{"id":15787,"date":"2020-10-01T14:23:10","date_gmt":"2020-10-01T18:23:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=15787"},"modified":"2024-05-28T10:07:13","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T14:07:13","slug":"flu-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"Flu symptoms 101: Is it the flu or something else?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3278149\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">25 to 50 million cases<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of influenza per year in the U.S. alone, but not every wintertime illness is the flu. The flu is a specific type of respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. The flu spreads via contact with an infected human, or rarely with an infected <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/g4-swine-flu-expert-review\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">animal<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It can be particularly severe for high-risk populations like older adults, young children, and people with chronic medical conditions. The flu can sometimes look similar to other illnesses like the common cold or coronavirus. But if you know which symptoms are associated with each infection, it&#8217;s much easier to recognize. And this is your one-stop flu symptom guide.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:6849,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;9&quot;:1,&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}\" data-sheets-formula=\"=CONCATENATE(R[0]C[-2],R[0]C[-3],R[0]C[-1])\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are flu symptoms?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The flu virus comes with a variety of symptoms. Some of the earliest indicators include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A runny or stuffy nose<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A tickle in the throat<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mild body aches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unusual tiredness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sneezing<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In most cases, these aren&#8217;t mild for very long. Symptoms of the flu can ramp up quickly and include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fever<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chills<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sore throat<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Muscle aches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headaches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cough<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flu symptoms in children are often similar to those found in adults. However, children are more likely to experience a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/fever-temperature\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">high-grade fever<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (103\u00b0F to 105\u00b0F) or gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Illnesses manifest differently in different people, so it&#8217;s possible to have the flu with no respiratory symptoms, but it&#8217;s pretty rare.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flu symptoms vs. \u201cflu\u201d misnomers<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are multiple types and strains of influenza, and it can be difficult to differentiate between them based on symptoms alone. The influenza virus has many categories and subtypes. There are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/what-is-the-flu\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">four broad categories of influenza virus<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: influenza A, B, C, and D.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Influenza A and B are most common to cause the seasonal flu we typically worry about each year, and symptoms are generally so similar it would be nearly impossible to differentiate without laboratory tests for confirmation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Influenza C can also infect humans, the symptoms are generally very mild in comparison to infections with Influenza A and B.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Influenza D typically only infects cattle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be mindful that the term \u201cflu\u201d is a misnomer and often applied incorrectly. For example, the \u201cstomach flu\u201d is technically called viral gastroenteritis and is not a respiratory illness or related to influenza at all, but is caused by entirely different viruses like noroviruses or rotavirus.<\/span><\/p>\n<table class=\"singlecare-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th><span class=\"title\">Flu vs. flu misnomers<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"header-row\">\n<td><b>Common name<\/b><\/td>\n<td><strong>Flu<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Stomach flu<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Virus<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Influenza A or B<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Noroviruses, rotavirus<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Common symptoms<\/b><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fever<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chills<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Body aches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sore throat<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headaches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abdominal pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nausea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vomiting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diarrhea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chills<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loss of appetite<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fever<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flu symptoms vs. the common cold<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The common cold and the flu share a few symptoms, so they&#8217;re often confused. While both can cause a runny nose, sore throat, and cough, colds rarely cause fever, body aches, or exhaustion.<\/span><\/p>\n<table class=\"singlecare-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th><span class=\"title\">Flu vs. the common cold<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"header-row\">\n<td><strong>Flu<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Common cold<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fever<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chills<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Body aches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sore throat<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headaches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stuffy nose<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sneezing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sore Throat<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cough<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Congestion<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low-grade fever<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flu symptoms vs. COVID-19<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept through the United States\u2014and the rest of the world\u2014it has millions of people wondering whether they&#8217;ve caught coronavirus or the seasonal flu. The two have similar symptoms and methods of transmission, but coronavirus is more contagious, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/symptoms\/flu-vs-covid19.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">its symptoms take longer to develop<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The most significant difference is that COVID-19 more commonly causes shortness of breath and a loss of taste or smell.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table class=\"singlecare-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th><span class=\"title\">Flu vs. COVID-19<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"header-row\">\n<td><strong>Flu<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Coronavirus<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fever<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chills<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Body aches<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sore throat<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headaches<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fever<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cough<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortness of breath<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Muscle aches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loss of taste or smell<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Runny nose<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/coronavirus-symptoms-vs-cold-and-flu\/\"><b>Coronavirus vs. the flu vs. a cold<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How long does it take for flu symptoms to appear? How long do they last?