Freshers Flu is not a myth. According to Student Beans , 22 percent of university students said they think they've had Freshers Flu in the past. Nearly half of these people said illness held them back from fully enjoying the week. I can tell you that Freshers Flu is definitely real, because my body succumbed to it within days.
So what actually is Freshers Flu? According to Dr Hana Patel, a GP and Mental Health Coach, it is "the result of lots of different people mixing and being exposed to different bacteria and viruses that they may not have before, causing a flu like illness." The illness is very common at the start of every academic year and normally impacts first year students at university the most thanks to the sudden change in lifestyle. It manifests differently from person to person, but the symptoms are generally similar to that of a flu or a cold: tiredness, temperature, muscle aches and pains, sore throat, cough, reduced appetite, and a headache. The good news is, it should only last up to two weeks. And if you're lucky, your body will fight off the infection within three to four days.
Sadly, you can't really avoid catching Freshers Flu. Dr Patel said, "As with any cold or flu, you can be unlucky and pick Freshers Flu up from anywhere. Other than avoiding Freshers week and socialising with lots of new people, general advice such as mask wearing, washing hands, and sanitising hands after touching surfaces could help." If you've already caught Freshers flu by the time you're reading this, Dr Patel recommends taking medicines for your specific symptoms, and speaking to a pharmacist or GP to get some help managing more persistent symptoms. You'll get through it!