When you start to feel sick and notice flu symptoms like fever, cough, colds, sore throat, headache, and body pain, people’s first instinct would be to act on them right away. However, there are some people who tend to sweep these symptoms under the rug because they feel that the flu or trangkaso can disrupt their daily routines and make them less productive.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the influenza A and influenza B viruses are mainly responsible for seasonal epidemics and flu cases all over the world. Although flu symptoms may resolve within one to two weeks with the help of different flu treatments and lifestyle strategies, the flu can cause multiple complications.
Unfortunately, it’s said that between 3,000 to 49,000 people who get the flu are at risk for death caused by this particular health issue or their symptoms. The WHO also notes that pregnant women, children below 59 months (less than 5 years old), elderly people 65 years old and above, the immunocompromised, and people diagnosed with chronic conditions have a higher risk for developing severe flu cases or complications.
What Are the Complications Linked to the Flu?
Before things take a turn for the worse, take note of these complications that have been linked to the flu:
Aside from these complications, it’s possible for the flu to worsen pre-existingmedical conditions too, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. 20 These complications highlight the importance of learning how to treat flu symptoms and taking flu medicine right away.
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Viral pneumonia: This is a lung infection wherein the alveoli, or small air sacs in the lungs responsible for key functions, become inflamed. It’s known that some viruses make their way to the upper portion of your respiratory system when you’re sick. However, if they move further down into the lungs and get extremely close to the alveoli, they can trigger infection and inflammation.
Common pneumonia symptoms include cough, chills, and fever. However, medical care is urgently needed should breathing difficulties, chest pains, severe coughing that expels large quantities of mucus, severe chills or sweating, and persistent high-grade fever above 38.9 °C become present.
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Bronchitis: This occurs when the mucous membranes of the bronchi in your lungs become irritated. The bronchi are responsible for delivering air from the trachea or windpipe to each of your lungs. Common indicators of bronchitis include fatigue, mild fever, cough accompanied by mucus, tightness of the chest, and chills.
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Sinusitis: It’s known as swelling of the sinuses, wherein the flu virus may spread to the upper airways of the noise. Sinusitis is characterized by lessened sense of smell or taste, nasal congestion, sore throat, postnasal drip, cough, and pain located in the sinuses, upper jaw, and teeth.
In some instances though, sinusitis may also trigger breathing difficulties, stiff neck, severe headache, pain or swelling near the eyes, forehead swelling, and mental confusion. If these symptoms appear, seek medical attention immediately.
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Otitis media or ear infection: This is inflammation and swelling of the middle ear. Common symptoms include fever, chills, hearing loss, vomiting, ear drainage, or mood changes.
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Encephalitis: This is a rare condition wherein the flu-causing virus enters brain tissue and triggers inflammation. Encephalitis may lead to the destruction of nerve cells, bleeding in the brain, and brain damage. Some warning signs of encephalitis include vomiting, high-grade fever, severe headaches, drowsiness, and sensitivity to light.
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Myocarditis: Some studies have linked certain flu strains to myocarditis or inflammation of the heart muscle., Symptoms include headache, joint aches, fever, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, swelling present in the legs, ankles, or feet, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and rapid or irregular heartbeats.
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Myositis: It’s a chronic and progressive inflammation of the muscles, particularly muscles around the neck, shoulders, back, hips, and thighs. While it only affects a small percent of flu patients, particularly children, myositis may cause muscle pain or weakness and difficulties with movement.
Aside from these complications, it’s possible for the flu to worsen pre-existing medical conditions too, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. These complications highlight the importance of learning how to treat flu symptoms and taking flu medicine right away.
Vaccination Can Help a Lot Versus the Flu
These vaccines may help shield the body against influenza viruses responsible for the illness. Flu vaccines are available in multiple types:
- Inactivated: contains a killed or inactivated virus
- Recombinant: contains higher amounts of antigen compared to standard - dose vaccines
- Adjuvanted: contains an ingredient that helps create a stronger immune response and is recommended for adults 65 years old and above
The Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) recommends that influenza vaccines be administered anytime between February and June. 24 If you’re interested, consult your doctor to determine the vaccine best suited for your age and current health status.
You Can Relieve Yourself of Symptoms on the First Signs of Flu
Once you notice the first signs of flu, act on them right away with the help of Phenylephrine HCl + Chlorphenamine Maleate + Paracetamol (Bioflu®).
Phenylephrine HCl + Chlorphenamine Maleate + Paracetamol (Bioflu®) helps alleviate flu symptoms like fever, headache, body pain, cough from post-nasal drip, sore throat, and common colds. It contains 10 mg of Phenylephrine HCl, a decongestant that may help lessen swelling and obstruction of nasal passages and sinuses, improve air flow, encourage easier breathing, and lower risk for cough- causing postnasal drip.
It also has 2 mg of Chlorphenamine Maleate, an antihistamine that may help target allergy symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, and itchy and watery eyes. Lastly,Phenylephrine HCl + Chlorphenamine Maleate + Paracetamol (Bioflu®) also has 500 mg of Paracetamol that may assist in combating headache and lessening fevers.
Apart from its potential effects on flu relief, Phenylephrine HCl + Chlorphenamine Maleate + Paracetamol (Bioflu®) may also provide protection for your respiratory cells against the common cold and flu virus.
When you’re feeling sick, take one (1) Phenylephrine HCl + Chlorphenamine Maleate + Paracetamol (Bioflu®) tablet every six (6) hours or as recommended by a doctor.
If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
ASC REF CODE U135P012623BS; U0065P050423B
ASC REF CODE U135P012623BS; U0065P050423B
