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Uthini i-Flu? Izimpawu, Izimbangela, & Ukwelashwa

October 10, 2025


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I-flu yisifo somphefumulo esithathelwanayo esibangelwa yi-influenza viruses ezithinta ikhala lakho, umlomo, futhi ngezinye izikhathi amaphaphu akho. Ngokungafani ne-cold ejwayelekile, i-flu ngokuvamile ikufinyelela ngokuzumayo futhi ingakwenza uzizwe ugula kakhulu izinsuku ezimbalwa kuya emavikini.

Abantu abaningi baphila ngokuphelele kwi-flu, kodwa kubalulekile ukuqonda ukuthi yini oyilwela. I-flu yasakazeka kalula kusuka kumuntu kuya komunye futhi ivame ukusakazeka kakhulu phakathi kwezinyanga zasekwindla nasebusika, yize ungayibamba nganoma yisiphi isikhathi sonyaka.

Zithini izimpawu ze-flu?

Izimpawu ze-flu ngokuvamile zivela ngokuzumayo, ngokuvamile phakathi kwezinsuku ezingu-1 kuya kwezi-4 ngemuva kokuba ukhombiswe yi-virus. Ungavuka uzizwa kahle bese uzizwa ubuhlungu ntambama, okuyindlela enye i-flu ehluke ngayo kwi-cold evela kancane kancane.

Izimpawu ezivamile ongazihlangabezana nazo zihlanganisa:

  • Ushushu (ngokuvamile 100°F noma ngaphezulu)
  • Ubuhlungu bomzimba kanye nobuhlungu bemisipha
  • Intloko
  • Ukukhathala okukhulu nobuthakathaka
  • Ukuhlanza okwomile
  • Ubuhlungu bomlomo
  • Ikhala elikhahlelayo noma eliphelelwe umoya
  • Ukuthanda ukubanda

Abanye abantu, ikakhulu izingane, bangase futhi bahlangabezane nokuhlanza, ukugabha, noma isifo sohudo, yize lezi zimpawu zivame kakhulu nge-stomach flu (engesiye i-influenza). Ushushu wakho ngokuvamile uhlala izinsuku ezintathu kuya kwezine, kodwa ungase uzizwe ukhathele futhi ubuthakathaka amasonto amaningana njengoba umzimba wakho uqeda ukuphulukana.

Yini ebangela i-flu?

I-flu ibangelwa yi-influenza viruses, ezingama-germs amancane ahlanganyela amaseli ohlelo lwakho lokuphefumula. Kunezinhlobo ezine eziyinhloko ze-influenza viruses, kodwa izinhlobo ze-A ne-B yizo ezingela ukuphahlazeka kwe-flu yonyaka ngonyaka.

Ama-virus la asakazeka ikakhulukazi ngezintuli ezincane ezikhishwa abantu abane-infection lapho bekhotha, bethandaza, noma bekhuluma. Ungathola i-influenza ngokuphefumula lezi zintuli noma ngokuthinta ubuso obune-virus kulo bese uthinta umlomo wakho, ikhala lakho, noma amehlo akho.

Okwenza i-influenza ibe nzima ukuthi abantu bangasakaza kwabanye kusukela cishe usuku olulodwa ngaphambi kokuba izimpawu zivele kuze kube yizinsuku eziyisikhombisa ngemuva kokugula. Lokhu kusho ukuthi umuntu angakudlulisela i-influenza ngaphambi kokuba azi ukuthi uyigule.

Imiphi imikhakha ye-influenza?

Kunezinhlobo ezine zama-virus e-influenza, kodwa uzobhekana kakhulu nezibili zazo ngesikhathi sesizini ye-influenza. Ukuqonda lezi zinhlobo kungakusiza ukuthi uqonde ukuthi kungani udinga i-flu shot entsha minyaka yonke.

I-Influenza A uhlobo oluvamile kakhulu futhi ibangela ukuqhuma kwesizini ye-influenza okwenzeka minyaka yonke. Lolu hlobo lungatheleleka kubantu, ezinyoni, nezingulube, futhi luhlale lushintsha, kungakho ososayensi kufanele bavuselele i-flu vaccine minyaka yonke.