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let&#8217;s look at a timeline. Symptoms can first appear one to four days after exposure to the virus (most often two). They usually last for five to seven days. Some symptoms, like fatigue, can linger for up to two weeks. Typically, someone with the flu is contagious for about a week starting one day before showing signs of illness. Getting the flu vaccine, however, can help shorten the flu\u2019s duration and ultimately contagiousness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This timeline can be longer for high-risk groups like older adults, young children, pregnant women, and people with chronic medical conditions or weakened immune systems. These groups are also at greater risk of complications, which can include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pneumonia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ear infections<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sinus infections<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dehydration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rarer, more severe flu complications include inflammation of the heart, brain, or muscles, and potential organ failure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The common cold has a similar incubation period, just slightly faster. Symptoms can appear as early as 10 to 12 hours after infection, peak within one to three days, and last three to 10 days.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coronavirus, on the other hand, develops slower. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/symptoms-testing\/symptoms.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, symptoms can appear two to 14 days after exposure and last as long as two weeks. To prevent its spread, the CDC recommends isolating for 10 days after the onset of symptoms and<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">until fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication,<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as long as all symptoms have improved<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/coronavirus-sequelae\/\"><b>What we know about sequelae and lingering COVID-19 symptoms<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to treat flu symptoms<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After contracting the flu virus, there&#8217;s no way to eliminate it completely. In most cases, it will simply run its course. However, there are treatments to help manage and mitigate the symptoms. For example:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Antiviral drugs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since influenza is a viral infection, prescription antiviral medications like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/tamiflu\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tamiflu<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (oseltamivir phosphate) and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/relenza-diskhaler\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relenza<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (zanamivir) can reduce the duration and severity of its symptoms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Over-the-counter pain relievers: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/ibuprofen\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ibuprofen<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/acetaminophen\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">acetaminophen<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/naproxen\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">naproxen<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can alleviate muscle aches and reduce fever.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>OTC flu and cough medications: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cough and cold medicine like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/vicks-dayquil-nyquil-cld-flu\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DayQuil<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can ease a cough, runny nose, sore throat, and other flu symptoms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Fluids: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Helps with hydration and breaks up mucus, making it easier to dispel. Good options are water, real fruit juices, tea, and sports drinks, but avoid alcohol or excessive caffeine.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Rest: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allows the body to focus on your immune system and helps avoid the exacerbation of fatigue and body aches. Staying home from work or social engagements also prevents the virus&#8217; spread.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Humidifiers and steam: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can alleviate a stuffy nose and cough.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Cold compresses and tepid baths: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This will help manage body temperature or at least keep the body <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">feeling <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cool.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI typically recommend rest and hydration with liquids containing electrolytes such as Gatorade or coconut water,\u201d says Shirin Peters, MD, the founder of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmcofny.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bethany Medical Clinic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Manhattan. &#8220;For fever, I recommend Tylenol.&#8221; Dr. Peters also recommends self-isolation at the onset of flu-like symptoms since COVID-19 can exhibit nearly identical symptoms and may result in severe illness or (in some extreme cases) death.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When to go to the doctor for the flu<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In most cases, the flu causes some discomfort for a few days but it ultimately resolves on its own within a week or so. But not always. For some, the flu can cause life-threatening, serious complications, as seen with older adults. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/about\/burden\/past-seasons.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CDC estimates<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">70% to 85% of flu-related deaths are among people aged 65 and older. Anyone with one or more of the following risk factors for flu complications should visit a healthcare provider to prevent severe illnesses or infections:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Older than 65 years of age<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Younger than 5 years of age, especially less than 2 years of age<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pregnancy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic medical conditions (asthma, cystic fibrosis, COPD, heart disease, kidney disease, etc.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compromised immune system (from HIV\/AIDS or certain immunosuppressant treatments)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Otherwise, most people can weather the storm until symptoms end. Some symptoms do indicate a more dire situation and require medical care. According to Dr. Peters, anyone experiencing the following emergency symptoms should see a professional:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortness of breath<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abdomen or chest pain or pressure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Persistent dizziness, confusion, or drowsiness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Severe muscle pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Severe weakness\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fever or cough that improve, then come back<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Worsening of chronic medical conditions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seizure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of urination<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People experiencing these symptoms, especially if they&#8217;re part of a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-complications\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">high-risk population<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, should visit a healthcare provider as soon as possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bottom line\u2014flu symptoms are preventable<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We&#8217;re not doomed to sit around waiting for flu season to arrive. The flu vaccine is an effective way to defend against it. Contrary to the common myth, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-shot-reactions\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a flu shot will <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">not <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">give someone the flu<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Instead, it will catalyze the body&#8217;s creation of antibodies to fight influenza and reduce an infection\u2019s severity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-shot-tamiflu-for-coronavirus\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A flu shot won&#8217;t prevent COVID-19 infections<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. But by protecting against the flu, it will hold off a virus that can weaken the immune system and make someone more susceptible to other infectious diseases, including coronavirus. In the end, it&#8217;s best to play it safe and get a flu shot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are 25 to 50 million cases of influenza per year in the U.S. alone, but not every wintertime illness is the flu. The flu is a specific type of respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. The flu spreads via contact with an infected human, or rarely with an infected animal. It can be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":15789,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8029],"tags":[11169],"coauthors":[8861],"class_list":["post-15787","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-education","tag-cold-flu","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Flu symptoms 101: Is it the flu or something else?