Flu symptoms, like a high-grade fever, sore throat, body aches, persistent dry cough, sneezing and a runny or stuffy nose, may appear 2 to 3 days after initial contact with a person infected with the influenza virus.
To relieve flu symptoms, you can start by reducing your fever by taking a lukewarm or mildly cold shower or placing damp cloths on your forehead and armpits. To unclog a stuffy nose, you can inhale steam, while also ensuring you are getting plenty of rest and fluids.
It is important to consult your general practitioner for assessment if you experience moderate to intense flu symptoms to determine the underlying cause, as other upper respiratory infections, like COVID-19 or a cold, can present similarly.
Online symptoms checker
To determine whether your symptoms may be related to a flu infection, enter your symptoms below:
Please note that this symptoms quiz is only a guidance tool and does not provide a diagnosis or replace a doctor's assessment.
Main symptoms
The flu virus can cause symptoms like:
- Fever, normally between 100.4ºF and 104 (or 38ºC and 40ºC)
- Chills
- Headache
- Persistent dry cough
- Sneezing and runny or blocked nose
- Sore throat
- Muscle aches, usually felt in the back and legs
- Loss of appetite
- Body aches or general discomfort
- Fatigue or weakness
Other flu symptoms that may appear are vomiting or diarrhea, which is more common in children.
Symptoms of the common flu can be felt about 2 to 3 days after initial contact with the flu virus. Other factors, like having a cold or exposure to pollution, can also increase your risk for contacting the flu.
Difference between a cold and a flu
Unlike the flu, a cold generally does not cause a fever and is not associated with symptoms like diarrhea, severe headache and difficulty breathing.
In general, a cold infection lasts about 5 days, but in some cases, a runny nose, sneezing and coughing can last for up to 2 weeks.
Read more about the difference between a cold and a flu and how these can present.
Difference between flu, dengue and Zika
The main difference between the flu dengue and Zika is that dengue and Zika can present with itching and red spots on the skin in addition to the common flu symptoms. Zika takes around 7 days to resolve, while dengue symptoms are more intense and only improve after about 7 to 15 days.
How long does the flu last?
Flu symptoms appear suddenly and usually last 2 to 7 days. In general, the fever lasts about 3 days, while other symptoms disappear around 3 days after the fever subsides.
Relieving flu symptoms
To recover from an intense flu infection, it is important to rest, drink plenty of water and, if recommended by a doctor, take medication (like acetaminophen and ibuprofen) to reduce fever and discomfort. The doctor may prescribe antiviral medicines, such as oseltamivir, in in specific cases
Check-out ways to relieve specific symptoms below:
1. Fever and chills
To manage a fever and chills, you can take antipyretic medications, like acetaminophen, as prescribed by your doctor
Some natural ways to reduce fever and regulate your body temperature include taking a lukewarm or slightly cool shower and placing damp washcloths on your forehead and armpits.
Also recommended: Chills: 7 Common Causes & What to Do tuasaude.com/en/chills2. Stuffy nose and sneezing
To improve breathing, you can boil water to inhale its steam, or perform a nebulization with saline solution. Nasal irrigation with a saline solution can also be beneficial.
You can also use a nasal decongestant, with oxymetazoline, for example, being sure to use it for only a maximum of 5 days to reduce the risk for rebound effects.
Check-out other natural ways to clear a stuffy nose.
3. Cough
To reduce coughing and thin-out any phlegm, you should drink plenty of water and prepare teas that can soothe your throat, like honey and lemon tea, cinnamon and clove tea, and nettle tea. Read about other teas for a sore throat that you can prepare.
You can also take cough syrup as recommended by your doctor to help relieve coughs and get rid of phlegm.
Also recommended: Yellow, Green, Brown & White Phlegm: What Phlegm Color Means tuasaude.com/en/what-your-phlegm-color-means4. Headache and muscle pain
Some tips for relieving a headache include resting, drinking tea (e.g. chamomile tea), and placing a damp cloth on your forehead. If the pain is severe, you can take medications like naproxen or ibuprofen, as advised by your doctor.
5. Sore throat
A sore throat can be relieved by gargling with warm water and salt, as well as drinking teas for a sore throat, such as mint or ginger teas. In cases where the pain is very severe or does not improve, you should consult a doctor, as medications may be needed to help manage pain.
Check-out other home remedies for a sore throat that you can use to complement your medical treatment.
Flu in pregnant women, children and the elderly
A flu infection in specific populations, like pregnant women, children and older adults, can present with more intense symptoms. These populations are also more likely to experiencing vomiting and diarrhea, due to a weaker immune system which triggers other defense mechanisms to eliminate the virus.
Pregnant women and children should see a doctor for assessment if they present with flu symptoms, as they may require more targeted treatment to reduce the risk for complications.
Also recommended: Flu Medicine: 6 Medications You Can Take tuasaude.com/en/flu-medicineWhen to go to the doctor
Although a flu can be treated at home with conservative measures, you should see a doctor if:
- The flu takes more than 3 days to improve
- Symptoms continue to worsen instead of improve
- Other symptoms appear such as chest pain, night sweats, fever above 104ºF (or 40ºC), shortness of breath or a cough with green phlegm
In addition, children, older adults and patients with risk factors, such as asthma and other types of respiratory problems, should get a flu shot every year.