I-Influenza B nayo ibangela ukuqhuma kwesizini kodwa ivame ukuba mncane kunohlobo lwe-A. Itheleleka kubantu nezinhlanzi kuphela, ngakho ayishintshi ngokushesha njengohlobo lwe-A, kodwa isashintsha ngokwanele ukudinga ukuvuselelwa kwe-vaccine minyaka yonke.

I-Influenza C ibangela izimpawu zokuphefumula ezincane kuphela futhi ayiholeli ekuqhumaneni. I-Influenza D ithinta ikakhulukazi izinkomo futhi ayaziwa ukuthi itheleleka kubantu, ngakho awudingi ukukhathazeka ngalezi zinhlobo ezimbili zokugcina.

Kufanele ubona nini udokotela nge-influenza?

Abantu abaningi abaphilile bangaphila nge-influenza ekhaya ngokuphumula nokunakekelwa okusekayo. Noma kunjalo, kufanele uxhumane nodokotela wakho uma uthola izimpawu ezithile zexwayiso noma uma unesongo elikhulu lokuthola izinkinga.

Funani usizo lwezokwelapha ngokushesha uma uhlangabezana nalokhu:

  • Ubunzima bokuqeda umoya noma ukuphefumula okusheshayo
  • Ubuhlungu noma ukucindezeleka esifubeni obuhlala isikhathi eside
  • Ukukhungatheka noma ukudideka okungazelelwe
  • Ukugabha okukhulu noma okuhlala isikhathi eside
  • Izimpawu ze-influwenza eziphulukana bese zibuyela ngomkhuhlane kanye nokukhokha okubi kakhulu
  • Ukuqabuka okuphezulu (ngaphezulu kuka-103°F) okungaphenduli ezikhipha umkhuhlane

Kufanele ubizwe udokotela wakho uma ungumuntu ophethwe yingozi enkulu, ngisho noma izimpawu zakho zibonakala zingenazinkinga. Abantu abaphethwe yingozi enkulu bahlanganisa abadala abangaphezu kweminyaka engama-65, abesifazane abakhulelwe, izingane ezincane ezingaphansi kweminyaka emi-5, nabantu abanezinhlungu eziningi ezinjengoburhulu, isifo sikashukela, noma isifo senhliziyo.

Iyini ingozi yokuthola i-influwenza?

Noma ubani angathola i-influwenza, kodwa izinto ezithile zingandisa amathuba akho okuhlupheka noma ukuthola izinkinga ezinzima. Ubudala buqala indima ebalulekile, ngezingane ezingaphansi kweminyaka emi-5 nabantu abadala abangaphezu kweminyaka engama-65 abaphethwe yingozi enkulu.

Isimo sakho sempilo jikelele siyabaluleka. Abantu abanezinhlungu eziningi babhekene nezingozi ezinkulu:

  • Uburhulu noma ezinye izifo zephunga
  • Isifo senhliziyo
  • Isifo sikashukela
  • Izifo zezinkulungwane noma isibindi
  • Isimilo somzimba esibuthakathaka esivela emithi noma ekuguleni
  • Ukukhuluka okukhulu (BMI engu-40 noma ngaphezulu)

Abesifazane abakhulelwe nabo baphethwe yingozi enkulu, ikakhulukazi phakathi kwesigamu sesibili nesesithathu. Ukuhlala noma ukusebenza ezindaweni ezikhukhumele njengezikhungo zokunakekela, izikole, noma ama-barracks ezempi kungandisa ingozi yakho yokubhebhetheka.

Ziyini izinhlanganisela ezingaba khona ze-influwenza?

Nakuba abantu abaningi bephulukana ne-influwenza ngaphandle kwezinkinga ezihlala njalo, izinhlanganisela zingase zenzeke, ikakhulukazi kubantu abaphethwe yingozi enkulu. Ukuqonda lezi zinto ezingaba khona kungakusiza ukwazi ukuthi nini kufanele ufuna ukunakekelwa okwengeziwe kwezokwelapha.

Inhlanganisela evamile kunazo zonke yi-pneumonia yebhaktheriya, engase ithuthukiswe lapho amabhaktheriya esebenza emaphaphu akho ngesikhathi ebuthakathaka yi-influwenza virus. Ungase uqaphele izimpawu ezibi kakhulu ngemuva kokuzizwa kangcono ekuqaleni, kuhlanganise nokukhokha okwandayo, ubuhlungu esifubeni, noma ubunzima bokuqeda umoya.

