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Symptoms of Influenza

While similar, symptoms of influenza tend to be more severe and last longer than symptoms of a cold. Fever, chills, dry cough, and sore throat are the most common symptoms. You can spread the disease to others before your symptoms of influenza appear and for another 3 to 4 days after your symptoms appear.

 

Symptoms of Influenza: An Overview

It's easy to confuse a common cold with the symptoms of influenza (also known as the flu). Cold symptoms are usually milder and don't last as long as symptoms of influenza. If you become infected with the influenza virus, you will usually feel symptoms 1 to 4 days later. It is important to note that you can spread the disease to others before your symptoms of influenza appear and for another 3 to 4 days after your symptoms appear.
 

Common Symptoms of Influenza

Common symptoms of influenza start quickly and can include:
 
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Dry cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches
  • Extreme fatigue.
 
Typically, the fever will begin to decline on the second or third day of the illness.
 

Symptoms of Influenza and the Stomach Flu

Although nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can accompany the symptoms of influenza, especially in children, gastrointestinal symptoms of influenza rarely occur. The illness that people call "stomach flu" is not influenza.
 
(Symptoms of Influenza Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD