What are the warning signs of the flu?
- Scratchy throat
- Lower back pain
- Runny nose/congestion
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Sneezing
- Night sweats
- Body aches
Is a really bad flu season on the way?
very hard with hospitalization,” explained Dr. Keating. Flu season is unpredictable, so we’re not sure how widespread it will be this year, but cases are starting to pop up. RELATED: 'It didn't hurt that bad': Hundreds of Ottawa County children ...
What are the most common flu symptoms?
The most common symptoms of the flu include:
- Body aches
- Chills
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Headache
Do people throw up with the flu?
Vomiting while you're sick with the stomach flu is a terrible feeling, and it can leave you weak and dehydrated. Thankfully, experts note that there are a few ways you can reduce your chances of vomiting when you have the stomach flu.
Can flu-like symptoms come and go?
Flu: Comes on Fast and Furious Symptoms like sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches, congestion, and cough tend to come on suddenly. Colds are usually less intense and include a runny or stuffy nose. The flu gets better over 2 to 5 days, but you might feel run-down for a week or longer.
Why does my flu keep coming back?
If your symptoms persist more than 10 days or keep coming back, then something else may be going on, such as allergies, sinusitis, or a secondary infection.
Can flu come back after a week?
It is not unusual for the flu to last longer than a week, so slow healing is not necessarily a bad sign. However, if the symptoms continue to get worse after a week, it may be best to see a doctor.
Can you get flu twice in 2 weeks?
While two flu outbreaks overlap one another, raising your possibilities of catching the flu infection twice, the chances of you catching the flu virus twice may still be rare.
Can you get the flu again after you just had it?
I'll start with the bad news. It is possible to get the flu twice during the same flu season. Since there are two types of flu strains – influenza A and influenza B – if you get influenza A, you can also get influenza B.
What should I do when I'm sick?
What should I do while I’m sick? Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. If you must leave home, for example to get medical care, wear a facemask if you have one, or cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Wash your hands often to keep from spreading flu to others.
Can the flu cause death?
Influenza (flu) can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death . Flu is different from a cold. Flu usually comes on suddenly. People who have flu often feel some or all of these symptoms: Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
Can you go to the emergency room if you are sick?
No. The emergency room should be used for people who are very sick. You should not go to the emergency room if you are only mildly ill. If you have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness, you should go to the emergency room. If you get sick with flu symptoms and are at high risk of flu complications or you are concerned about your illness, ...
Can you take Aspirin with the flu?
CDC also recommends that children and teenagers (anyone aged 18 years and younger) who have flu or are suspected to have flu should not be given Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) or any salicylate containing products (e.g. Pepto Bismol); this can cause a rare, very serious complication called Reye’s syndrome.
The Flu Explained
The flu is a viral infection that can infect your nose, throat, and lungs. 1 It’s contagious and can easily spread from person to person. In most cases, the flu isn’t a reason for serious concern. That being said, it’s important to be careful and take preventive measures to protect yourself from the virus—especially during cold and flu season.
What Are Some Common Flu Symptoms?
Even if you’ve had the flu before, it’s not always easy to identify flu symptoms. Flu and cold can present themselves in similar ways. With both cold and flu, you may experience cough, stuffy nose, and sore throat. 3 However, cold symptoms are usually milder than flu symptoms and come with a more gradual onset.
Flu Recovery Timeline
In general, flu symptoms appear from one to four days after virus exposure and last around five to seven days. 5 Symptom duration may vary depending on the person. Here is a general overview to the stages of flu recovery: 6
Flu Recovery Tips
Recovery can feel as if it’s taking a long time, but try to be patient. In the meantime, here are some tips to help you through the various stages of flu recovery:
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Learn how to recover from flu with tips for flu recovery from Theraflu. From hydration to sleep, we'll have you on the way to flu recovery in no time.
What are the symptoms of pneumonia?
Typically pneumonia symptoms are fever, cough, body aches, headache, decrease appetite (sounds like flu!). If you are not in a high risk group (see above) the first time you experience flu symptoms and wish to rely on home remedies that is great. The high risk patients with flu, should be seen as soon as possible after the onset ...
How long does it take for oseltamivir to work?
The only treatment option, oseltamivir must be started within 48 hours to provide any effect and then on average it only speeds recovery by one day.
What are the symptoms of the flu?
Headache, sudden high fever, body aches, chills, and tiredness are among the most common initial symptoms of the flu. 2 . Once you realize you may be sick with the flu, call your doctor, especially if you have asthma or an other condition that puts you at higher risk for related complications.
How long can you be contagious with the flu?
People with the flu may be contagious anywhere between the day before to seven days after their symptoms appear.
What is flu day?
Flu Day 0. The day before any influenza symptoms appear, you are already contagious. You feel fine and go about your daily life without realizing you are about to get sick. 1 You likely came in contact with someone who was contagious with the flu in the past 48 hours.
What happens on day 4 of a syringe?
On day four, you may start to feel a little better during the day. At this point, your fever is likely to have broken and your body aches should be lessening. Congestion may be starting to loosen up, making your cough more productive and possibly worse than the day before. 5 .
How do you get the flu?
A person can also get the flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes. 2 .
How does the flu affect people in 2020?
Not everyone who gets the flu will have the same symptoms, and how sick you feel—and for how long that's the case—can vary from person to person. That said, the flu typically cycles through a set of stages and follows a usual day-by-day progression.
How long does it take to get antiviral medication?
Getting antiviral medications within the first 48 hours of symptom onset can help prevent complications and shorten the duration of your illness. 3 .