Ezinye izinkinga ezingase zenzeke zihlanganisa:

  • Ukutheleleka kwe-sinus
  • Ukutheleleka kwezindlebe
  • Ukubi kakhulu kwezimo ezingapheli njengobhule noma ushukela
  • Izinkinga zenhliziyo, kuhlanganise nokuhluleka kwenhliziyo (okungavamile)
  • Ukuvuvukala kwengqondo (okungavamile kakhulu)
  • Ukuphahlazeka kwemisipha okuholela ezinkingeni zezinso (okungavamile kakhulu)

Eziningi zezinkinga zilawuleka uma zitholakala ngokushesha, kungakho kubalulekile ukuhlala uxhumana nodokotela wakho uma ungosongo olukhulu noma uma izimpawu zakho zibuhlungu ngemuva kokuthuthuka ekuqaleni.

Ungakugwema kanjani isifo sikagciwane?

Izindaba ezinhle ukuthi ungathatha izinyathelo eziningi eziphumelelayo zokuzivikela wena nabanye ekugcineni isifo sikagciwane. Isifo sikagciwane sonyaka ngumkhuba wakho omuhle kakhulu wokuzivimbela, ukunciphisa ingozi yokuthola isifo sikagciwane nge-40-60% uma isifo sikagciwane sifana kahle nezinambuzane ezisakazekayo.

Kufanele uthathe isifo sikagciwane ngo-Okthoba uma kungenzeka, noma kunjalo ukuthatha isifo sikagciwane kamuva kusasinikeza isivikelo. Isifo sikagciwane sinconyelwe wonke umuntu oneminyaka engu-6 nangaphezulu, ngaphandle kokungavamile kwabantu abana-allergies ezinkulu.

Izenzo zokuvimbela imihla ngemihla zingakusiza futhi ukuzivikela:

  • Geza izandla zakho njalo ngesepu namanzi okungenani imizuzwana engu-20
  • Gwema ukuthinta amehlo akho, khona, nomlomo
  • Hamba kude nabantu abagulayo uma kungenzeka
  • Hlanza futhi ukhanyise izindawo ezithintwayo njalo
  • Gcina impilo yakho jikelele ilungile ngokulala okwanele, umsebenzi womzimba, nokudla okunomsoco

Uma ugula, hlala ekhaya okungenani amahora angu-24 ngemuva kokuba ubushushu bomzimba bakho buhamba ukuze ugweme ukusakaza isifo sikagciwane kwabanye.

Isifo sikagciwane sihlaziywa kanjani?

Udokotela wakho uhlale ekwazi ukuxilonga isifo sikagciwane ngokusekelwe ezimpawu zakho nangesikhathi sonyaka, ikakhulukazi ngesikhathi sesizini yesifo sikagciwane lapho i-virus isakazeka kakhulu emphakathini wakho. Ukuqala ngokushesha kobushushu bomzimba, ubuhlungu bomzimba, nezimpawu zokuphefumula kuvame ukukhombisa isifo sikagciwane.

Ngesinye isikhathi udokotela wakho angase afune ukuqinisekisa ukuxilongwa ngokuhlolwa okusheshayo kwe-influenza, okuhilela ukususa i-swab ekhaleni lakho noma emlonyeni. Lezi zivivinyo zingakhiqiza imiphumela ngemizuzu ecishe ibe yi-15, nakuba kungabi njalo ngokuqondile nge-100%.

Zikhona izivivinyo ezinemininingwane engcono kakhulu ezingathola ama-virus e-influenza ngokuthembekile, kodwa imiphumela ingathatha izinsuku ezimbalwa. Ngokuvamile udokotela wakho uzoyala lezi kuphela uma imiphumela ingashintsha uhlelo lwakho lokwelashwa noma uma kukhona ukubhebhetheka okudingeka balandelele.

Iyini impilo ye-influenza?

Ukwelashwa kwe-influenza kugxile ekusikweni ukuzizwa ukhululekile ngenkathi umzimba wakho ulwa ne-virus. Abantu abaningi bayaphila ngokunakekelwa okusekela ekhaya, nakuba imithi ye-antiviral ingasiza ezimweni ezithile.

