Yangtze River Cruise Aftermath: Battling Flu While Travelling

 🌏 The Aftermath of Travelling

🛳 From River Cruise to Hotel Stay

On the final day of our Yangtze River cruise travel experience, we checked into a luxury hotel in Shanghai. I shared a room with my elder brother, and though the journey had been exhausting, I looked forward to a restful night.

😷 A Cough That Spread

That night, my brother’s sporadic coughing echoed through the room, stealing bits of sleep. Despite the disturbance, I managed to rest after twelve long days on the river. By morning, however, my the younger brother had caught the same travel-related flu virus, and his symptoms quickly worsened.

At Guangzhou Airport, the medical clinic had no suitable medicine for his condition. Back home, he was eventually given strong treatment, including antibiotics for flu symptoms. Meanwhile, my elder brother took a pre-emptive dose of azithromycin and, according to flu test kits, was soon free from cough and flu.

🤒 My Own Turn

Three days after returning home, I began to feel the textbook signs of a viral infection after travel: a severe sore throat, sporadic coughing, and phlegm building up rapidly, making breathing difficult.

A friend mentioned that in the Netherlands, doctors often avoid prescribing medicine for flu, preferring to let the body fight naturally. In Malaysia, however, doctors are more sympathetic, prescribing a range of medicines to ease symptoms.

💊 The Long List of Remedies

Over the past two weeks, I’ve been prescribed and taking:

• Bromhexine (for cough relief)
• Loratadine (antihistamine)
• Triprolidine HCl
• Acetylcysteine (phlegm thinner)
• Chlorpheniramine
• Cetirizine
• Panadol (without antibiotics)

The throat pain has eased, but the phlegm production after flu continues to linger, with no clear end in sight.

✨ Closing Reflection

Travel often leaves us with unforgettable memories, but sometimes, the aftermath includes unexpected battles with health. This experience reminded me that recovery is not always immediate — and that different countries approach flu treatment in very different ways.