Dorothy FarrarDelayed flu
A delayed flu can have fatal health effects for the organism. If a flu-like infection is not treated and cured sufficiently, it can even be fatal. Because the dangers of a delayed flu are usually underestimated, and very few people think about the possible long-term consequences. Nevertheless, colds are harmless in most cases, with sufficient rest and adequate symptomatic therapy.
What is protracted flu?
Delayed influenza is understood to mean an insufficiently cured common cold, which can be caused mostly by viruses , but in some cases also by bacteria . A variety of viruses and bacteria can lead to banal colds.
The protracted, ignored flu must not be confused with the real flu, influenza. This serious illness usually occurs suddenly with a severe feeling of illness and high fever and always requires medical intervention. The delayed flu, on the other hand, is the health consequences of a normally harmless viral infection that was not treated or was not treated adequately. Because with sufficient rest and bed rest, most common cold infections caused by viruses heal without consequences.
causes
The causes of delayed flu are microorganisms, i.e. above all viruses, but also certain types of bacteria. True influenza viruses are therefore not among the causes of delayed flu. In addition, banal infections of the respiratory tract can also be caused by so-called atypical pathogens, which cannot be assigned to viruses but also not to bacteria. This group of pathogens includes, for example, pathogenic fungi or mycoplasma. These opportunistic pathogen species only cause flu-like symptoms in humans when the immune system is already weakened.
People with underlying diseases such as diabetes , cancer or AIDS are therefore particularly at risk. The course of the disease is then lengthy and it is even more important to bring about complete healing so that the banal infection is not delayed and can cause permanent damage to the body. A few hundred viruses are known to date that can cause banal infections and flu-like symptoms. The main causes of viral cold infections include rhinoviruses, coxsackieviruses and echoviruses.
symptoms and course
Typical symptoms of delayed flu:
The symptoms and the course of a ignored banal flu-like infection are often not always correctly assessed and assigned by those affected. Because when the acute flu symptoms such as cough, runny nose, hoarseness, body aches, headaches, fever and weakness have subsided, many patients think they are cured. This is actually the case with the majority of flu-like illnesses, but not with delayed flu. Because with the passed flu, a large number of complications and secondary diseases can still occur months or years after the acute phase. Bronchitis and pneumonia are typical complications of delayed influenza, which can have serious consequences and can even be fatal, meningitis or heart muscle inflammation. The latter two in particular can be lethal if undetected.
When to the doctor?
Not every banal flu infection needs to be treated by a doctor if it is ensured that those affected recover for a sufficient period of time, i.e. at least two weeks. The doctor should be consulted if flu-like symptoms do not subside, worsen or the general condition is permanently reduced. Whenever the symptoms do not subside after eight days at the latest after the onset of flu or a fever occurs, the doctor should also be consulted in any case.
Only through special examinations can it be determined whether a delayed flu can already be diagnosed. Whether the organism can deal with a flu-like illness within a time window of two weeks or not always depends on the individual immune status. Therefore, all measures should aim to strengthen the unspecific defense system.
Diagnose
When a delayed flu is diagnosed, the mucous membranes of the nose and throat are considerably weakened by the virus attack. If the doctor diagnoses a tough yellowish-greenish mucus sputum, there is a suspicion of a superinfection . In the course of the local weakening of the immune system due to the virus attack, a bacterial secondary infection also occurs, which already indicates that influenza has been carried over. In addition, the diagnosis must take into account whether a systemic infestation with the pathogens can already be detected. This includes extensive blood testswith determination of the inflammation values, the blood picture and, if necessary, a detection of the pathogen is required. Whenever there is diagnostic evidence that the pathogen has spread into the blood or into other parts of the body, such as the lungs, heart or meninges, a delayed infection must be assumed.
complications
The complications and consequential damage of a missed flu illness can be serious and serious, even fatal. If the pathogens are transferred to the sinuses, a chronic inflammatory course can result. Pneumonia can result from bronchitis as a complication. If the immune system is severely weakened and pathogens are introduced into the blood, meningitis , i.e. meningitis, can occur as a serious complication of delayed flu. The most common complication of a passed flu is inflammation of the heart muscle , myocarditis. If left untreated, this can permanently reduce the pumping function of the heart, lead to cardiac arrhythmia and, in the worst case, even heart failure.
treatment and therapy
Therapy with antibiotics is only necessary for a few influenza infections, because most influenza-like symptoms are caused by viruses. Antibiotics only make sense as a therapy in the case of diagnostically proven bacterial genesis or in the case of superinfections. A delayed influenza means that there is no adequate and sufficient protection in the acute phase. The disease cannot then heal completely, which can lead to serious complications.
No matter how harmless a cold may appear, physical exertion of any kind should be avoided in the acute phase. Measures to strengthen the immune system should be initiated so that influenza is not passed over. In many cases, symptomatic therapy with painkillers, expectorants or antipyretics is also required to relieve the body of the symptoms of the disease.
outlook and prognosis
Whenever a banal flu illness has been completely overcome, the prognosis is positive, because then there are no secondary diseases to be expected. In the case of delayed flu, the prospects and prognosis depend above all on a timely diagnosis. Because only then can irreversible consequential damage, for example to the heart valves, lung tissue or the meninges, be avoided through adequate therapy.
prevention
The best way to prevent a cold that is delayed is to cure it adequately and for a sufficiently long period of time. With bed rest, high fluid intake, a light healthy diet and careful short walks when you feel like moving, the body’s immune system has the best prerequisites to overcome the infection itself and to heal completely.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.