Imithi ye-antiviral efana ne-oseltamivir (Tamiflu) noma i-baloxavir (Xofluza) ingafushisa ukugula kwakho ngosuku olulodwa uma iqalwa phakathi kwamahora angu-48 ukusukela ekuqaleni kwezimpawu. Udokotela wakho angase abhale lezi uma unesingo eliphakeme lokukhubazeka noma uma ugula kakhulu.

Ukuthola impumuzo yempawu, ungasebenzisa:

  • I-Acetaminophen noma i-ibuprofen ye-fever nezinhlungu
  • Ama-lozenges omhlane noma amanzi ashisayo omusa wokugeza umhlane
  • Ama-humidifiers noma i-steam ukuqeda ukungcola
  • Amanzi amaningi ukuvimbela ukuphelelwa amanzi emzimbeni

Gwema ukunika i-aspirin kubantwana noma abasebasha abanezimpawu ze-influenza, njengoba lokhu kungadala isimo esingavamile kodwa esibi kakhulu esibizwa nge-Reye's syndrome.

Ungazinakekela kanjani ekhaya ngesikhathi se-influenza?

Ukuzinakekela ekhaya kuvame ukuba yindlela engcono kakhulu yokubuyela esimweni esiqondile se-influenza. Umzimba wakho udinga isikhathi namandla ukuze ulwe ne-virus, ngakho ukuphumula kubaluleke kakhulu ezinsukwini ezimbalwa zokuqala lapho uzizwa ubuhlungu kakhulu.

Hlala uthola amanzi amaningi ngokuphuza amanzi amaningi afana namanzi, itiye lezimila, noma ama-broths acacile. Izinto ezishisayo zingase zibe nomusa kakhulu emhlane wakho futhi zingasiza ekuqedeni ukungcola. Gwema utshwala ne-caffeine, okuthinta ukuphelelwa amanzi emzimbeni.

Dala indawo enhle yokubuyisela impilo:

  • Gcina igumbi lakho lifudumele ngendlela efanele
  • Sebenzisa amapilishi amaningi ukuqinisisa ikhanda lakho uma ulele
  • Sebenzisa i-humidifier noma uphefumule umusi ovela eshawa elishisayo
  • Dla ukudla okulula, okunomsoco uma uzizwa ukhululekile
  • Thatha isikhathi emsebenzini noma esikoleni ukuze uphumule kahle

Qapha izimpawu zakho ungaphuthumi ukubuyela emisebenzini ejwayelekile ngokushesha kakhulu. Ngisho noma ubanda luyehla, ungase uzizwe ukhathele izinsuku eziningi noma amasonto njengoba umzimba wakho ubuyisela impilo ngokuphelele.

Kufanele ulungiselele kanjani ukubona udokotela wakho?

Uma udinga ukubona udokotela wakho ngenxa yezimpawu ze-influenza, ukulungiselela kancane kungasiza ukwenza ukuvakasha kwakho kube nomphumela. Bhala phansi ukuthi izimpawu zakho zaqala nini nokuthi ziye zaqhubeka kanjani, njengoba leli thrafu lingasiza udokotela wakho ukuhlola isimo sakho.

Yenza uhlu lwezimpawu zakho zonke, ngisho nalabo abangabonakali ukuthi bahlobene ne-influenza. Faka izilinganiso zokushisa kwakho uma ubelokhu uhlola ubanda lwakho, futhi qaphela noma yimiphi imithi oyizamele nokuthi ikusiza yini.

Letha ulwazi olubalulekile nawe:

  • Uhlu lwemithi nezinhlanganisela ezikhona
  • Umbhalo wakho wokugonywa, kufaka phakathi ukuthi uthole nini ukugonywa kwe-influenza okugcina
  • Noma yimiphi imizimba yempilo ehlala njalo onayo
  • Ukuhamba kwakamuva noma ukukhombisa abantu abagulayo

Ungakhohlwa ukusho uma ukhulelwe, uhlela ukukhulelwa, noma uncelisa, njengoba lokhu kuchaphazela izincomo zokwelashwa. Fika ngokushesha okuncane bese ucabanga ngokugqoka isigqoko ukuvikela abanye ekamelweni lokuhlala.

