Flu is a virus, so it can make you feel miserable. You might also feel tired and have a cough or fever. The flu can be dangerous if your body can’t fight it off. This can happen if you’re at high risk for having severe complications from the flu or if you have another medical condition that makes this more likely.
While many symptoms aren’t deadly, there are still specific flu symptoms to watch for Having a fever, cough, and mild body aches is normal.
But you need to look out for serious complications like the ones mentioned below –
1: High Recurrent Fever
Fever can be a sign of many things, including the flu. It’s important to note that while we commonly associate fever with the flu and other viruses, high temperatures are also associated with bacterial infections.
In order to determine whether your high temperature is due to a viral or bacterial infection, it’s helpful to assess other symptoms as well. Examples include –
- An intense headache
- Muscle aches and pains
- Stomach pain or diarrhea
These are mostly because of the side effects of the flu.
2: Persistent Confusion
Persistent confusion is a sign of a serious condition that must be treated immediately. You should seek immediate medical attention if you or your loved one experiences this symptom.
A fever may cause confusion, but it is not always the cause. Confusion can also be caused by dehydration, hypothermia, severe infection, and even brain injury.
If someone feels very dizzy or confused during a flu infection, they need immediate care as their condition may worsen quickly.
3: Breathing Trouble
Difficulty breathing is a serious flu symptom that should not be ignored. It happens when your respiratory system becomes inflamed, causing it to become less efficient at exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs.
This often means trouble breathing with exertion or during sleep, which can be very alarming for patients who have never experienced these symptoms before.
Shortness of breath can occur due to many reasons –
- An overactive heart rate
- Fluid retention in the lungs (pulmonary edema)
- Inflammation of the tissue lining the airways (bronchitis)
- Constriction of these passages by mucus plugged up there (coughing).
If you have difficulty breathing for more than a few minutes as one of your flu symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
4: Diarrhea and Vomiting
Diarrhea and vomiting are two severe flu symptoms that can be life-threatening. If you experience diarrhea, you may be dehydrated, which is dangerous for several reasons.
Dehydration is caused by the body losing too much water and electrolytes (salts) through urination or sweating. If not addressed quickly, this can lead to many problems, such as fainting, shock, organ failure, and death.
The Conclusion
The top flu symptoms to watch for are mentioned in the article. Patients must understand that it is crucial to keep the body hydrated when dealing with acute flu and fever. The body loses many essential vitamins, minerals, and fluids in the flu phase. To counter that and prevent dehydration, IV therapy is the best solution.
IV therapy can help in boosting immunity, keep your body hydrated, and reduce the risk of complications. You don’t need to leave your home, as mobile IV professionals are available. They visit your home and provide you with the IV fluid injected into the bloodstream.