All Flu Symptoms & Complications

Flu Symptoms

Flu (influenza) can make gentle serious disease, and now and again can prompt demise. Influenza is not the same as a virus. Influenza as a rule goes ahead out of nowhere. Individuals who have influenza frequently feel a few of these symptoms:

• fever* or feeling feverish/chills
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• muscle or body aches
• headaches
• fatigue (tiredness)
• some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

The vast majority who get influenza will recuperate in a couple of days to under about fourteen days, yet a few people will create inconveniences, (for example, pneumonia) because of influenza, some of which can be hazardous and bring about death.

Sinus and ear infections are examples of moderate complications from flu, while pneumonia is a serious flu complication that can result from either influenza virus infection alone or from co-infection of flu virus and bacteria. Other possible serious complications triggered by flu can include inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), brain (encephalitis) or muscle (myositis, rhabdomyolysis) tissues, and multi-organ failure (for example, respiratory and kidney failure). Flu virus infection of the respiratory tract can trigger an extreme inflammatory response in the body and can lead to sepsis, the body’s life-threatening response to infection. Flu also can make chronic medical problems worse. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they have flu, and people with chronic heart disease may experience a worsening of this condition triggered by flu.

People at High Risk from Flu

Anybody can become ill with influenza (even sound individuals), and significant issues identified with influenza can occur at any age, however, a few people are at high danger of creating genuine influenza-related intricacies on the off chance that they become ill. This incorporates individuals 65 years and more seasoned, individuals of all ages with certain incessant ailments, (for example, asthma, diabetes, or coronary illness), pregnant ladies and kids more youthful than 5 years, yet particularly those more youthful than 2 years of age.

What are the emergency warning signs of flu?

People experiencing these warning signs should obtain medical care right away.

In children

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish lips or face
• Ribs pulling in with each breath
• Chest pain
• Severe muscle pain (child refuses to walk)
• Dehydration (no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, no tears when crying)
• Not alert or interacting when awake
• Seizures
• Fever above 104°F
• In children less than 12 weeks, and fever
• Fever or cough that improves but then returns or worsen
• Worsening of chronic medical conditions

In adults

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Persistent dizziness, confusion, inability to arouse
• Seizures
• Not urinating
• Severe muscle pain
• Severe weakness or unsteadiness
• Fever or cough that improves but then returns or worsen
• Worsening of chronic medical conditions

These lists are not all-inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptom that is severe or concerning.

Cold vs Flu

cold vs flu

Signs and Symptoms	Cold	Influenza (Flu)
Symptom onset	Gradual	Abrupt
Fever	Rare	Usual; lasts 3-4 days
Aches	Slight	Usual; often severe
Chills	Uncommon	Fairly common
Fatigue, weakness	Sometimes	Usual
Sneezing	Common	Sometimes
Chest discomfort, cough	Mild to a moderate; hacking cough	Common; can be severe
Stuffy nose	Common	Sometimes
Sore throat	Common	Sometimes
Headache	Rare	Common