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Symptoms of the flu, also known as influenza, can come on quickly, often bringing a combination of fatigue, chills, body aches, cough, headache or fever. The sudden shift from feeling well to feeling significantly sick sets the flu apart from a typical cold. Yesterday you felt fine. This morning your legs ache, your head pounds and getting out of bed feels almost impossible.
Symptoms of the flu can overlap with other respiratory illnesses like a cold, RSV or COVID-19. Knowing what to watch for can help you decide how to manage your symptoms, whether testing may be useful and when it’s time to contact your doctor.
A rapid onset of symptoms is common with influenza. However, there is no single symptom that proves you have the flu. Even a combination of classic flu symptoms cannot confirm the virus on its own, and several respiratory illnesses have similar symptoms to the flu.
Testing is one way to detect influenza. A quick swab test performed by your doctor, a visit to urgent care or with an at-home test can check for flu. Influenza viruses can be detected in most infected persons beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick.
The flu is contagious and people with the flu are generally most contagious during the first three days of illness. However, you can spread influenza before you realize you are sick.
Flu is most common from fall through early spring, with activity often peaking during the winter. It spreads easily among people who spend time together at home, work, school and other shared spaces, primarily through respiratory droplets released when someone with influenza coughs, sneezes or talks. You can also become infected after touching a surface contaminated with the virus and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
Flu symptoms can look a little different from one person to the next. You may have several symptoms at once or only a few. The most common flu symptoms include:
Some people, especially children, also develop vomiting or diarrhea with the flu. And while fever is common, you can still have the flu without one.
One of the early clues that typically point towards the flu is how quickly you start feeling sick. Your first symptoms may not include everything you associate with the flu. You might initially notice a headache and unusual tiredness, followed by chills, body aches, a cough or fever over a relatively short period of time.
Influenza A and influenza B are the two main types of flu viruses. Flu A is the more common of the two main flu types, which can infect not only humans, but also animals such as birds and pigs.
From a symptom standpoint, there is no reliable way to tell whether you have flu A or flu B just by how you feel. Both can cause the familiar flu symptoms of fever or chills, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache and fatigue. Testing is needed to identify the type of influenza virus you have.
For many people, most flu symptoms improve within several days. Uncomplicated flu symptoms typically resolve within about three to seven days, although some symptoms like a cough or fatigue can stick around longer.
The stages of flu recovery do not always happen in a predictable pattern. You may have a few days of feeling very unwell, followed by gradual improvement in your energy and appetite.
Pay attention to the overall direction of your symptoms. Improvement over time is generally what you want to see. Symptoms that get better and then return or become continuously worse are worth discussing with your doctor, as they might signal a complication.
Your best bet to lower your chance of getting sick with influenza is by getting a flu shot every year. You may still get the flu, but your symptoms are likely to be much milder if you are vaccinated.
Avoiding large crowds during flu epidemics can also lower your risk. Staying away from others who are coughing or sneezing is also a good idea during flu season. Frequent hand washing can also lower your exposure to the influenza virus.
Staying healthy with good sleep habits, regular exercise and a diet of nutritious and good-for-you foods can also keep your immune system revved up and more likely to fight off an attack of the virus.
In most cases, symptoms of the flu can be managed at home. It’s important to give your body time to recover and focus on staying comfortable and hydrated.
Rest as much as you can, especially during the first few days when fatigue and body aches may be strongest. Drink enough fluids to help prevent dehydration, such as warm broths, tea or electrolyte drinks, and choose foods that are easy to tolerate when your appetite is low.
Certain over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help relieve symptoms such as fever, aches, headache or congestion. Follow the package directions and check the ingredients of combination cold and flu products you may also be taking so you do not accidentally take more of the same medicine than recommended.
Antibiotics do not treat influenza because flu is caused by a virus. Some prescription antiviral medicines are available for flu and can make your illness milder and shorten the amount of time you are sick. They work best when started within one to two days after symptoms begin.
Most people with flu have a mild illness and recover without medical care or antiviral treatment. Still, some situations call for a conversation with your doctor.
Timing matters most for people who are at higher risk of serious flu complications, including older adults, young children, pregnant people and people with certain chronic health conditions.
Contact your doctor if you develop flu symptoms and are at higher risk for complications, feel very sick or have concerns about how your illness is progressing. Early contact is especially useful when antiviral treatment could be appropriate, as these medicines work best when started soon after symptoms begin.
Seek emergency medical care for symptoms such as:
These warning signs can indicate a more serious complication and should not be ignored.
Flu can leave you feeling significantly different from your usual self, often within a matter of hours. Pay attention to when your symptoms started, how they are changing and whether you have risk factors that make complications more likely. When you need a clearer answer, testing and guidance from your doctor can help you determine the next step.
Once you have recovered, consider getting a flu shot, since protection against other flu strains is still worth having later in the season.
Home sick with the flu? Get same-day care using our virtual care or find an Urgent Care+ location near you.
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