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However, if you've developed a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia, bronchitis or sinusitis, antibiotics may be prescribed. Rest is also important to help you get better. Plus, if you stay at home, there's less risk that you'll give the flu to other people.

The following may help you minimize flu symptoms and recover as soon as possible:

Rest in bed and stay warm but make sure your room is well ventilated
If you live alone, arrange for someone to check on you regularly
Drink plenty of warm fluids which may relieve the feeling of congestion and loosen
Try to eat a simple diet such as soup, yoghurt or scrambled eggs on bread
Steam inhalations will help to ease congestion
Paracetamol or ibuprofen will help to relieve aching and reduce fever
Take a cough suppressant for relief from a dry, hacking cough when trying to sleep

Seek medical advice if you develop chest pain or difficulty breathing, immediately.

If influenza symptoms develop in the very young, the elderly, or in someone with lung, kidney, heart or other serious problem, contact a doctor straight away. In some cases, an antiviral drug may be needed to reduce the risk of complications, and this needs to be started as soon as possible.

A cough that produces mucus or phlegm is not usually a symptom of flu, but it is a symptom of a cold or other illness. If you have a productive cough along with your flu symptoms, you may have developed a secondary infection that needs to be treated by a doctor. Coughs that produce mucus and phlegm should not be suppressed because it's important to expel these substances.

Other methods of reducing symptoms include using a humidifier or steamer to help ease congestion. An over-the-counter decongestant can be taken if you have a stuffy nose, but this symptom is not usually common in influenza. Side effects of oral decongestants can include drowsiness, dizziness, insomnia or upset stomach. There can be a 'rebound' effect with nasal spray decongestants, which means you will require more medication to control symptoms as time goes on, and when you stop using them your stuffiness may come back.

Frequently asked questions
1. Why should I get a flu jab? Isn't there a chance it could give me the flu?
A flu vaccination is your best chance to protect yourself against the flu; it has a 60-90 per cent success rate in healthy adults and children. The vaccine can cause side effects, including fever, tiredness and sore muscles; these symptoms are not influenza itself but an immune response to the virus proteins in the vaccine.

2. I feel awful; why won't my doctor prescribe me some antibiotics?
Because the flu is a viral infection, it cannot be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics only kill bacteria and thus are useless against the flu. Taking antibiotics when you don't need them contributes to antibiotic resistance.

3. When I blow my nose, the mucus is greenish; doesn't this mean I have an infection and need antibiotics?
A 'green' runny nose is not necessarily an indication of a bacterial infection. Antibiotics only fight bacterial infections. However, you should check with your doctor.

4. When do I need to call my doctor?
The longer you're sick with the flu, the more damage it causes and the higher your risk of bacterial complications. So it's important to call your healthcare professional if you develop these hallmark flu symptoms:

Sudden onset of illness
An illness so bad you feel entirely drained and immobile
A high and persistent fever
Severe aches and pains, which can include headache
Fatigue and weakness that persists
Chest pain
Coughing up thick or discolored mucus
Facial swelling or pain
Earache

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The difference between cold and flu