Cold & Flu Symptoms

What are the symptoms of the flu?

The flu often comes on suddenly, and may include the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Stomach ailments (nausea and diarrhea), more common in children than adults

Having some of these flu symptoms does not necessarily mean you have been infected with the flu, as these can also be related to other illnesses.

How do I know if I have the flu?

If you have a sudden appearance of some or all of the flu symptoms listed above during the typical flu season, you may have the flu. However, symptoms alone are not enough to diagnose the flu. Doctors do have diagnostic tests that can identify influenza, but the tests must be administered in the first few days of your illness.

How can I protect my children from getting the flu?

To protect your children from getting influenza, teach them to:

• Cover their nose and mouth when coughing and/or sneezing. If a tissue is used, it should be thrown away.
• Wash their hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing into them.
• Keep hands away from their eyes, nose, and mouth to prevent the spread of germs.
• The best method of flu prevention is to have your children get the flu vaccine. In early 2017, a study in pediatrics was done which showed that giving your child the flu vaccine significantly reduced the child's risk of dying from the flu.
• If your child (including teenagers) has flu-like symptoms, do not give him/her aspirin to treat those symptoms (especially a fever), as influenza and aspirin can be associated with a a rare but serious disease, Reye syndrome. Children with the flu should get lots of rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take medicines that do not contain aspirin.

How should I treat the flu?

If you get the flu, you should get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, avoid the use of tobacco and alcohol, and take medications to treat your symptoms.

Doctors can prescribe antiviral drugs to help treat the disease.