It can be hard to tell the difference between the flu and the common cold, since the symptoms can be similar. But if you know the warning signs of flu, you can get treatment quickly and work on feeling better, sooner.
What Do You Need to Know About Flu Symptoms?
Unlike a cold, flu symptoms usually come on suddenly. Another key sign is a fever, which may not happen with a cold. You might also have:
- Severe aches in your joints and muscles
- Pain and tiredness around your eyes
- Weakness or fatigue
- Warm, flushed skin and red, watery eyes
- Headache
- Dry cough
- Sore throat and runny nose
Adults with seasonal flu don’t usually vomit or have diarrhea, but children might. Some symptoms can mean your illness is severe. Get immediate medical help if you have any of the following:
- Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in your chest or belly
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe vomiting
Will Your Symptoms Get Worse?
You Think You Have the Flu. Now What?
In most cases, the best way to treat the flu is to:
- Rest at home.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Avoid contact with other people.
But people who are very sick or who have other medical conditions may need treatment with prescription medications, called antiviral drugs.
Antiviral drugs -- Relenza and Tamiflu -- are most effective when you take them within 48 hours after you start showing symptoms of flu. They can shorten the length of your illness by 1 day if you take them within this early window. They may also help even after the 2 days, especially in people who are very sick.
Your doctor may want you to take antiviral drugs if you have a high risk of complications from the flu.
When Is Flu Season?
Seasonal flu follows a fairly predictable pattern, starting in the fall and ending in the spring. A good sign that it’s started is the sudden rise in the number of school-aged children sick at home with flu-like illness. This first outbreak is soon followed by a flu uptick in other age groups, especially adults.
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