Whether you or a loved one already have influenza and are looking for ways to ease the symptoms, or you want to know more about flu prevention ahead of flu season, you’ll find the answers in this influenza guide.
- What Is Influenza?
- Signs and Symptoms of the Flu
- How to Treat the Flu
- How to Prevent the Flu
- FAQs about the Flu
What Is Influenza?
Influenza—often shortened to the “flu”—is a contagious respiratory virus that can cause mild to severe illness. Health experts believe that the flu spreads through droplets produced when people talk, sneeze, or cough. While the flu virus can be caught any time of the year, it’s most common from mid-fall to early spring, often peaking from December through February.
Who Can Get the Flu?
People of all ages, including those who are considered healthy, can catch the flu. However, there are certain groups who have increased risk of developing more severe cases of influenza or flu-related complications, including:
- Children younger than 5
- Seniors older than 65
- Those with chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, or asthma
- Those who are overweight or obese
- Those who are pregnant
Are There Different Types of Flu?
There are four different types of influenza viruses: A, B, C, and D. These viruses mutate constantly, meaning there are several strains of influenza each year. The most common strains are caused by the Influenza A and Influenza B viruses, which contribute to the winter flu season in the U.S.
You may have heard of people getting the “stomach flu,” but this is actually a misnomer. While influenza can sometimes cause diarrhea and vomiting among children, the “stomach flu” is unrelated to the influenza virus. It’s a stomach infection—not a respiratory infection—caused by norovirus, food poisoning, or other gastrointestinal bugs.
Flu vs. Other Respiratory Illnesses
Many respiratory illnesses have overlapping symptoms, so it can be difficult to know which illness you or your loved one are dealing with. Here are three conditions that can feel similar to the flu.
Common Cold
While the flu and the common cold are both viral respiratory infections that typically spread in the winter, the biggest difference is that a cold progresses more gradually and has milder symptoms that rarely result in hospitalization. Health experts say that a tell-tale sign of a cold is that its symptoms often “occur from the neck up,” whereas the flu can cause fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and other symptoms throughout the body.
COVID-19
Like the flu, COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness that comes on quickly and causes symptoms such as fever, coughing, fatigue, and headaches. But with COVID-19, symptoms can appear anywhere from 2 to 14 days after exposure, while flu symptoms generally appear about 1 to 4 days after exposure. COVID-19 symptoms can also last longer and lead to more severe illness compared to the flu.
Pneumonia
Though it shares similar symptoms with the flu, pneumonia can be caused by bacteria or viruses and more often impacts the elderly and the immune-compromised It affects the lungs more deeply than the flu, often causing chest pain, difficulty breathing, or a wet, phlegmy cough. In some cases, severe cases of the flu or COVID-19 can lead to the development of pneumonia, which may cause hospitalization.
Signs and Symptoms of the Flu
Flu symptoms can vary depending on the current flu strain, age of the person infected, and severity of the infection, but there are some common signs associated with the flu, such as coughing, fever, and fatigue. Below, we break down symptoms of the flu for mild to moderate cases, as well as for more severe cases.
Symptoms of Mild to Moderate Flu
- Sudden onset of fever
- Chills or sweats (or both)
- Cough (dry or productive)
- Sore or scratchy throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Headaches
- Muscle or body aches
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Vomiting or diarrhea (more common in children)
Symptoms of Severe Flu
Sometimes, the flu can become more serious and may require medical attention, so it’s important to watch out for these emergency warning signs—especially if you or your loved one is an infant or toddler, elderly, pregnant, or immune-compromised.
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Chest pain or pressure
- Dehydration
- Confusion, dizziness, or sudden disorientation
- High fever that doesn’t improve with over-the-counter treatment
- Seizures
In children under the age of 5, these additional symptoms may present along with those listed above:
- Fast breathing or ribs pulling in with each breath
- Dry mouth, no tears when crying, or not needing to urinate
- Gray or blue lips and nail beds
- Symptoms (such as cough) that get better, then come back or get worse
Note: If you or your loved one experience any severe flu symptoms, seek emergency medical care immediately.
