Prof. Jill Seladi-Schulman: "All you need to know about flu"

Influenza, or flu, is a respiratory illness that results from a viral infection. Flu is highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets. A person can pass it on while talking or through physical contact, such as shaking hands.

Influenza A and influenza B cause seasonal epidemics in the United States and elsewhere every winter. Type C usually causes mild respiratory illness.

Some strains of influenza A, such as the H5N1 “bird flu” virus, occasionally infect humans, causing serious illness. Experts track these strains carefully, as they try to predict how they will change, and how they might affect people.

In this article, we explain the symptoms of flu, the treatment options, how it differs from a cold, and how to prevent the flu.

Symptoms

A person with the flu may experience a stuffy or runny nose.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a person with flu may experience:

a high temperature that lasts 3–4 days
a stuffy or runny nose
cold sweats and shivers
aches that may be severe
a headache
fatigue

Not everyone with flu will have all of these symptoms. For instance, it is possible to have flu without a fever.

The symptoms of influenza typically come on suddenly. Initially, a person with flu may experience:

a high temperature
a stuffy or runny nose
a dry cough
cold sweats and shivers
aches that may be severe
a headache
fatigue, and a feeling of being unwell
a low appetite

Why do people sometimes have chills but no fever?

Flu symptoms in adults

Adults with the following symptoms should seek medical help urgently:

breathing difficulties
pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
dizziness, confusion, or loss of alertness
seizures
not urinating, which may indicate dehydration
severe pain, weakness, and unsteadiness
a fever or cough that goes away and then comes back
a worsening of other existing health conditions

Flu symptoms in children

Children often have similar symptoms to adults but can also have gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

If a child has the following symptoms, they need emergency medical care:

breathing difficulties
rapid breathing
bluish face or lips
chest pain or ribs pulling inward as they breathe
severe aches
dehydration, for example, not urinating for 8 hours and crying dry tears
lack of alertness or interaction with others
a fever above 104°F or any fever in a child under 12 weeks of age
a fever or cough that goes away but then comes back
a worsening of any other medical conditions

Should children have flu medication? Find out more here about Tamiflu and its effects on children.

Flu symptoms in babies

Flu can be dangerous for babies. If symptoms appear, a parent or caregiver should seek medical help.

A baby with flu may:

be very tired
have a cough and sore throat
have a stuffy or runny nose
have a fever of 100°F or more
have vomiting or diarrhea

The baby needs emergency medical attention if they:

do not want anyone to hold them
have a blue or gray skin color
are breathing fast or have difficulty breathing
have a fever with a rash
have symptoms that go away but come back again
show signs of dehydration, for example, not urinating
do not wake up or interact
have severe and persistent vomiting

What happens when a baby gets a cold?

Flu type A symptoms

If a person has the following symptoms, they may have influenza type A:

fever and chills
headache
muscle aches
fatigue
weakness
a stuffy or runny nose
a sore throat and cough

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