Influenza A & B: Simptom, Ubat & Bila Perlu Risau

Influenza (flu) is a viral infection of the nose, throat and lungs that comes on suddenly, with a high fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, a dry cough and a sore throat. Most people recover at home within a week with rest, fluids and paracetamol, and antibiotics do not help. Pregnant women, young children, older people and people with long-term conditions are more likely to become seriously ill. Keep a child with a high temperature home from school, and get urgent help for difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion or signs of dehydration. A yearly flu vaccine is the best way to prevent it.

Apa itu influenza?

According to the WHO, seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. It spreads easily when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and through hands contaminated with the virus, especially in crowded places such as schools. In tropical countries like Malaysia, flu can occur throughout the year, with outbreaks at irregular times.

Symptoms usually start about 2 days (between 1 and 4 days) after catching the virus. Most people recover without treatment, but flu can be serious for some groups.

Influenza in Malaysia right now

In October 2026, a respiratory physician at Universiti Putra Malaysia, writing in Utusan Malaysia, summarised the latest KKM surveillance data:

• more than 530 influenza clusters had been reported nationwide;
• schools were the most affected, with 352 clusters (65.8%);
• influenza A (H3) remained the dominant strain, with no new mutations detected;
• the share of clinic visits for influenza-like illness had peaked at 9.22% before easing to 8.18%.

KKM has reminded the public that flu can affect high-risk groups such as children, older people and pregnant women, and advised people with symptoms to rest at home, cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, avoid sharing personal items and see a doctor if symptoms continue.

Simptom & tanda influenza

According to the NHS, flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:

• a sudden high temperature (demam);
• an aching body;
• feeling tired or exhausted;
• a dry cough;
• a sore throat;
• a headache;
• difficulty sleeping and loss of appetite.

Symptoms are similar in children, but they may also have ear pain, sore eyes, swollen glands and seem less active than usual. The WHO notes that the cough can be severe and last 2 weeks or more. For more on managing a fever, see our guide to demam (fever).

Influenza A vs influenza B

According to the WHO, there are four types of influenza virus, but only influenza A and B cause the seasonal outbreaks seen every year.

For a family at home, the type of flu makes little difference: the symptoms, home care and warning signs are the same.

Influenza, COVID-19 or selsema?

Flu, COVID-19 and the common cold can look very similar. These differences from the NHS can help, but only a test can tell COVID-19 and flu apart for certain.

If your symptoms are mainly a runny nose and sore throat, see our guide to selsema. For a lingering cough, see batuk & kahak, and for a painful throat, sakit tekak.

Who is at higher risk?

Anyone can get flu, but according to the WHO, these groups are at greater risk of severe illness or complications:

• pregnant women (the NHS also includes women who have recently given birth);
• children under 5;
• older people (the NHS uses 65 and over);
• people with long-term conditions, such as heart, lung (including asthma), kidney or liver disease, or diabetes;
• people with a weakened immune system, for example due to chemotherapy, steroids or HIV.

If you are caring for young children and older parents at the same time, these are the people to watch most closely. In severe cases, flu can lead to pneumonia (radang paru-paru), according to the WHO.

Cara merawat influenza di rumah & ubat influenza

According to the NHS and WHO, most people can treat flu at home:

• rest and sleep, and stay at home to avoid infecting others;
• drink plenty of fluids; your pee should be light yellow or clear;
• take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower a temperature and ease aches;
• for a child, check the packaging to make sure the medicine is suitable for their age, or ask a pharmacist.

Antiviral medicines: the WHO advises that people at high risk or with severe symptoms should be treated with antiviral medicines as soon as possible. These need a doctor’s prescription, so see a doctor early if you are pregnant, elderly or have a long-term condition.

When to see a doctor or go to hospital

Based on NHS advice, see a doctor soon if you or your child have flu symptoms and:

• you are worried about your baby’s or child’s symptoms;
• you are 65 or over, pregnant or have recently given birth;
• you have a long-term condition or a weakened immune system;
• you feel very unwell or short of breath;
• your symptoms have not improved after 7 days.

Call 999 or go to the emergency department for sudden chest pain, severe difficulty breathing or coughing up blood (NHS). The UPM respiratory physician writing in Utusan also lists confusion or being very weak or hard to wake, signs of serious dehydration such as refusing to drink or not passing urine, and a fever or cough that comes back worse after seeming to improve. See also our guide to sesak nafas.

Should my child go to school? How many days to stay home

According to the NHS, flu is very infectious, and you are most likely to pass it on in the first 5 days. The NHS advises:

• keep your child off school until their high temperature has gone;
• adults should try to stay at home while they have a high temperature or do not feel well enough for normal activities.

The Ministry of Education (KPM) has told schools to advise pupils with symptoms to get medical treatment and to rest at home or in the hostel, away from crowded places. Pupils in hostels who become unwell are kept in the sick bay until a parent collects them. If your doctor gives your child a medical certificate, follow the number of days on it.

Test kit influenza: are home tests reliable?

Home rapid test kits for flu (often combined with COVID-19) are widely sold. According to the WHO, rapid tests are useful but less sensitive than laboratory PCR tests, and most flu cases are diagnosed from the symptoms. This means:

• a positive result is helpful, especially if you are at higher risk and need to see a doctor about antiviral medicine;
• a negative result does not rule out flu, so keep resting and stay home while you have a fever;
• if you feel very unwell, see a doctor whatever the test shows.

Influenza and the haze

Haze does not cause influenza. As the UPM respiratory physician explains in Utusan, flu comes from a virus, while haze is air pollution. But when the two happen together, fine PM2.5 particles can irritate the airways and make coughing and breathlessness worse, and may raise the risk of asthma attacks or pneumonia. During haze, check the Air Pollutant Index (API/IPU), keep doors and windows closed, and limit outdoor activity. See our mum’s guide to haze for more.

Vaksin influenza in Malaysia

According to the WHO, vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza. Protection fades over time and the vaccine is updated to match the viruses circulating, so a yearly dose is recommended, especially for:

• pregnant women (the NHS says the vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy);
• children aged 6 months to 5 years;
• people over 65;
• people with long-term medical conditions;
• health workers.

In Malaysia, the flu vaccine is available at private clinics and hospitals. In 2025, KKM ran a free influenza vaccination programme at selected klinik kesihatan for older people with at least one chronic illness, such as diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease or high blood pressure, with appointments made through MySejahtera. Ask your nearest klinik kesihatan or Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah whether free vaccines are currently available.

How to stop flu spreading at home

Based on WHO and NHS advice, to protect the rest of the family:

• wash hands often with soap and water;
• cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or use your elbow), and throw tissues away quickly;
• stay home when unwell, and keep sick family members away from babies, pregnant women and older relatives where possible;
• avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth;
• do not share cups, towels or other personal items.

Flu germs can live on hands and surfaces for up to 24 hours, according to the NHS, so regular cleaning of shared surfaces also helps.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What are the early signs of influenza (tanda influenza)?

According to the NHS, flu symptoms come on very quickly, often within a few hours. They can include a sudden high temperature, an aching body, feeling tired or exhausted, a dry cough, a sore throat, a headache, difficulty sleeping and loss of appetite. Children can also have ear pain, sore eyes and swollen glands, and seem less active than usual.

What is the difference between influenza A and B?

Both influenza A and influenza B viruses cause the seasonal flu outbreaks seen every year, and the symptoms and home care are the same. According to the WHO, influenza A viruses are divided into subtypes such as H1N1 and H3N2, and only influenza A is known to have caused pandemics. Influenza B is not divided into subtypes. In Malaysia in October 2026, influenza A (H3) was the main strain reported.

How long does influenza last, and how many days should you stay home?

According to the WHO, most people recover from the fever and other symptoms within a week, although the cough can last 2 weeks or more. The NHS says you are most likely to pass flu on in the first 5 days, and advises staying at home while you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to do your normal activities. Keep children off school until their temperature has gone.

What is the best ubat influenza?

For most people, rest, plenty of fluids and paracetamol or ibuprofen for fever and aches are enough, according to the NHS. Antibiotics do not work for flu. Do not give aspirin to children under 16, and if you are pregnant, check with a pharmacist or doctor before taking any medicine. Antiviral medicines are prescribed by a doctor, mainly for people who are seriously ill or at high risk.

Is influenza A dangerous?

Most people recover from influenza A on their own within a week. But according to the WHO, flu can cause severe illness, such as pneumonia, especially in pregnant women, children under 5, older people and people with long-term conditions. Get urgent help if there is difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, signs of dehydration, or a fever that returns after getting better.

Is a home influenza test kit accurate?

Rapid tests can help, but according to the WHO they are less sensitive than laboratory PCR tests, so a negative result does not completely rule out flu. Most cases are diagnosed from the symptoms. If you feel very unwell or are at higher risk, see a doctor whatever the home test shows.

Who should get the vaksin influenza?

The WHO recommends a yearly flu vaccine for pregnant women, children aged 6 months to 5 years, people over 65, people with long-term medical conditions and health workers. You can have the flu vaccine at any stage of pregnancy, according to the NHS. In Malaysia, flu vaccines are available at private clinics, and KKM has offered free vaccines at selected klinik kesihatan to older people with a chronic illness.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor or pharmacist. In an emergency, call 999. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

• Influenza (seasonal) fact sheet — World Health Organization
• Flu — NHS
• Common cold — NHS
• COVID-19 symptoms and what to do — NHS
• Flu vaccine — NHS
• Is my child too ill for school? — NHS
• Medicines in pregnancy — NHS
• Kes influenza meningkat, adakah berkaitan dengan jerebu? — Utusan Malaysia (October 2026)
• Jaga keselamatan diri dan keluarga, elak jangkitan virus influenza — Malaysia MADANI (KKM)
• KPM ambil perhatian penularan influenza — Kenyataan Media Kementerian Pendidikan (October 2025)
• Perlindungan warga emas berisiko tinggi, KKM tawar vaksin influenza percuma — Sinar Harian (April 2025)