Watering of the eyes |
Rare |
Usual |
| Runny, stuffy nose |
Rare |
Usual |
| Sneezing |
Rare in early stages |
Usual |
| Sore throat |
Usual |
Usual |
| Chest discomfort |
Usual and can be severe |
Sometimes, but mild to moderate |
| Complications |
- Respiratory failure
- Can worsen a current chronic condition
- Can be life threatening
|
Congestion or ear-ache |
| Fatalities |
Well recognised |
Not reported |
| Prevention |
- Influenza vaccine
- Frequent hand-washing
- Cover your cough
|
- Frequent hand-washing
- Cover your cough
|
How Is Influenza Spread?
Influenza is spread from person to person in the respiratory droplets generated by coughs and sneezes. It can also be spread when a person comes into contact with the respiratory droplets of another person by touching items on which droplets are present, and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands. The virus may enter through the eyes, or more commonly through the nose or mouth, and into the throat and lungs where it begins to multiply. The time from first exposure to when symptoms begin is one to four days.
The disease damages the linings of the respiratory tract. Secondary bacterial infections, such as pneumonia, meningitis, sinus and ear infections can then take hold.
How Long Is the Influenza Virus Infectious?
It is not known for certain, if people with influenza are infectious before developing symptoms. An adult with influenza is infectious once they show symptoms, and for some days after. Children have been shown to remain infectious for up to 21 days, long after symptoms have disappeared. Some individuals may become infected but never show symptoms.
Influenza viruses may be able to live for up to two days on hard surfaces such as doorknobs, handrails, toys, cups, utensils, telephones. Although it can live on these surfaces it is not as infectious as these surfaces are usually dry.
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