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The Flu
The real name for the flu is influenza. It's caused by a virus that
travels through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The
flu virus infects your lungs and makes your whole body feel terrible. It
gives you a fever, makes you cough, and makes your body ache.
The only way to avoid getting the flu is to stay away from people who have
it. This is not always possible, so it is important to know how to handle
the flu when you get it. You should stay in bed and drink a lot of fluids
when you have the flu. You can take pills to get rid of the aches
and pains that also occur. You should see a doctor if your flu lasts more
than a week.
 You can help protect your body from the flu by exercising and eating right.
You should also keep your lungs smoke free, since smoking can harm your
lungs and make it easier for the flu virus to attack.
Most people can't tell the difference between the cold and the flu, but with this chart you will be able to.
| SYMPTOMS: |
COLD: |
FLU: |
| Fever |
Rare |
Usually |
| Headache |
Rare |
Almost Always |
| Aches and Pains |
Slight |
Usually |
| Runny, stuffy nose |
Common |
Sometimes |
| Coughing |
Mild |
Common; can be severe |
 For additional information, check out the Canadian Lung Association's web site.
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This digital collection was produced under contract to Canada's Digital Collections program, Industry Canada. The web site was produced by a youth team at the Saskatchewan Lung Association.