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Flu symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses like a cold or COVID-19. Compare symptoms and learn how to identify, track, and treat flu symptoms.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Is it the flu or something else?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"These are the symptoms to watch for\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Checkup\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/singlecare\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-10-01T18:23:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-05-28T14:07:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/FluSymptoms-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"SingleCare Team\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Is it the flu or something else?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"These are the symptoms to watch for\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@SingleCare\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@SingleCare\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"SingleCare Team\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/flu-symptoms\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/flu-symptoms\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"SingleCare Team\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/403ef50a9f402fb9ce49c429659555f5\"},\"headline\":\"Flu symptoms 101: Is it the flu or something else?\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-10-01T18:23:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-05-28T14:07:13+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/flu-symptoms\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1466,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/flu-symptoms\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/FluSymptoms-1.png\",\"keywords\":[\"Cold &amp; Flu\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Health Education\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/flu-symptoms\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/flu-symptoms\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/flu-symptoms\\\/\",\"name\":\"Flu symptoms 101: Is it the flu or something else?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/flu-symptoms\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/flu-symptoms\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/FluSymptoms-1.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-10-01T18:23:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-05-28T14:07:13+00:00\",\"description\":\"Flu symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses like a cold or COVID-19. Compare symptoms and learn how to identify, track, and treat flu symptoms.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/flu-symptoms\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/flu-symptoms\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/flu-symptoms\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/FluSymptoms-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/FluSymptoms-1.png\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1080,\"caption\":\"Flu symptoms and how to treat them\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/flu-symptoms\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Flu symptoms 101: Is it the flu or something else?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Checkup, a health blog by SingleCare\",\"description\":\"Read the latest in prescription, wellness, and healthcare news\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"SingleCare\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/placeholderimage-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/placeholderimage-1.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":630,\"caption\":\"SingleCare\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/singlecare\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/SingleCare\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/singlecare\\\/?hl=en\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/singlecare\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UCd9kiPIjCQw95-2BHCYePKA\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/403ef50a9f402fb9ce49c429659555f5\",\"name\":\"SingleCare Team\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/7c56ea35da6164263b446caa5424dd8beeb331518803b6043b40932812936fb2?s=96&d=mm&r=gcda8e0f4c5718cb7f68c0ee812f6fafb\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/7c56ea35da6164263b446caa5424dd8beeb331518803b6043b40932812936fb2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/7c56ea35da6164263b446caa5424dd8beeb331518803b6043b40932812936fb2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"SingleCare Team\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/singlecareteam\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Flu symptoms 101: Is it the flu or something else?","description":"Flu symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses like a cold or COVID-19. Compare symptoms and learn how to identify, track, and treat flu symptoms.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Is it the flu or something else?","og_description":"These are the symptoms to watch for","og_url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/","og_site_name":"The Checkup","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/singlecare","article_published_time":"2020-10-01T18:23:10+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-05-28T14:07:13+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1920,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/FluSymptoms-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"SingleCare Team","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Is it the flu or something else?","twitter_description":"These are the symptoms to watch for","twitter_creator":"@SingleCare","twitter_site":"@SingleCare","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"SingleCare Team","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/"},"author":{"name":"SingleCare Team","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/403ef50a9f402fb9ce49c429659555f5"},"headline":"Flu symptoms 101: Is it the flu or something else?","datePublished":"2020-10-01T18:23:10+00:00","dateModified":"2024-05-28T14:07:13+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/"},"wordCount":1466,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/FluSymptoms-1.png","keywords":["Cold &amp; Flu"],"articleSection":["Health Education"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/","url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/","name":"Flu symptoms 101: Is it the flu or something else?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/FluSymptoms-1.png","datePublished":"2020-10-01T18:23:10+00:00","dateModified":"2024-05-28T14:07:13+00:00","description":"Flu symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses like a cold or COVID-19. Compare symptoms and learn how to identify, track, and treat flu symptoms.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/FluSymptoms-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/FluSymptoms-1.png","width":1920,"height":1080,"caption":"Flu symptoms and how to treat them"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-symptoms\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Flu symptoms 101: Is it the flu or something else?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/","name":"The Checkup, a health blog by SingleCare","description":"Read the latest in prescription, wellness, and healthcare news","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"SingleCare","url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/placeholderimage-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/placeholderimage-1.jpg","width":1200,"height":630,"caption":"SingleCare"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/singlecare","https:\/\/x.com\/SingleCare","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/singlecare\/?hl=en","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/singlecare\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCd9kiPIjCQw95-2BHCYePKA"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/403ef50a9f402fb9ce49c429659555f5","name":"SingleCare Team","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7c56ea35da6164263b446caa5424dd8beeb331518803b6043b40932812936fb2?s=96&d=mm&r=gcda8e0f4c5718cb7f68c0ee812f6fafb","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7c56ea35da6164263b446caa5424dd8beeb331518803b6043b40932812936fb2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7c56ea35da6164263b446caa5424dd8beeb331518803b6043b40932812936fb2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"SingleCare Team"},"url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/author\/singlecareteam\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15787","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15787"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15787\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15789"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15787"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15787"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15787"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=15787"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}