Iyini into ebalulekile mayelana ne-influenza?

I-influenza yisifo esivamile kodwa esingaba sibi esithinta izigidi zabantu minyaka yonke. Nakuba ingakwenza uzizwe ugulayo izinsuku eziningi, abantu abaningi abaphilile bayaphila ngokuphelele ngokuphumula okuhle nokukhathalela okusekela.

Isivikelo sakho esingcono kakhulu ukuthela i-vaccine ye-influenza minyaka yonke nokwenza imikhuba emihle yokuhlanzeka. Uma ugula, lalela umzimba wakho, phumula uma udinga, futhi ungangabazi ukuthintana nodokotela wakho uma usesingozini enkulu noma uma izimpawu zakho ziya mbi.

Khumbula ukuthi i-influenza iyadluliseka kalula, ngakho ukuhlala ekhaya uma ugula kuvikele impilo yakho kuphela kodwa futhi nempilo yomphakathi wakho. Ngokunakekelwa okulungile nokuqapha, ungadlula isizini ye-influenza ngokuphepha futhi usize ukuvikela labo abakuzungezile.

Imibuzo evame ukubuzwa mayelana ne-influenza

I-influenza ihlala isikhathi esingakanani?

Abantu abaningi bazizwa begula nge-influenza cishe izinsuku eziyi-3-7, nakuba ezinye izimpawu ezifana nokuqina komzimba nokukhokha zingagcina amasonto amaningi. Ukuqina komzimba wakho kuvame ukuqeda phakathi kwezinsuku eziyi-3-4, futhi ngaleso sikhathi uvame ukuqala ukuzizwa kangcono. Noma kunjalo, kuyinto evamile ukuzizwa udiniwe futhi ubuthakathaka kuze kube amasonto amabili njengoba umzimba wakho uqeda ukuphulukana nokulwa ne-virus.

Ungayithola yini i-influenza kabili ngesizini eyodwa?

Yebo, kungenzeka ukuthola i-influenza ngaphezu kwesikhathi esisodwa ngesizini eyodwa ye-influenza, nakuba kungavamile. Lokhu kungenzeka uma ukhombiswe izinhlobo ezahlukene ze-virus ye-influenza noma uma i-immune system yakho ingazange ithuthukise isivikelo esiqinile ngemuva kokutheleleka kokuqala. Ukuthola i-vaccine kusafaka isivikelo esingcono kakhulu ezinhlwini eziningi ze-influenza ezizungezile njalo ngesizini.

Ingabe i-influenza yesisu empeleni i-influenza?

Cha, lokho abantu abakubiza ngokuthi “i-influenza yesisu” akuyona i-influenza nhlobo. I-influenza yesisu ibhekisela ku-gastroenteritis, evame ukubangelwa yi-virus ehlukene ethonya isistimu yakho yokugaya. I-influenza yangempela ithonya ikakhulukazi isistimu yakho yokuphefumula, nakuba ngezinye izikhathi ingabangela ukuphefumula nokukhahlela, ikakhulukazi kubantwana.

Uba yini lapho utholakala kakhulu nge-influenza?

Ubangena kakhulu uma unegciwane phakathi nezinsuku ezintathu kuya kwezine zokuqala zokugula kwakho lapho ubanda khulu. Kodwa-ke, ungasakaza isifo sikagciwane kubanye kusukela ngosuku olulodwa ngaphambi kokuba kuvele izimpawu kuze kube yizinsuku eziyisikhombisa ngemuva kokugula. Abantu abanesistimu yokuvikela emzimbeni ebuthakathaka bangase bakwazi ukusakaza i-virus isikhathi eside.

Kufanele yini wenze umzimba uma une-influenza?

Cha, kufanele ugweme ukwenza umzimba uma une-influenza, ikakhulukazi uma une-fever. Umzimba wakho udinga amandla awo wonke ukulwa ne-virus, futhi ukwenza umzimba kungenza izimpawu zakho zibe zimbi futhi kudedise ukuphulukana kwakho. Linda kuze kube yilapho ungabi nasifo isikhathi esingaphansi kwamahora angama-24 bese uzizwa ukhulu kangcono ngaphambi kokubuyela kancane kancane emisebenzini yomzimba.

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