Most of us may get sick several times. Despite a healthy lifestyle, our body can still fall into disease. Even so, most of it can be just common colds, coughs, and fever. Some people don’t bother about the illness that they have. They think that it would just fade away after a couple of days. A routine check-up to a medical physician can be seen as an inconvenience for a busy population in general. Unfortunately, there are cases where these speculations are proven wrong.
Worst scenarios expose a patient to the staggering reality of having an illness that grew worse because it was undiscovered and untreated sooner. These illnesses may change the course of a person’s life forever through complications and to fatal degrees.
Our body perceives a threat and lets us know that something’s wrong. We can save our lives from potential dangers if we observe its signs. Check out indications that it’s more than just the flu:
1. The Duration Of The Flu Is Longer
The flu is brought by influenza viruses that infect our bodies. It can cause colds, coughs, and fever. It’s a common illness that may last for a week or two. Even so, there are cases where the flu is just a sign that our body got infected by a more dangerous disease.
We may take the Ebola Virus Disease or EVD as an example. It was discovered back in 1976 in the African continent and infected many individuals worldwide. There are different types of EVD, but only four of them can infect a person. (Bundibugyo virus, Ebola virus, Sudan virus, and Tai Forest virus).
It can be transmitted through air, blood, and other contaminated equipment like a syringe. The person may start having cough, fever, colds, sore throat, and fatigue 8-10 days after exposure. As the disease advances, the patient may begin having diarrhea and vomiting. After 49 days starting the day of the infection, the person may die if not treated.
2. The Flu Is Way More Severe
We may experience flu several times in a year. But some of us still do the things that we usually do even if we’re ill. The flu can make us feel unwell, but some can manage. However, flu can be much worse if it’s a sign that we have a more dangerous disease.
We may take Coronavirus Disease or COVID-19 as an example. This is also an illness that may cause death. Discovered back in 2019, it struck worldwide and took many lives. It was first identified as the Novel Coronavirus and later evolved into different variants. It can also be transmitted through the air.
A person exposed to COVID may have symptoms like loss of smell and taste, rashes, and headaches aside from common signs of flu. There are instances where the disease can be more unforgiving. Shortness of breath, chest pain, and confusion are some of the most severe symptoms of COVID. These signs may make us feel more unwell compared to the typical flu.
3. It Keeps On Coming Back
As mentioned previously, we may have flu several times in a year. However, having it more often is a sign that it can be something else. The constant manifestation of flu may indicate that a person may have an allergy, secondary infection, or sinusitis.
Aside from this, if the flu keeps on coming back, it may mean that a person’s immune system is weak and is constantly exposed to an unhealthy environment. A human body’s immune system can generate antibodies after getting ill. However, if the body doesn’t get the nutrients it needs, there may be poorer protection against infection.
4. Medicines Do Little To No Help At All
Most of us take medicine when we get ill to recover. Taking flu medicine can make us feel better sooner. However, if the illness that we have is not just simple flu, the medication won’t be much of a help. Worse, it may cause some complications instead.
A disease may need a different prescription that you can determine after a thorough observation. Pre-determination of what drugs to take can be dangerous to our health.
Final Thoughts
Diseases are usually illnesses that gain their strength momentarily. Therefore, detecting them must be done as soon as possible. Vaccinations can increase our immunity against disease. Taking a routine check-up with a medical physician can also help take care of your health. Aside from a healthy lifestyle, being observant of what we feel can take us away from potential danger.