Seasonal influenza, or the flu, is a viral infection of the respiratory tract. It impacts the nose, throat and lungs. Many of the symptoms of the flu can appear to be like a simple cold. For some individuals, the flu can lead to health complications, such as pneumonia or bronchitis. Viral infections are usually left to run their course, but there are medications that can help shorten the time the flu lasts and diminish the severity of the symptoms.
Cold-Like Symptoms
At the onset of illness, the flu may be perceived to be a simple cold. The earliest cold-like symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), include sneezing, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and a headache. The Mayo Clinic points out that the flu symptoms differ from a cold in the onset of symptoms. The flu sets in rapidly, whereas a cold may be gradual and get progressively worse.
Flu Characteristics
Individuals with the flu may develop a fever that leads to body aches and chills. In adults and children, a fever is defined as a body temperature over 101 degrees F. Sweating may accompany the fever as it begins to break. Other symptoms include a loss of appetite, diarrhea and vomiting, according to the Mayo Clinic. In general, individuals feel worse with the flu than with a cold. Symptoms may impede everyday activities.
Concerns
When a flu gets substantially worse after two to three days, a fever over 103 degrees F is reached or breathing becomes difficult, an individual may need medical attention. A doctor can prescribe antiviral drugs to help alleviate the flu symptoms. Severe coughing that brings up phlegm or a sharp pain when breathing may be signs that the flu has progressed to pneumonia. Individuals with existing health concerns, such as asthma or immunodeficiency, or children under the age of 2 should seek medical attention at the first sign of the flu.
