Flu - Symptoms

 The symptoms of flu usually develop within one to three days of becoming infected. Most people will feel better within a week.

However, you may have a lingering cough and still feel very tired for a further couple of weeks.

Main symptoms

Flu can give you any of the following symptoms:

    a sudden fever – a temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above
    a dry, chesty cough
    a headache
    tiredness and weakness
    chills
    aching muscles
    limb or joint pain
    diarrhoea or abdominal (tummy) pain
    nausea and vomiting
    a sore throat
    a runny or blocked nose
    sneezing
    loss of appetite
    difficulty sleeping

Is it flu or a cold?

It can sometimes be difficult to tell if you have flu or just a cold, as the symptoms can be quite similar. The main differences are:

Flu symptoms:

    come on quickly
    usually include fever and aching muscles
    make you feel too unwell to continue your usual activities

Cold symptoms:

    come on gradually
    mainly affect your nose and throat
    are fairly mild, so you can still get around and are usually well enough to go to work

When to visit your GP

If you are otherwise fit and healthy, there's usually no need to visit your GP if you have flu-like symptoms.

You should just rest at home until you feel better, while keeping warm, drinking plenty of water and taking painkillers if necessary.

Consider visiting your GP if:

    you're 65 years of age or over
    you're pregnant
    you have a long-term medical condition – such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease or a neurological disease
    you have a weakened immune system – for example, because you're having chemotherapy or have HIV
    you develop chest pain, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or start coughing up blood
    your symptoms are getting worse over time or haven't improved after a week
 

tags: Flu - Symptoms, Flu, Symptoms, When to visit your GP, Is it flu or a cold?, Main symptoms, The symptoms of flu usually develop within one to three days of becoming infected. Most people will feel better within a week.