Flu Symptoms and Severity
Flu Symptoms
Influenza (also known as the flu) is a communicable respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The flu is different from a cold. The flu typically comes on suddenly and may include these symptoms –
o Fever (usually high)
o Headache
o Extreme tiredness
o Dry cough
o Sore throat
o Runny or stuffy nose
o Muscle aches
o Stomach signs, like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults
These signs are generally referred to as “influenza-like signs.”
Whoever Can Get the Flu, But the Illness Is More Severe for Some Individuals
Most people who get influenza will recover in a few days to less than 2 weeks, but some people will create life-threatening complications (such as pneumonia) thus of the flu. Millions of people in the USA - about 5 percent to 20 percent of USA residents - will get influenza each year.
An averageof about 36,000 individuals per year in the U.S. die from influenza-related causes, and more than 200,000 have to be admitted to the hospital as a result of influenza-related causes. Whoever can get the flu (even healthful individuals ), and serious problems from influenza can happen at any age.
Individuals age 65 years and older, people of any age with chronic health conditions, pregnant women, and young children are more likely to get complications from influenza. Pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus and ear infections are three examples of complications from flu. The flu could make chronic health problems worse.
For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they’ve the flu, and people with chronic congestive heart failure might have worsening of this condition that is triggered by the flu.
How to Know when You Have the Flu
Your respiratory illness may be the flu if you have sudden onset of body aches, high fever, and respiratory symptoms, and your illness occurs during the usual flu season in the Northern Hemisphere. However, during this time, other respiratory illnesses can cause similar symptoms to the flu.
Further, flu can also occur outside of the averageflu season. It is impossible to tell for sure when you’ve the flu based on symptoms alone. Doctors can perform tests to see when you’ve the flu when you are in the first few days of your illness.
Flu is a serious disease and it’s important to act to protect yourself. When you do get sick, notwithstanding, there are steps you can take to treat the flu.
Content Source – Coordinating Center for Infectious Illnesses (CCID)