Page 2 | To inform you that Flu CAN be mild or asymptomatic?

LittleAlexHornesPocket · 2025-12-22T22:05:33+00:00

For the love of everything that is holy can we please, once and for all, put to bed this idea that if you're only feeling a bit poorly it could not possibly be flu? [[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1473309923006199 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1473309923006199]] "Influenza viruses cause respiratory infections that range from asymptomatic to severe and contribute to morbidity and mortality globally." I've seen it everywhere on MN in the last couple of weeks and it is driving me insane. The old "if you could get up to pick up a bank note then it definitely isn't flu" cliche is utter, utter, utter nonsense. Please Mumsnet. Stop spreading this myth!

RafaistheKingofClay · 22/12/2025 22:53

has the OP said she wants people to stay home and isolate for asymptomatic flu?

Just stop pretending that what you have can’t possibly be flu or telling people they definitely don’t have flu or they wouldn’t be typing on MN.

Swiftie1878 · 22/12/2025 22:51

hardtocare · 22/12/2025 22:12

Fascinating article… but kindly what’s the goal in sharing? The people who play down their resp viruses will say it’s a cold anyway. The people who say when they sneeze they have super flu will be exactly the same. Unless you have private medical care you won’t get a swab and know.

the actual message should be everyone who is eligible or can afford a flu jab should have one

There was a thread about people having REALLY bad flu. All of those affected had had the jab.

I only know two people who’ve been laid low by flu this season. Both had had the jab.

We need statistics on the flu vaccine. We know the virus mutates. We need to know how effective it actually is, and whether it’s actually causing more harm than good.

Thedownwardspiralpath · 22/12/2025 22:51

I agree, it drives me mad!

wineosaurusrex · 22/12/2025 22:47

FWIW flu is going around my son's class. He woke up Saturday with a fever, a headache and saying his throat and tummy felt 'weird'. I gave him honey, lemon and ginger in hot water - he drank it, fell asleep, and woke up feeling totally better.

Saturday evening the same happened - started feeling rough but recovered almost immediately after warm drinks and a nap. Played happily all day Sunday but then the same Sunday night - crashed out saying he didnt feel good. Paracetamol and a long sleep, by Monday it was fine and we went to work/school as usual.

Was it flu? I dont know. Do i have time to go to hospital to check when he has had mild or no symptoms? No.

We are wearing a mask when we go out (common where we live - abroad) and that's all we can really do because life doesnt stop for this kind of thing. As much as i would love a few days off work to rest and stay inside with my babies!

wineosaurusrex · 22/12/2025 22:40

Do you really want to blame individuals for this?

Is the UK really a society that allows people the time to stay home and self isolate for an asymptomatic flu?

Would your boss let you stay home because you felt fine but had tested positive for flu?

Would your friends and neighbours have the time to rally round and collect your lods from school, walk the dogs, do the food shopping, while you waited in your house with your no symptoms or your slight runny nose?

ShowOfHands · 22/12/2025 22:35

XenoBitch · 22/12/2025 22:29

People think flu is something you are stuck in bed with. If you can get up and about it, then it is assumed to just be a cold. This is something we are always told.

I am not sure what point you are trying to make by saying it can be asymptomatic. In the Covid days, everyone was assumed to be a potential Covid carrier, so had to stay at home. We are not having lockdowns etc with the flu. I am not going to assume I have the flu despite no symptoms so stay at home.

The point op is making is that the myth that flu is always terribly debilitating, is just that: a myth. But an extremely popular one.

ShowOfHands · 22/12/2025 22:34

RafaistheKingofClay · 22/12/2025 22:27

I’m fairly certain that there is at least 1 study where a huge number of people that tested positive for flu were asymptomatic. Around 50%of them.

Show quote history

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2014/mar/three-quarters-people-seasonal-and-pandemic-flu-have-no-symptoms

Even higher in some studies.

Three quarters of people with seasonal and pandemic flu have no symptoms

Around 1 in 5 of the population were infected in both recent outbreaks of seasonal flu and the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, but just 23% of these infections caused symptoms, and only 17% of people were ill enough to consult their doctor, according to...

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2014/mar/three-quarters-people-seasonal-and-pandemic-flu-have-no-symptoms

XenoBitch · 22/12/2025 22:29

People think flu is something you are stuck in bed with. If you can get up and about it, then it is assumed to just be a cold. This is something we are always told.

I am not sure what point you are trying to make by saying it can be asymptomatic. In the Covid days, everyone was assumed to be a potential Covid carrier, so had to stay at home. We are not having lockdowns etc with the flu. I am not going to assume I have the flu despite no symptoms so stay at home.

RafaistheKingofClay · 22/12/2025 22:27

JDM625 · 22/12/2025 22:22

100% agree OP. I previously worked in research and we took blood tests for people wanting to take part. Some had claimed to have never had influenza in their life, yet their blood tests showed antibodies so they had indeed had it at some point.

I’m fairly certain that there is at least 1 study where a huge number of people that tested positive for flu were asymptomatic. Around 50%of them.

RafaistheKingofClay · 22/12/2025 22:25

YABU but only because we have Togo through this every year and nobody ever learns.

The ‘if you can get out of bed it isn’t flu’ people are all still going to be ‘if you can get out of bed it isn’t flu’ people next year.

JDM625 · 22/12/2025 22:22

100% agree OP. I previously worked in research and we took blood tests for people wanting to take part. Some had claimed to have never had influenza in their life, yet their blood tests showed antibodies so they had indeed had it at some point.

ShowOfHands · 22/12/2025 22:21

People won't listen. It gets worse every year. People like to sneer about other people "claiming" they have flu and then go on to competitively post about precisely how ill they were with self-diagnosed flu, usually involving crawling to toilets.

TeenLifeMum · 22/12/2025 22:17

1 in 7 people can carry and spread it with no symptoms. Vaccine actually reduces this.

Vargas · 22/12/2025 22:16

100% OP. This old trope gets dragged out time and time again. Tried to explain to a friend that flu is like COVID - some people barely notice they’ve got it and some people end up in intensive care, but she was adamant that flu was always brutal. Makes no sense when you think about differing levels of immunity and overall health. 🤷🏻‍♀️

hardtocare · 22/12/2025 22:12

Fascinating article… but kindly what’s the goal in sharing? The people who play down their resp viruses will say it’s a cold anyway. The people who say when they sneeze they have super flu will be exactly the same. Unless you have private medical care you won’t get a swab and know.

the actual message should be everyone who is eligible or can afford a flu jab should have one

TheRozzers · 22/12/2025 22:11

YABU a cold is a cold and the flu is the flu.