Flu

What is flu?

Flu is a viral infection caused by the influenza virus that can be deadly in high-risk groups. Most people get the flu when they breathe in tiny airborne droplets from the coughs or sneezes of someone who has the flu.

What’s the difference between a cold and the flu?

The common cold and the flu may seem similar at first. They’re both respiratory illnesses and can cause similar symptoms. But different viruses cause these two conditions. Your symptoms can help you tell the difference between them. Both a cold and the flu share a few common symptoms. People with either illness often experience:

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• Body aches
• General fatigue

As a rule, flu symptoms are more severe than cold symptoms. Another distinct difference between the two is how serious they are. Colds rarely cause other health conditions or problems. But the flu can lead to:

• Sinusitis
• Ear infections
• Pneumonia
• Sepsis

If your symptoms are severe, you may want to confirm either a cold or flu diagnosis. Your doctor will run tests that can help determine what’s behind your symptoms. Cold and flu symptoms should also be treated with care due to their overlap with COVID-19 symptoms. If your doctor diagnoses a cold, you’ll only need to treat your symptoms until the virus has run its course. These treatments can include:

• Using over-the-counter (OTC) cold medications
• Staying hydrated
• Getting plenty of rest

For the flu, taking flu medicine early in the virus’ cycle may help reduce severity of the illness and shorten the time that you’re sick. Rest and hydration are also beneficial for people with the flu. Much like the common cold, the flu often just needs time to work its way through your body.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

Here are some of the common symptoms of the flu:

Fever

The flu almost always causes an increase in your body temperature. This is also known as a fever. Most flu-related fevers range from a low-grade fever around 100°F (37.8°C) to as high as 104°F (40°C). Although alarming, it’s not uncommon for young children to have higher fevers than adults. If you suspect your child has the flu, send them to the clinic. You may feel “feverish” when you have an elevated temperature. Signs include chills, sweats, or being cold despite your body’s high temperature. Most fevers last for less than 1 week, usually around 3 to 4 days.

Cough

A dry, persistent cough is common with the flu. The cough may worsen, becoming uncomfortable and painful. You may sometimes experience shortness of breath or chest discomfort during this time. Many flu-related coughs can last for about 2 weeks.

Muscle aches

Flu-related muscle pains are most common in your neck, back, arms, and legs. They can often be severe, making it difficult to move even when trying to perform basic tasks.

Headache

Your first symptom of the flu may be a severe headache. Sometimes symptoms, including light and sound sensitivity, go along with your headache.

Fatigue

Feeling tired is a not-so-obvious symptom of the flu. Feeling generally unwell can be a sign of many conditions. These feelings of tiredness and fatigue may come on fast and be difficult to overcome.

How does the flu vaccine work?

The best and most efficient way to avoid the flu and prevent spreading it is to get a flu vaccination. To make the vaccine, scientists select the strains of the flu virus that research suggests will be the most common in the coming flu season. Millions of vaccines with those strains are produced and distributed. Once you receive the vaccine, your body begins producing antibodies against those strains of the virus. These antibodies provide protection against the virus. If you come into contact with the flu virus at a later point, you can avoid contracting it. You may get sick if you end up coming into contact with a different strain of the virus. But the symptoms will be less severe because you had the vaccination.

Anyone can get the flu shot. Many people report avoiding the flu vaccine each year for fear that it will make them sick. It’s important to understand that the flu vaccine can’t cause you to develop the flu. You aren’t going to become sick because you received the vaccine. Flu vaccines contain dead flu virus. These strains aren’t strong enough to cause an illness. Like other shots, you may experience some side effects from the flu shot. These side effects are often mild and only last a short period of time. The side effects of a shot outweigh the possible symptoms of developing the flu later.

The most common side effects of the flu shot include:

• Soreness around the injection site
• Low-grade fever in the days immediately following the injection
• Mild aches and stiffness

Any side effects that do occur often last only a day or two. Many people won’t experience any side effects at all. On rare occasions, some people may have a serious allergic reaction to the vaccination. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to any vaccine or medication before, talk with your doctor.

How long does the flu last?

Most people recover from the flu in about a week. But it may take several more days for you to feel back to your usual self. It’s not uncommon to feel tired for several days after your flu symptoms have subsided. It’s important to stay home from school or work until you’ve been free of fever for at least 24 hours (and that’s without taking fever-reducing medications). If you have the flu, it can be passed to another person a day before your symptoms appear and up to 5–7 days afterward.

If you have any cold or flu symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, you must isolate yourself while getting tested and continue to practice good hygiene such as:

• Washing your hands
• Disinfecting high-touch areas
• Wearing a face covering
• Avoiding contact with others

What are the treatment options for the flu?

Most cases of the flu are mild enough that you can treat yourself at home without prescription medications. It’s important you stay home and avoid contact with other people when you first notice flu symptoms. You should also:

• Drink plenty of fluids. This includes water, soup, and low-sugar flavored drinks.
• Treat symptoms such as headache and fever with OTC medications.
• Wash your hands to prevent spreading the virus to other surfaces or to other people in your house.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with tissues. Immediately dispose of those tissues.
• Wear a face covering when in public.

If symptoms become worse, call your doctor. They may prescribe an antiviral medication. The sooner you take this medicine, the more effective it is. You should start treatment within 48 hours from when your symptoms start.