What exactly is the flu? Is it dangerous? – RTV Mabel

Just before Christmas, an influenza epidemic officially broke out in the Netherlands. We also see this in healthcare. More and more people are getting sick. For most people, the flu is a nasty illness that will go away on its own rings. But does this apply to all types of influenza? And how dangerous is influenza actually for frail and elderly people? Treant’s infectious scientists explain by listing the most important facts and myths.

The flu is also called the flu: Fact!
Influenza, also known as influenza, is an infectious disease. Influenza comes from the Italian influenza di freddo, “effect of a cold.”

The cause of the flu is a cold, which is why you get the flu more quickly in the winter: a myth!
People get the flu from a virus, the influenza virus. The virus in the respiratory tract (mouth, nose, larynx, trachea, and lungs) causes inflammation of the mucous membrane. You get the flu more often in the winter, because the virus can spread more easily. So it’s not the cold itself that makes you sick.

There is only one type of virus that can make you sick with the flu: a myth!
There are many different types of viruses that can cause the flu. There are two types of influenza viruses that cause influenza in humans. These are influenza A and B. These types can be divided into other types. These types are given letters and numbers. For example, H1N1 stands for “swine flu.”

Corona is not the flu: Fact!
Influenza and corona can cause bronchitis, but they are two different diseases. The flu is caused by the influenza virus. Corona is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Both the flu and corona can cause cold symptoms. With Corona you often lose your taste and smell. It may take a long time before you get your taste and smell back. With the flu, you don’t often lose your sense of taste and smell. If this happens, it will last for a very short time.

You can catch the flu more often: Fact!
Unfortunately, you can catch the flu more than once. If you are healthy, you are not likely to get the same type of virus again. It is true that viruses can change. So if the virus changes a lot, you can get sick again from the flu virus.

You can die from the flu: Fact!
People 60 years of age or older and people with various conditions (such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, or decreased resistance) can develop particularly severe disease. Sometimes they can die because of it.

Antibiotics help against the flu: a myth!
Antibiotics only kill bacteria. Since the flu is caused by a virus, antibiotics don’t help at all. In most cases, the advice is to rest and drink enough water. Paracetamol helps to get rid of pain and fever.

The flu vaccine is the best protection against the severe consequences of influenza: Fact!
The annual influenza vaccine protects against the types of viruses in the vaccine. Since there are different types of viruses every year, you need a new flu vaccine every year. People who get the flu after a shot often have fewer problems with it.

Stomach flu is also a type of flu: a myth!
The “stomach flu” is not the same as the flu. Stomach flu is actually a collective name for several infections of the stomach and intestines. It can be caused by viruses and bacteria. Stomach flu causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The “normal” flu can cause inflammation of the airways, but also of other parts of the body.

Infection specialists advise you to be careful and stay away from other people if you have complaints.

Treant’s photo (what is the flu anyway?)