Flu myths debunked

As flu season approaches, information about the flu and how to prevent it becomes more common. However, not all the advice is accurate.

Knowing the facts about cold and flu can help you prevent infection, recognise symptoms, and manage illness if you become sick.

Here, we debunk common myths about colds and flu.

Myth 1: The flu is just a bad cold

Although we often talk about them together, colds and flu are different illnesses caused by different viruses.

There are more than 200 viruses that can cause a cold. Like flu, these viruses affect the nose, throat and upper airways. Unlike the flu, there is no vaccine to help prevent common colds.

Symptoms of a cold can include:

• runny or blocked nose
• sneezing
• cough
• fever (a temperature of 38°C or higher)
• sore throat.

Influenza (the flu) is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. The flu is more serious than the common cold and severe cases can cause breathing difficulties, pneumonia, and even death.

The symptoms of flu can include:

• fever
• sneezing
• blocked or runny nose
• dry, chesty cough
• sore throat
• headache
• fatigue
• chills
• muscle aches
• limb or joint pain
• diarrhoea
• appetite loss.

Both viral infections are easily spread by the tiny droplets that people with cold or flu can make when they talk, sneeze or cough. Close contact, such as kissing or handshaking, as well as sharing contaminated surfaces, can also result in infection .

If you think you might be sick with cold or flu, keep your distance from others to help protect them from becoming ill, too.

Myth 2: You can catch the flu from the flu vaccine

One of the most persistent myths surrounding the flu is that the flu vaccine can give you the flu. This is not true.

Flu vaccinations do not contain any live flu virus and cannot give you the flu. ​The flu vaccine is an effective way to help protect yourself from serious disease caused by influenza.

After getting the flu vaccine, it’s not unusual to experience mild side effects such as fever or soreness at the injection site. The vaccine causes an immune response, which teaches your body to respond to the flu virus next time it encounters it. Side effects are usually mild and short-lasting. It is not the same as having the flu.

The Australian Government recommends flu vaccinations for most people aged 6 months or older.

Myth 3: You can catch cold and flu from cold weather

While you can’t ‘catch’ colds or flu from cold weather, more cold and flu infections do occur during the cooler months of the year. 

There are several factors at play here. One is that we spend more time indoors during cold weather, where viruses spread more easily from person to person. Another is that the viruses that cause cold and flu survive longer in cold, dry environments.

In Australia, peak flu season is usually between June and September (our winter). However, flu activity can occur at any time of the year. You should remain vigilant about flu prevention strategies throughout the year, especially if you’re at high risk of complications, or if you are planning to visit an area with ongoing flu activity.

Myth 4: Home remedies can prevent cold and flu

While there’s no shortage of home remedies touted as flu preventatives, from garlic to elderberry syrup, the scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness is limited. While some of these remedies may have immune-boosting properties, they can’t provide complete protection against the viruses that cause cold or flu.

A balanced, nutritious diet is still important for supporting your immune system though, and eating foods that contain immunity-boosting vitamins – along with getting enough sleep and exercising regularly – supports your overall health and wellbeing.

Read more: The best immunity-boosting foods

Just remember that the best way to prevent the flu is through a combination of vaccination, practicing good hygiene, and avoiding close contact with sick individuals.

Myth 5: Antibiotics can treat cold and flu

Antibiotics are effective against bacterial infections, not viral infections like colds or flu. Antibiotics cannot help treat the flu or speed up your recovery.

What’s more, taking antibiotics unnecessarily can contribute to antibiotic resistance (also called antimicrobial resistance, or AMR), making it harder to treat bacterial infections in the future.

Myth 6: 'Man flu'

The idea that men tend to exaggerate their flu symptoms when ill (‘man flu’) has long been of fascination to Western cultures. In recent years, several studies have tried to prove – or disprove – man flu once and for all.

Researchers have examined factors like instances of self-reported respiratory illnesses in men and women, help-seeking behaviour patterns, severity of symptoms, and length of recovery time.

Some studies have in fact shown that men may experience more severe flu symptoms than women, with testosterone being found to potentially weaken their immune response at a cellular level. Conversely, the female oestrogen hormone has been found to hold anti-viral qualities that could help women limit the replication of the virus in the body.

So, is man flu real? While it may be a popular joke, and while some studies have certainly tried to prove it once and for all, there’s still not enough scientific evidence for ‘man flu’ to be considered its own illness just yet.

Spread the facts, not the flu

It’s important to stay informed about colds and flu and to rely on evidence-based information rather than common myths and misconceptions. By understanding the facts about the flu vaccine, the importance of cold and flu prevention strategies, and the limitations of home remedies, you can take proactive steps to protect yourself and your community from the spread of cold and flu.