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High temperature (fever up to 40°C, i.e. 101-104°F) accompanied by shivering/chills – this is an intrinsic characteristic of flu and comes on suddenly; with a cold, fever is rare

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Headache – this is quite usual with any flu attack but rare with a cold

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Muscular aches – your whole body aches badly in flu whereas the intensity is much lower in cold

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Pain in the joints – it is not at all prominent in colds

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Fatigue, tiredness and general debility – although you experience fatigue in cold also, it is much more severe in flu and lasts for more than 2-3 weeks

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Sore throat – a common symptom of cold, sore throat need not necessarily accompany a flu

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Cough – a dry barking cough, often severe, generally accompanies a flu whereas in cold, a moderate hacking cough is experienced by the sufferer

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Runny nose – a common feature of cold, it is not so common in a flu

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Sore eyes – in a cold, eyes are generally watery only

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Loss of appetite

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Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting in small children

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Stress

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Fatigue, tiredness

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Age, usually people above 50

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A serious underlying disease like diabetes or other chronic metabolic disorder, heart disease, sickle cell anemia, chronic lung disease (such as asthma or cystic fibrosis), or kidney disease

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A weakened immune system due to AIDS, HIV, chemotherapy, corticosteroid treatment, or organ transplant recipients who are normally given immunosuppresants

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Medical personnel including residents of nursing homes

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Crowded places like movie theatres, shopping centers etc.

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Gelsemium 6C and Belladonna 30C are homeopathic remedies well-known for their ability to reduce the symptoms of sore throat and influenza, for fast relief of acute fever, pain, headaches, sore throat, swollen tonsils, dry cough and inflammation and are especially effective for illnesses which have a sudden onset.

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Gallium aperine (also known as Cleavers) - This is an excellent cleansing tonic and has a particularly beneficial effect on all the lymph glands, including the tonsils. Gallium aperine is effective in relieving swollen tonsils and other lymph glands and is also recommended for glandular fever.

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Hyssopus Officinalis (Hyssop) is one of the oldest medicinal herbs and has its healing powers extolled in the bible – “Purge me with Hyssop and I shall be clean”. (Psalm 51:7) It is used to assist the body to maintain respiratory health, as well as to boost immune functioning.

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Sambucus Nigra (Elder) is a well-known tonic for the throat and respiratory tract. This long deciduous tree is found in Europe and North America. Its flat creamy flowers give a pungent smell and eventually lead to the bearing of the elder fruit which are small black berries full of dark purple juice which are often used in syrups, jams and wines. Elderflower, which is the one mostly used in herbal preparations, contains tannins, mucilage, flavonoids, phenols and potassium. Berries are rich in anthocynins, vitamins A and C as well as folic acid. Together, these two have excellent expectorant quality and also promote sweating. This therefore helps in getting rid of toxins, reducing temperature and treating allergies like cold and flu.

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Marrubium Vulgare (Horehound) has also been used throughout most of history and was well used in Egyptian and ancient Roman times. It is an effective remedy for throat and chest health and also helps to promote strong immune systems.

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Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice Root) is a highly respected remedy with a variety of uses. Apart from strengthening the action of other herbs, licorice has long been known for its ability to soothe and calm irritable respiratory tracts. In addition Licorice root has powerful immune-boosting properties, helping the body to fight against infection.

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Pulsatilla (30C) and Bryonia (30C) are homeopathic remedies, particularly useful for maintaining the health of the throat and chest, promoting relaxation and good sleep, and keeping throats and chests healthy and free of excess mucous.

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Kali. Mur. (6C) and Ferrum Phos. (6C)  are biochemic tissue salts that are very useful in keeping chests and throats clear of mucous, keeping the body clear of infection and maintain respiratory health, keeping the walls of the blood vessels strong and healthy. These tissue salts improve the body's ability to distribute oxygen-rich blood and iron to all cells, thereby facilitating healing.

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As loss of appetite is a major side effect cum symptom of flu, extra care has to taken in this regard. Anti-fever medicines make you perspire, loss of fluids also occurs. Therefore, you primary goal should be to prevent dehydration and take small, timely placed, nutritious meals. Your diet should comprise primarily of carbohydrates for energy, vitamins (especially vitamin C) and minerals (particularly zinc).

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Vitamin C and zinc are both wonderful anti-oxidants and help boost the immune system. Both of them are thought to be helpful in alleviating symptoms of upper respiratory infections including flu. They are particularly helpful when taken on the onset of the influenza attack. Vitamin C rich foods include citrus fruits, blackcurrant, vegetables (broccoli, potatoes), red capsicums and chillies, strawberry, kiwifruit, rockmelon whereas zinc is richly found in dairy products, seafood (oysters), chicken, beef, eggs.