How to Treat the Flu
If influenza symptoms are mild to moderate, you or your loved one can often treat them at home with over-the-counter medications, rest, and other home remedies.
Prioritize Rest
You or your loved one may feel guilty about taking time off from work or other commitments to rest, but getting enough rest is important for healing when you’re feeling ill.
Stay Hydrated and Eat Well
To avoid dehydration when you or your loved one has the flu, consume plenty of fluids. This can include water, juice (without added sugar), tea, popsicles, sugar-free sports drinks (to replace electrolytes), and chicken broth. If your body is fighting the flu, it’s even more important to hydrate as your body is working overtime. Similarly, while you may lose your appetite when sick, it’s important to maintain a healthy and nutritious diet. Eating small frequent meals throughout the day when you have no appetite will help you get essential calories and nutrients which are vital to your recovery.
Consider OTC Medications
Depending on your symptoms, you may benefit from over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants, cough syrup, throat lozenges, and pain relievers like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).
Keep in mind that many OTC cold and flu medicines contain the same active ingredients. If you take several medicines with the same active ingredient, you might be overdoing it. Worse, it can cause serious health problems. Make sure to be thorough and read all labels carefully. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
If you are taking OTC or prescription medications not related to the flu, or if you have kidney disease or stomach problems, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about which cold and flu medications are safe for you.
Try Home Remedies
Pamper yourself or your loved one with comforting at-home remedies such as nasal irrigation (with a neti pot), gargling with salt water, eating warm soup (which can help open nasal passages), drinking tea with honey, or using a humidifier. While these treatments won’t cure your flu, it can provide some relief and make symptoms more manageable.
Take an Antiviral Prescription
If you or your loved one gets the flu, antiviral drugs can help treat the illness. Antiviral drugs aren't antibiotics. They're prescription medicines that aren't available over-the-counter. Studies show that flu antiviral drugs work best for treatment when started within two days of getting sick, but starting them later can still help, especially if the person is high-risk or very sick from the flu. Contact your primary care or urgent care provider.
Seek Hospitalization
If you or your loved one’s flu symptoms worsen, become severe, or exacerbate other chronic conditions, hospitalization may be necessary for oxygen support, intravenous (IV) fluids, or other medical support.
How to Prevent the Flu
Flu prevention starts at home. The following lifestyle tips can help you and your loved one reduce the likelihood of getting the flu—or further spreading the flu, if you catch it.
Be Diligent with Handwashing
Everyone comes into contact with microscopic germs and organisms on surfaces and in the air that can enter the mouth, nose, or eyes. To reduce the risk of illness, wash hands regularly, and ensure that your loved ones’ hands are clean as well. In fact, the CDC identifies handwashing as one of the most important ways to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases such as the flu. If you don’t have access to soap and water when you’re away from home, alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be a good alternative.
Avoid Close Contact When Sick (or Around Sick People)
The flu is most contagious during the first three days of a person contracting the illness, which means the infected person can spread the flu to others before they even know they’re sick. If you have the flu, the CDC suggests staying home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, except to get medical care or other necessities. While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to avoid infecting them. If you’re unable to avoid contact with others, you can also wear a mask to reduce the exchange of viruses.
Cover Coughs and Sneezes
Be sure to cover your nose and mouth with a tissue—or use your elbow—when you cough or sneeze. After coughing or sneezing, throw tissues away, wash hands with soap and water, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth to reduce the spread of germs.
Keep Surfaces Clean
Regularly disinfect high-touch areas such as doorknobs, phones, keyboards, and countertops. Other hot spots for germs you may want to consider cleaning include remote controls, stair rails, light switches, faucets, and other common areas.
Support a Healthy Immune System
Staying hydrated and eating a nutritious diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables can keep your immune system functioning properly, which can help you or your loved one fight off potential infections. It’s also good to remain active throughout the day, commit to quality sleep, and manage stress to keep immune defenses strong.
