In this Article

• What is influenza?
• What are the causes of the flu?
• What are flu symptoms?
• What is the key to flu prevention?
• Are any side effects associated with the flu vaccine?
• Why should the flu vaccine be taken every year?
• What are some treatments an individual can do at home for the flu?
• When should a person go to the emergency department for the flu?
• Who should receive the flu vaccine? When should someone get the flu shot?
• What is the bird (avian) flu?
• Do antiviral agents protect people from the flu?
• Is it safe to get a flu shot that contains thimerosal?
• Where can I find additional information about the flu?
• Flu (Influenza, Conventional and H1N1) At A Glance
• Pictures of Natural Cold & Flu Remedies - Slideshow
• Patient Discussions: Flu (Influenza) - Symptoms You Experienced
• Influenza Glossary
• Influenza Index

What are flu symptoms?

Typical clinical features of influenza include

• fever (usually 100 F-103 F in adults and often even higher in children),
• respiratory symptoms such as
• cough,
• sore throat,
• runny or stuffy nose,
• headache,
• muscle aches, and
• fatigue, sometimes extreme.

Although nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can sometimes accompany influenza infection, especially in children, gastrointestinal symptoms are rarely prominent. The term "stomach flu" is a misnomer that is sometimes used to describe gastrointestinal illnesses caused by other microorganisms. Novel H1N1 infections cause more nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea than the conventional (seasonal) flu viruses.

Most people who get the flu recover completely in one to two weeks, but some people develop serious and potentially life-threatening medical complications, such as pneumonia. In an average year, influenza is associated with about 36,000 deaths nationwide and many more hospitalizations. Flu-related complications can occur at any age; however, the elderly and people with chronic health problems are much more likely to develop serious complications after the conventional influenza infections than are younger, healthier people. However, the novel H1N1 virus has initially developed a different pattern of infection. Unfortunately, the pattern of infection is similar to that of the 1918 "Spanish flu" pandemic in which young people (pregnant individuals, infants, teens, and adults through age 49) are the most susceptible populations worldwide.

Flu (Influenza) - Symptoms You Experienced

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Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• oseltamivir, Tamiflu - Learn about Tamiflu (oseltavivir), a drug prescribed for the treatment of flu infections including H1N1 (swine flu) infections. Tamiflu is recommended for pregnant women, adults, and children one year of age or older.
• Flu Vaccine - Get the facts about influenza vaccine (flu shot) ingredients, side effects and vaccination effectiveness. Learn who should (children, pregnant women, elderly) and shouldn't get a flu shot.
• Swine Flu - Get the facts on swine flu (swine influenza A H1N1 virus) history, symptoms, how this contagious infection is transmitted, prevention with a vaccine, diagnosis, treatment, news and research.

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