How long should you stay home from work after the flu?
Note: Not everyone with flu will have a fever. Individuals with suspected or confirmed flu, who do not have a fever, should stay home from work at least 4-5 days after the onset of symptoms.
How long after a fever is gone can you stay home?
Advise all employees to stay home if they are sick until at least 24 hours after their fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicines, or after symptoms have improved (at least 4-5 days after flu symptoms started).
How does flexible leave work?
Flexible leave policies and alternate work schedules will help prevent the spread of flu at your workplace, allow employees to continue to work or function while limiting contact with others, help maintain continuity of operations, and help people manage their health and their family’s needs. Footnote.
How long should employees stay home after a fever?
What Employees Should Know. All employees should stay home if they are sick until at least 24 hours after their fever* (temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius or higher) is gone.
Can you work if you have the flu?
Therefore, any worker who has flu symptoms should stay home and not come to work. It is possible that employees will need to take care of sick household members or care for children if schools are dismissed or early childhood programs are closed.
How long does it take for a person to get the flu?
It may take one to four days after exposure to the influenza virus for symptoms to develop. If you have the flu, you’ll be contagious. Trusted Source. one day before developing symptoms and up to five to seven days after becoming ill. Younger children or people with a weakened immune system may be contagious for longer.
How long does it take for a cold to go away?
Cold symptoms will typically resolve in about 7 to 10 days and tend to not come on as fast as the flu. Flu symptoms may last for a couple of weeks. Learn more about the differences between a cold and the flu.
How long does it take for an antiviral to work?
They don’t kill the influenza virus, however. Antiviral medications must be taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms in order to be effective.
How long can a virus live on a doorknob?
The influenza virus can also survive on surfaces, such as doorknobs and tables, for up to 24 hours. Viruses live longer on materials such as stainless steel, plastic, and other hard surfaces.
How long does a cough last?
However, a cough and feelings of weakness or fatigue can last for two weeks or longer .
What to do if you have a fever and you are sick?
Treatment and home remedies. If you’re sick, be sure to drink plenty of liquids and get plenty of rest. You can also take over-the-counter pain and fever relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), to help relieve your symptoms.
Can ear infections cause death?
Serious flu-related complications can lead to hospitalization and even death. Additionally, flu infection may make preexisting conditions worse.
How long does it take to recover from a cold?
How quickly you recover from a cold or the flu depends on how healthy you are. In general, healthy people usually get over a cold in 7 to 10 days. Flu symptoms, including fever, should go away after about 5 days, but you may still have a cough and feel weak a few days longer. All your symptoms should be gone within 1 to 2 weeks.
How far away can you get the flu?
Like the common cold, the flu is caused by a virus, and it's likely to spread through coughs, sneezes, or even talking. Those actions can send droplets up to 6 feet away. It's also possible to get the flu by touching something with the virus on it and then touching your mouth or nose, but that's less likely.
How long should a child stay home with strep throat?
If they have a mild cold, they can go to school. If your child has been diagnosed with strep throat, keep them at home for at least 24 hours after they start antibiotics. Pinkeye ( conjunctivitis) is contagious, and a child should stay home for the first 24 hours after treatment begins. Symptoms include eye redness, irritation, swelling, and pus.
How long does it take for a cold to spread?
Colds are most contagious in the first 2 to 4 days after symptoms start. But they can spread up to a few weeks after that. Your symptoms will usually show up 2 to 3 days after you've been infected, so you may not know you're sick when you first get the virus. You can give other people your cold just by being around them.
How far can a virus travel through the air?
Your sneezes and coughs can send virus particles as far as 12 feet through the air where they can land in someone's mouth or nose or be inhaled into the lungs. Others can also catch your cold if they touch you or something you've come into contact with and then touch their mouth or nose.
Is it safe to stay home with mucus?
Experts generally agree that it's best to stay home as long as you have severe symptoms, like a cough with mucus, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or fatigue, because you may be contagious.
Can you give a child a fever?
Some people never show symptoms but can still give it to others. If your child is sick, it's best for them to stay home until they feel well again. If they have a fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or any kind of pain, aren't hungry, or seem extra tired or clingy, they should stay home.
How to predict how long the flu will last?
To better predict how long the flu will last, take steps to reduce your risk of contracting the virus and experiencing severe symptoms. Consider the following steps, as suggested in the Harvard Special Report A Guide to Women's Health: Fifty and Forward. Get an annual flu vaccine. Wash your hands with soap and water before eating ...
How long does it take for a flu shot to show symptoms?
Symptoms usually appear from one to four days after exposure to the virus, and they last five to seven days. For people who've had a flu shot, the symptoms may last a shorter amount of time, or be less severe. For other people, the symptoms may last longer. Even when symptoms resolve, you may continue to feel fatigued.
What to take for fever and aches?
Take pain relievers to lower your fever and relieve the aches, such as: If you are at high risk of complications, and if it is early in the infection, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral drug for treating flu, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu, generic versions).
What are the risks of the flu?
Some people are at increased risk for complications from influenza. These people include: 1 the very young 2 people 65 or older 3 people with chronic illnesses, such as asthma, heart disease, HIV, or diabetes 4 pregnant women 5 people with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher
Do smokers get the flu?
Smokers are more likely to get the flu than nonsmokers. These steps won't guarantee that you'll escape the flu this year, but they may help prevent it. And they may help reduce the amount of time the flu lasts if you do become infected with the virus. – By Heidi Godman. Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter.