FLU VICTIM: CARINA CHUA, 26 IT TOOK three visits to a doctor to shake off her lingering flu.

Ms Carina Chua, a 26-year-old editor of an assessment-book publishing company, suffered from a persistent flu throughout most of last month. Despite her fever, body aches and her severely blocked and runny nose, she continued to drag herself to work.

Said Ms Chua: "I was tired all the time. I didn't see a doctor at first because I was too busy, but it got worse." She stayed away from soft drinks and chicken on her mother's advice.

Aside from the medication the doctor prescribed, she downed vitamin C pills and medicinal herbal tea - whatever means to cure her flu. But nothing worked.

She recovered only after two more visits to the doctor and taking stronger medication.

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