What are the Flu Like Symptoms?

With flu season approaching, more and more people are asking what are flu-like symptoms to be looking out for? Flu-like symptoms are very similar to symptoms of the common cold.

What are flu-like symptoms? According to the CDC, both the common cold and flu-like symptoms may include the following:

Fever
Body Aches
Shivering and Chills
Extreme Tiredness
Dry Cough
Loss of Appetite
Diarrhea and Vomiting (mainly in children)

It is important to note that flu-like symptoms are common to many types of respiratory infections, such as the common cold.¹ The body often fights off many different types of infections with a similar set of responses, such as the ones listed above.

What Are Flu-Like Symptoms? How to Find Out If It's the Flu
If flu-like symptoms listed above, or any combination of them, are being experienced, it is important that a physician is seen and a flu test is given to determine if it is the flu, a cold, or something else. The ability for a doctor to conduct an in-office flu test is now easier than ever. A rapid flu test can help a doctor determine if a patient has flu or not in just 10 minutes.

The QuickVue® Influenza A+B flu test is an easy-to-use test that a doctor can perform in minutes. It is safe to use, easy to conduct, and provides results in 10 minutes. If the doctor is able to make a diagnosis within the first 48 hours, there are a few more options for treatment which can shorten the duration of flu symptoms and the virus itself. It is important to get a flu test within the first 48 hours after the patient experiences flu-like symptoms. One option a doctor may choose is the use of an antiviral like Tamiflu, which may help shorten the duration of the flu. According to the CDC, in adults, the use of antiviral medication can reduce illness severity and shorten the duration of the flu-like symptoms.²

The important first step may be to have a physician conduct a QuickVue rapid flu test. Second, the physician may prescribe Tamiflu to help a patient get over the flu more quickly. Third, it is important that the patient gets plenty of rest and fluids during the duration of the flu.

What Are Flu-Like Symptoms? Who is Most at Risk?
Seasonal flu can affect everyone in every age group. According to the CDC, those most at risk of contracting seasonal flu and potentially developing complications are children 6 to 60 months of age, pregnant women, people 50 years of age or older, people with chronic medical conditions in any age group, and people living in nursing homes or any type of long care facilities. If you develop flu-like symptoms and are concerned about your illness, especially if you are at high risk for complications of the flu, you should consult your healthcare provider. Furthermore, the CDC states that most people who get influenza will feel better in a few days to less than 2 weeks, but some people will develop life-threatening complications as a result of the flu. This is why it is important to get an accurate diagnosis of the seasonal flu to enable a physician to take the appropriate next steps for each individual case.²

¹http://www.flutest.com/flu-facts/flu-symptoms.htm

²http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms.htm