What’s the difference between the flu and a virus that has flu like symptoms?
Jason G asked:
My doctor said I have a virus not a flu even though I have all the flu symptoms. He also said antibiotics wouldn’t help and he sent me home to suffer empty handed.
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Flu symptoms are created more by your own body’s reaction to infection than by the virus itself. The ‘common cold’ is caused by one of a variety of viruses like adenoviruses or coronaviruses, as your body fights them off you feel bad because of the immune system activation. There are no symptoms that are unique to influenza, and if you had the nose swab and the test was negative there is a very low chance that you have influenza,
Antibiotics kill or immobilize bacteria but do not have any effect on viruses. Tamiflu and other anti-influenza drugs are specific to the influenza virus and do not affect other viral illnesses with similar symptoms. Your best bet is symptomatic relief and some time, your body will beat up the virus and send it packing on its own. If you’re not better in a week or so, or if your fevers get much higher (103F+), go back to your doctor.
Antibiotics only kill bacteria, not viruses.
As there are many named viruses, call your doctor and ask him what the name of the one you have is. Then google it.
You can buy OTCs that can ease your symptoms, at least.
You may want to look for another doctor, who should have suggested something to relieve your symptoms, while you wait for the virus to run it’s course.
God bless and I hope you feel better.