Flu
About the Flu
The flu normally lasts for 5 to 10 days and will likely not need a trip to the doctor's office. Click here for tips for relief of your flu symptoms and for information on when to see your doctor.
Just about anyone can catch the flu. The flu is highly contagious and you can catch it from shaking hands with a person who has the flu, or when they cough or sneeze close by. You can also catch it when you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth. This means that preventing the flu is very important.
While you can catch the flu anytime during the year, you’re more likely to catch it during the fall or winter when:
- People spend more time indoors — which makes it easier for a virus to spread from person to person.
- Viruses survive better due to winter’s low humidity.
- Cold weather dries out your nasal passages and makes them more susceptible to viral infections.
Common causes of the flu
Influenza (or simply “the flu”) is caused by three different viruses: influenza types A, B and C. Types A and B change constantly, so it’s easy to understand why getting the flu once doesn’t mean you’re immune to getting it again. In fact, you’re susceptible to the flu throughout your entire lifetime. This also explains why you may need to get a flu vaccine (which includes influenza types A and B) every year. Influenza type C is not included in the flu vaccine because it causes a mild form of influenza that may not even result in symptoms.
Common symptoms of the flu
The flu is an infection of your respiratory tract (including your throat and chest) but your entire body may show symptoms. Flu symptoms are very similar to cold symptoms but flu symptoms are likely more severe:
- Sudden onset of a high fever (39°C to 40°C) that can last for up to 4 days
- Moderate to severe headache and body aches
- Chills
- Runny and/or stuffy nose that produces a clear and watery discharge
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Extreme tiredness and general weakness
- Chest discomfort
- Cough, which can become severe
- Loss of appetite.
You may have noticed that an upset stomach, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are not included in the list of flu symptoms. This is because the flu rarely causes stomach upset. What many of us call the “stomach flu” is more likely gastroenteritis or food poisoning and may not be the flu at all.
The difference between a cold, flu and allergies
There’s a difference between a cold and flu and allergies. While both colds and flus are caused by viruses and there are many symptoms that are similar, flu symptoms have a sudden onset and are more severe. Symptoms that do not usually show up with great severity with a cold, but can occur with a flu are: moderate to severe headaches, body aches, a high fever that lasts for up to four days, or extreme fatigue. With a cold, on the other hand, you’ll likely suffer from less severe symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, stuffy nose, nasal congestion, sore throat and dry cough. Click here for more information on the flu, including tips for relief of your flu symptoms
You could also be experiencing allergies if you:
- Think you suffer from frequent colds (especially during the spring and summer)
- Suddenly develop sneezing, runny nose or itchy, watery eyes
- Suffer from sneezing, runny nose or itchy, watery eyes for weeks or months at a time
Click here for more information on allergies, including tips for relief of your allergy symptoms.
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