Cold and Flu and what to do

Flu (influenza) spreads quickly from person to person through touch and through droplets in the air. This includes:

• direct contact with people who have flu
• contact with surfaces that have the flu virus on them
• coughing
• sneezing
• talking.

You are most likely to get the flu during ‘flu season’ — May to October in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Adults are most likely to be contagious in the first 3 to 5 days of illness. Young tamariki can be contagious for more than 5 days.

The flu virus infects your nose, throat and lungs. It is normally worse than a cold.

It can take between 1 to 4 days to feel symptoms after you catch flu. The worst symptoms usually last about 5 days, but coughing can last up to 2 to 3 weeks.

Symptoms of flu start suddenly and can include:

• fever or feeling feverish
• chills
• muscle or body aches
• headache
• runny or stuffy nose
• cough
• sore throat
• upset stomach, vomiting or runny poos (diarrhoea).

Illnesses with similar symptoms

Flu symptoms can be similar to other illnesses like COVID-19 or meningococcal disease. If you suspect someone in your whānau has meningococcal disease, seek urgent medical attention.

• COVID-19
• Meningococcal disease

Some people get very sick with flu. It can cause serious complications, like chest or sinus infections.

In severe cases people need to stay in hospital. Around 500 people die from the flu each year.

People at higher risk of getting complications from flu include:

• pregnant people and those who have just given birth
• people with an ongoing health condition — like asthma, diabetes, cancer, a heart or lung condition, and conditions that affect the nervous or immune systems
• significantly overweight people
• Māori and Pacific peoples aged 55 and over
• people aged 65 years or over
• pēpi and tamariki, especially under 5 years
• people with serious mental health or addiction issues.

Get urgent medical advice if you or a whānau member have:

• a high fever that does not come down, especially if you are pregnant
• chills or severe shaking
• a rash
• difficulty breathing or chest pain
• purple or bluish colour of your lips, skin, fingers or toes
• severe headache or stiff neck
• dislike of bright lights
• fits (seizures or convulsions)
• signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing
• difficulty passing urine regularly.

If a person you take care of is less responsive than normal, unusually quiet, or confused, call your healthcare provider urgently.

Let your healthcare provider know if you or a whānau member were starting to feel better, then get worse.

You should get medical help if your pēpi or tamariki:

• has a fever and is under 3 months old
• will not take feed or take fluids — do not force them
• has fast or noisy breathing or if they are wheezing or grunting
• has the area below the ribs sucking inward instead of expanding when they breathe in
• is very pale
• is drowsy or difficult to wake
• is irritable, for example not wanting to be held
• is limp or unable to move
• has dry nappies or no tears when they are crying — this means they are dehydrated
• has signs of other serious conditions, such as meningitis
• has a rash.

Healthcare providers do not usually test for flu. They usually diagnose you based on your symptoms.

Your healthcare provider may do a physical exam and look for signs and symptoms of flu. They might order tests to make sure it is not a different illness if you have serious symptoms.

If you do catch flu, it is important that you stay away from work or school while you are unwell.