What is Australian flu?

Sunday, January 28, 2018

What is Australian flu?

A lot has been said in the news this month about the dreaded 'Australian flu', but do you understand what it means and how to identify it? Here we take a look at the symptoms and how it differs to the normal strain of flu.

What are the symptoms of 'Aussie flu'?

Australian flu is essentially like the normal flu we know, however different strains of flu have different levels of severity, and some strains can become more contagious than others. 'Aussie flu' is a more severe strain of flu, and the symptoms tend to be more severe and last longer.

The symptoms (according to the NHS) include:

- A sudden fever
- Aching body
- Feeling lethargic or exhausted
- Dry or chesty cough
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling or being sick

What should I do if I'm concerned about my symptoms?

Our pharmacists can offer help and advice and help to recommend treatment options to ease your symptoms.

But, if you are overly concerned and experiencing the above symptoms, or you fall into the following criteria (over 65, pregnant or experiencing symptoms for longer than 7 days), you should call 111 or contact your GP as soon as possible.