Ask A GP: What Is 'Superflu', And How Can I Tell It From 'Normal' Flu? |
Though the influenza H3N2 strain, a variant of the flu currently making headlines, has sometimes been termed a “superflu,” Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, told HuffPost UK that “the term ‘superflu’ isn’t a recognised medical diagnosis.”
Instead, she said, it usually describes, “A combination of genuine influenza, circulating Covid-19 variants, RSV, and other viral illnesses that overlap in symptoms and timing.
“This can make the overall picture feel more intense and prolonged than a typical flu season.”
This is not to say, however, that the NHS is not experiencing an extraordinarily busy flu season (they are), or that patients are not “experiencing symptoms that persist longer than usual”.
Here, the GP shared how to spot “normal” flu from what some might term a “superflu,” as well as why influenza might be so rife right now.
How can I tell a “normal” flu from a “superflu”?
Dr Wylie explained that her definition of what some might........