One of the biggest questions right now for those bed bound with flu symptoms is whether they have symptoms of Australian flu or normal flu.
The strain of the flu called H3N2 is potentially deathly, as it wreaked havoc through Australia over its winter.
Around 170,000 cases of flu were reported Down Under, including a number of deaths.
So what are the symptoms of Aussie flu?
The symptoms are similar to those caused by normal flu, but are more severe.
The NHS outlines nine flu symptoms:
- A sudden fever – a temperature of 38C or above
- Aching body
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- Dry, chesty cough
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Difficulty sleeping
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea or tummy pain
- Nausea and being sick
Those most at risk of catching Aussie flu are the over 65s, pregnant women, young kids and those with chronic conditions like diabetes, lung and heart disease.
How to treat flu
To help you get better more quickly, the NHS advises you to:
- Rest and sleep
- Keep warm
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains
- Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your pee should be light yellow or clear)
Coughing is a key symptom of the common cold and this year’s Aussie flu.
While it is a sign of both, the type of cough you experience can indicate whether it is flu or a cold.
If it is a dry, hacking cough – meaning short, dry and frequent – then you are likely to have flu.