Influenza
Influenza is a viral infection, which can be extremely debilitating and serious, especially in frail and elderly people. An influenza vaccination is available from doctors. Vaccination is recommended for anyone aged 6 months or older who wants to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill with influenza, and those in high-risk groups should strongly consider being vaccinated.
Influenza vaccine is provided free to all people aged 65 years and older, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 50 years and Indigenous people aged 15 to 49 years who are at high risk.
What are the symptoms of influenza?
People often mistakenly say they have ‘the flu’ when it is a cold — the symptoms are different. Influenza is contagious, so you should not go to work for about one week.
A person with influenza is likely to have the following symptoms (which often come on very abruptly).
- A high fever (38.8°C to 40°C), possibly with chills — this is rare with the common cold.
- Muscle and joint aches and pains — unusual with the common cold.
- Extreme tiredness and weakness — this is much more severe than with a common cold.
- Headache — this may occur with a common cold, but is usually mild.
- Painful eyes — a common cold usually causes watery eyes.
- A cough, which is usually non-productive — a cough may occur with the common cold.
- A sore throat.
Nasal symptoms such as sneezing, a blocked nose and/or a runny nose often occur with influenza. Influenza may also result in a secondary infection such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
What can you do to help?
If you have influenza you should:
- keep fluid intake high;
- take your temperature every 4 to 6 hours; and
- stay in bed for one to 3 days to let your body recover.
Medications such as oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu) and zanamivir (brand name Relenza) can be prescribed by your doctor. These medicines can be effective in reducing the duration and severity of influenza, but need to be taken within 48 hrs of the onset of symptoms to be effective.
You are probably infectious to others from a day or 2 before the onset of symptoms to about a week afterwards, so avoid unnecessary contact during this time.
When should you seek medical advice?
You should seek medical advice if:
- symptoms occur in children under 12 years old;
- symptoms occur in elderly people;
- symptoms occur in people with heart or lung problems;
- there is confusion or impaired mental functioning or alertness;
- you have a very high fever (above 40°C);
- you have a severe headache, sensitivity to light and a stiff neck;
- you have a rash;
- you are vomiting or have diarrhoea;
- you are not eating or drinking;
- you have a productive cough (a cough with phlegm);
- the symptoms have not improved in 2 days, or have not disappeared almost completely in one week; or
- you have reason to believe you may have been exposed to a new type of flu, such as swine flu or avian flu.
Last Reviewed: 20 May 2009
- 1. Immunise Australia. Influenza (flu) [updated 2009, May 5; accessed 2009, May 22]. Available from: http://immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/immunise-influenza
2. The Australian Imminisation Handbook, 9th Edition, 2008. Chapter 3.9: Influenza [updated 2008, Mar 26; accessed 2009, May 25]. Available at: http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/Handbook-influenza
3. eMIMS Prescribing Information, June 2009
4. Therapeutic Guidelines (eTG). Influenza. In: Antibiotic guidelines [updated 2006, Jun; accessed 2009, May 25]. Available from: http://www.tg.org.au