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As fever is an intrinsic property of flu, loss of body fluids due to perspiration is natural. Therefore, taking as much liquids as possible is very important. Also, fluids can provide badly needed nutrients when the patient is too sick to eat, as normally the case is. You may go for thin soups and fruit and vegetable juices as they are quite rich in minerals and vitamins.

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Dilution of juices is essential in the early stages (usually 1:1 is the recommended ratio) as too much sugar present in these juices (especially readymade ones as sugar is generally added in them to provide extra energy) may cause diarrhea. Beet root and carrot juice are most recommended as they are not just very healthy, but to the patients taste also.

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When you are finally ready to slowly incorporate solid food into your diet, start with carbohydrate rich (for energy) starchy, bland food such as dry toast, cottage cheese, boiled rice, bananas, cooked cereal, rice pudding, baked potatoes and yoghurt. Yoghurts and certain other milk products contain lactobacillus which is a probiotic, which are organisms that actually help fight, rather than cause, infection. Lactobacillus supplements help reduce the likelihood of getting a respiratory infection like flu, even in children.

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Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae found in most lakes and ponds and flourishes in warm climate and alkaline water. It is considered a complete protein because well over half of it consists of amino acids - the building blocks of protein and is also a rich source of other nutrients including B complex vitamins, beta-carotene, vitamin E, carotenoids, manganese, zinc, copper, iron (in extremely good content), selenium, and gamma linolenic acid (an essential fatty acid). It has extremely good ability to stimulate the immune system and has excellent antiviral effects. Studies suggest that Spirulina has activity against influenza virus too. It is available in dried and freeze-dried form. Pills are also available in the market.

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Orange - It is believed in some parts of the world that during the spread or epidemic of influenza, eaing oranges protects you from the disease. Even while you are suffering from flu, oranges shall be beneficial.

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Needless to say, you should avoid foods such as chocolate, nuts, peanuts, cola, peas, grain cereals, cashews, gelatin, alcohol and caffeine, which is found in coffee, tea and colas, acidic, salty and processed foods.

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Flu shots are recommended to people working in high risk areas (crowded and epidemic prone areas including nursing homes and hospitals) and to those with a high risk of developing complications (people with chronic conditions like heart or lung disease and those above 65). You cannot catch the flu from this vaccine as the virus used in the vaccine is dead. Your body, however, may react mildly: a slight fever within 24 hours or a swollen area where the shot was administered for a day or two. Every year, scientists develop this vaccine against the most recently circulating strain of the virus. As influenza usually occurs more often in winter as the cold lowers the body’s resistance to the virus, the best thing to protect against flu is to be vaccinated in the fall or very early winter. Even if these vaccines are not able to prevent you from contracting these viruses, the severity of the impending disease will definitely come down. Also remember, the vaccine takes around two weeks to take full control over the situation, so take it before time.

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Avoid crowded places when the flu bug is in your own. Avoid kissing, hugging and even sharing the same room with an infected person, even if s/he is your spouse. Remember, you are needed to take care of the sick and infected family member of yours, so if you yourself fall sick, you will be making things miserable for everyone. Therefore, don’t be an emotional fool and try to make least physical contact with the sick person in your household.

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Smoking, drinking and cold weather play havoc with your immune system. Don’t remain outside in wet and cold weather for no reason and give up smoking as it brings down your immunity level drastically and makes you prone to infections, especially the upper respiratory ones (one more reason to give up this habit completely!).

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You or your children should refrain from their daily work till at least one day after the fever due to you flu is gone. Remember, influenza is a very contagious disease and it is your moral duty to safeguard people working around you.

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The discomfort of a cough, sore throat and dry nasal passages can be successfully alleviated by using a vaporizer. Humidifiers are equally good but difficult to maintain as chances of bacteria creeping inside the machine itself are very high.

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Gargling with salt water should provide immense relief as the concentration of the gargling solution, prepared by dissolving a teaspoon of common salt in a pint of warm water, approximates the pH level of body tissues and is very soothing.

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Muscle pain, joint pains and body ache are intrinsic characteristics of flu but there are a few things that can be done to ease them. Using a heating pad for muscles and joint pains, soaking feet in warm water for overall relief including relief in headache and nasal congestion, and a back rub (vicks vaporub) for congestion relief (back rub activates the immune system as well!).

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