Get an Annual Flu Shot
Vaccination helps reduce the risk of getting sick and can lessen the severity of illness if you do catch the flu. The influenza vaccine is updated annually to protect against the strains expected to circulate that year. Be sure you and your loved ones get the flu shot in the fall or when your doctor recommends it.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Flu
Why do people get the flu more often in winter?
Seasonal flu begins in the fall when people start spending more time together inside, usually peaking between December and February. In addition to increased exposure to viruses, stress, lack of physical exercise, and holiday exhaustion can weaken your immune system.
How long does the flu last?
If you’ve caught the flu, you will probably start to feel better in about 5 to 7 days, though fatigue and cough can linger for a week or two longer. Recovery times vary depending on age, overall health, and whether complications develop.
How long am I contagious with the flu?
People with the flu are typically contagious about one day before symptoms appear and remain so for 5 to7 days after becoming sick.
Why won’t my doctor prescribe me an antibiotic?
The flu is caused by a strain of the influenza virus, which doesn’t respond to an antibiotic. This category of drugs is used to treat conditions that are caused by bacterial infections. The flu, COVID-19, and the common cold are all viral infections.
Is the flu shot safe for seniors?
Yes, the flu shot is safe for seniors and is especially important because seniors are at higher risk of flu-related complications. Vaccines go through rigorous testing in clinical trials before approval. The benefits of vaccination (i.e., reduced chances of illness, hospitalization, and death) far outweigh the potential side effects and risks associated with the flu shot.
What are the risks of the flu vaccine?
The risks associated with the flu vaccine are minimal. You or your loved one may notice mild pain at the injection site and/or arm stiffness after receiving the vaccine. Keeping your arm active throughout the day can help prevent or minimize soreness. Although incredibly rare, the flu vaccination can increase the risk of developing Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). If you have any concerns about flu vaccine risks, talk to your healthcare provider.
What are the side effects of the flu shot?
Most side effects of the flu shot are mild and temporary. These can include soreness or redness at the injection site, a low-grade fever, or muscle aches. Serious side effects are extremely rare. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any concerns about the flu vaccine.
Does the flu vaccine cause the flu?
No, the flu vaccine doesn’t cause the flu. Vaccines contain harmless versions of disease-causing viruses that trigger the body's defense system to produce antibodies to fight the infection. In other words, they stimulate an immune response without causing illness.
Can you still get the flu after being vaccinated?
Yes, it’s possible to still catch the influenza virus after being vaccinated. This can happen for a number of reasons, including but not limited to:
- You were exposed to the virus before getting vaccinated or during the period in which the body gains protection from the vaccine.
- You were exposed to an influenza strain that wasn’t included in the current seasonal flu shot.
Even still, the flu vaccine usually makes the illness milder and reduces the risk of hospitalization and serious complications.
Do I need a flu shot every year?
Yes, you need the flu shot every year. Because influenza viruses mutate from year to year, annual vaccination provides the best protection from current strains. Immunity from a prior vaccine also fades over time, making yearly protection important.
Do I need other vaccines beyond the flu shot?
While there are other vaccinations recommended around the same time as the flu shot, it’s good to talk to your healthcare provider about your health needs. Your primary care physician will know your medical history, risks, and appropriate vaccine schedule. For example, seniors may need additional vaccinations to protect against COVID-19 and other infections.
How BrightStar Care® Helps with Flu Prevention and Treatment
Your local BrightStar Care agency is committed to offering A Higher Standard® of care during each visit to you or your loved one’s home. Our nurses and caregivers not only follow standard flu protocols, but they can help keep track of vaccination documentation, assist with vaccine appointments, and provide flu care for children and adults alike.
Whether you’re looking for in-home care services for your loved one or a reliable medical staffing partner for your organization, our experienced local care team members are ready to help. Find a location near you, contact us online or call (866) 618-7827 to learn more about our passion for caregiving and in-home nursing services.