A health expert has settled a long-standing debate over whether the ‘man flu’ really exists and whether men suffer worse compared to women when they get the flu.
This comes after the NHS reported that Britain is facing an “unprecedented” flu season, with one particular strain, H3N2, becoming the most dominant variant across the country and the world.
GP for LloydsApotheek Online DoctorDr. Bhavini Shah says the flu can come in many different forms. The most common form of flu is seasonal flu, probably caused by the influenza A or B virus, which causes outbreaks in the winter period.
She said: “Swine flu is another form of influenza A virus that has similar symptoms to common seasonal flu, and bird flu is more serious but very rarely spreads to people. Flu, similar to Covid-19, can be transmitted between people through droplets from coughing or sneezing, or by ingestion after touching a contaminated surface.”
Common symptoms when a person has the flu include:
- Sudden high temperature or fever
- Sore body and exhaustion
- A dry cough or sore throat
- Headache
- Difficulty sleeping
- Loss of appetite
- Stomach pain or diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
Flu symptoms are usually most severe after the first few days, but most people recover from the flu within about a week.
“The flu may share symptoms of a more serious illness. If you are concerned, contact your doctor. Meningitis, malaria and pneumonia all show similar symptoms to the flu, but are each much more serious and require immediate medical attention as they can become life-threatening,” she added.
Furthermore, Dr. Bhavini Shah said of the “man flu”: “The man flu is portrayed in pop culture as men exaggerating cold or flu symptoms. There is no medical evidence that there is a specific common flu virus that only infects men.”
