Taking a hot shower will serve the same purpose. Loading up on vitamin C does not help, as it has no effect on respiratory viruses. Drinking plenty of fluids is always beneficial even when you are feeling well. Always try and keep your hands clean and germ free. The most common symptoms of the flu include a dry cough, sore throat, burning of the eyes, nasal congestion, fever, headaches, muscle pain and fatigue.
More severe cases can also include gastrointestinal symptoms.
Once the germ takes hold, the flu will develop within 48 hours. The fever usually lasts for two to three days while the fatigue and cough can last for more than a week. Three different viruses cause influenza. They are all caused by breathing in infected droplets of air that have been coughed or sneezed out by an infected individual. Influenza A is the strain that causes the most epidemics as it mutates regularly.