You may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick. Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others for an even longer time.
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6 AnswersA
HealthyWomen answeredSee All 6 AnswersThe flu, or influenza, is a viral disease of the respiratory tract—the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs—and is highly contagious. It is spread though airborne droplets of moisture produced by coughs or sneezes. When you breathe these germs in through your nose or mouth, you may come down with the flu, generally within one to four days of exposure. The flu is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization, or, in severe cases, death.
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4 AnswersA
TriStar Centennial Medical Center answeredSee All 4 AnswersThere are plenty of things you can do to help protect yourself from the flu virus. We suggest getting the flu shot, washing your hands often, using good cough etiquette, etc. Even after taking all of these precautions you can still catch the dreaded virus. If you have the flu, you should follow these simple tips to get over the virus quickly:
- Relax. You need to be on bed rest and drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Getting plenty of sleep will make it easier to deal with your symptoms.
- Eat right. Greasy food is not going to help you feel better. Make the extra effort to pack some protein such as lean meat, fish, eggs or nuts into your diet. They are all high in B6 and B12 and will help keep you strong. Fruit is another great food to eat while flu-ridden.
- Take your meds. Take it at the correct time and however many days as your doctor has instructed you to. Also, taking over-the-counter medicine such as a decongestant is great to help relieve a few of your symptoms while your prescription is kicking in.
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HealthyWomen answeredSee All 3 Answers
The most serious, often life-threatening complication of the flu is pneumonia. Other complications include ear infection, bronchitis, dehydration and worsening of chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. Croup and a lung disease called bronchiolitis can also arise as complications in infants and young children.
There is also evidence that influenza can be more dangerous for women in their second or third trimester of pregnancy. The strain and stress of pregnancy on a woman's lungs, combined with the type of influenza, can lead to pulmonary problems.
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1 AnswerA
The first symptoms of influenza type A, including fever, chills, headache and body aches, often begin to go away after about 2 or 3 days. In some cases, these symptoms will last 5 days or longer. The respiratory symptoms of influenza type A, such as coughing, throat irritation and congestion may last for days or weeks. However, most people are not contagious after about a week from the beginning of symptoms.
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7 AnswersA
Mercy Health answeredSee All 7 AnswersThere are several ways you can help prevent the flu:
- Get a flu vaccine. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) cites the yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. Look for information regarding flu vaccination clinics or talk with your doctor.
- Take everyday precautions to stop the spread of germs. For example, wash your hands, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Take antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them. If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can treat your illness. They make the illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They may also prevent serious flu complications.
Trinity Health is a Catholic health care organization that acts in accordance with the Catholic tradition and does not condone or support all practices covered in this site. In case of emergency call 911. This site is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider.
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3 AnswersA
Intermountain Healthcare answeredSee All 3 AnswersColds are caused by germs called viruses and do not need to be treated with antibiotics. Try these things:
- Stay home and rest.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Use medicines for fever or aches and pains. Try acetaminophen (like Tylenol) or ibuprofen (like Advil). Do not give aspirin to a child or teen—it increases the risk for a serious problem called Reye's syndrome.
- Try cold medicine. Talk with your doctor about the best medicine for your symptoms. Do not give cough medicine to children under 4 years old.
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See All 3 AnswersFlu is unpredictable, and how severe it is can vary widely from one season to the next depending on many things, including:
- What flu viruses are spreading
- How much flu vaccine is available
- When vaccine is available
- How many people get vaccinated
- How well the flu vaccine is matched to flu viruses that are causing illness.
Certain people are at greater risk for serious complications if they get the flu. This includes older people, young children, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), and persons who live in facilities like nursing homes.
Flu seasons are unpredictable and can be severe. Over a period of 30 years, between 1976 and 2006, estimates of flu-associated deaths in the United States range from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people.
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Symptoms of influenza can include:
- fever
- cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
- body aches
- headache
- chills
- fatigue
- some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea.
People may be infected with the flu and have some symptoms without a fever.
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4 AnswersA
RealAge answeredSee All 4 AnswersSome cold symptoms and flu symptoms are the same. This list will assist you in determining whether your symptoms are likely to be due to a cold or an influenza virus.
Symptoms of the flu include:
- decreased appetite
- runny or congested nose
- red eyes
- sneezing
- headache
- general body ache
- dry cough
- sudden onset of symptoms
- pain around or behind the eyes
- fever of 101 degrees to 104 degrees
- intestinal disturbance
- vomiting
- fatigue
- gradual onset of symptoms
- sore throat
- decreased appetite
- runny or congested nose
- red eyes
- sneezing
- headache
- general body ache
- dry cough