As winter settles in, the season of comfort food also becomes the season of coughs, colds and the annual wave of flu. With colder temperatures driving people indoors and calendars filling with social plans, viruses find the perfect conditions to spread.
Flu, in particular, thrives at this time of year, often striking fast and leaving people feeling wiped out for days.
Most of us know the classic signs to look out for: a high temperature that comes out of nowhere, aching muscles, a dry cough that won’t shift, and that all-over exhaustion that makes even getting off the sofa feel like a chore.
These are the symptoms that tend to dominate conversations, workplace sick notes and pharmacy queues during winter.
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Health experts at the NHS also warn that flu can develop ‘very quickly’, sometimes within hours, which is why it can be more than just an inconvenience for vulnerable people.
While many cases clear up on their own, others can escalate rapidly, particularly among older adults, young children and those with underlying health conditions. That’s why annual reminders around vaccination, rest and hygiene become so prominent as the year draws to a close.
However, there is another, less obvious sign that can creep in unnoticed, especially when you least expect it.
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Around mealtimes, when your appetite would normally kick in, flu can make itself known in a surprising way.
According to NHS guidance, people with flu may experience a sudden loss of appetite, something that can come on fast. It’s a symptom that often gets overlooked, dismissed as stress or tiredness, but it can be an early indicator that your body is fighting off infection.
The NHS says: “Flu will often get better on its own, but it can make some people seriously ill. It's important to get the flu vaccine if you're advised to.”
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Loss of appetite can sit alongside other symptoms, including headaches, sore throat, difficulty sleeping and, in some cases, stomach pain, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting.
Children can show similar signs, though the NHS notes: “The symptoms are similar for children, but they can also get pain in their ear and appear less active,” which can make the illness harder to spot at first.
If flu does strike, recovery advice is straightforward but important: getting plenty of rest and sleep, keeping warm, drinking lots of fluids and using paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce fever and aches can all help the body heal.
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Flu is also extremely infectious, particularly during the first five days of illness, when you are 'more likely' to pass it on to others. Regular handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes properly and binning tissues immediately can all reduce the risk of spreading it further.
The NHS also advises: “Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities.”
Ben Williams