The flu will often resolve on its own with some supportive care on your part. Fever usually goes away within four days, but regaining your normal energy level can take up to two weeks. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, between 5 and 20 percent of the U.S. population will suffer from the flu each year, and an average of 36,000 people die each year from symptoms. 200,000 are admitted to the hospital as a result of flu related causes.
Trouble Breathing
You may experience trouble breathing or shortness of breath from complications related to the flu, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. These symptoms are a result of lung involvement, especially in people who already have underlying medical conditions that affect the respiratory system, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. According to Harvard Medical School Health Publications, you may also experience sharp pains in the chest with each breath when there are respiratory complications that can lead to hospitalization.
Colored Sputum
According to Harvard Medical School Health Publications, you should seek medical advice if you begin to cough up sputum that is yellow, green or brown in color. Sputum is the medical term used to describe bodily fluids that come from the lungs when there is an infection or chronic condition causing inflammation. This sputum is normally clear or light white in color.
Fever
A high fever for 3-4 days is a normal symptom of the influenza virus. According to Family Doctor, a prolonged fever of greater than 102 should be addressed by a medical professional immediately. Fever can also be accompanied by fatigue, body aches, confusion or disorientation.
Worsening Symptoms
The natural course of the influenza virus is to make you sick quickly and then resolve slowly over two weeks. According to Family Doctor, if your symptoms continue to worsen over time, or if you have started to get well but then begin to get worse again, consult with your primary care physician. Worsening symptoms can lead to hospitalization for both children and adults and is a signal that your body is unable to fight the influenza virus on its own.
Pain
Significant complications from the flu can result in a secondary infection in the facial sinuses or lower respiratory system. According to Family Doctor, you should seek medical attention if you experience severe pain in the face or forehead, very swollen glands over the neck or jaw or have pain or pressure in the chest. Your body may require additional hospitalized supportive care to recover.
