Flu Cases Are Surging. Here Are The Most Common Symptoms Doctors Are Seeing Right Now.
We’re in the thick of flu season; high flu levels are present in many parts of the United States right now. The virus tends to run rampant from October to early May, with flu activity peaking from December to February.
Exactly how many people get the flu each year in the U.S. is unknown, given that many people recover at home without medical intervention. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that, since 2010 (excluding the 2020-2021 flu season), tens of millions of people in the country get infected annually.
As we continue to barrel through this winter, it’s important to know the signs of the illness. Anyone who has been sick with it knows that it can be debilitating, unpleasant and downright scary. Below, doctors share the most common flu symptoms they’re seeing this winter and how they come about:
The flu comes on faster than other viruses.
“Generally, with the flu, the symptoms usually come on really suddenly,” said Dr. Sindhu Aderson, an immediate care physician at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago.
Unlike a cold or COVID-19, you likely won’t have a warning scratchy throat for a day or two. Instead, you’ll probably get hit with problems seemingly out of nowhere. And when comparing flu symptoms to colds, colds “may come on more slowly with milder symptoms,” said Dr. S. Wesley Long, the medical director of diagnostic microbiology at Houston Methodist Hospital.
You’ll likely deal with a fever, cough and sore throat.
“Flu symptoms are very hard to distinguish from other respiratory viruses also circulating right now,” said Dr. Scott Roberts, an infectious disease doctor at Yale Medicine. This includes illnesses like COVID and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
With the flu, you can expect the usual suspects.
“Some of the most common symptoms that we see are fever or feeling feverish, chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose,” Aderson said.
Body aches and fatigue are common.
Muscle aches are very common in folks infected with the flu, Roberts noted. Headaches can be common, too, Aderson said.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, it’s more likely that you’d have body aches with the flu than with the common cold — and the body aches associated with the flu are often worse.
Fatigue is also frequently reported. The exhaustion you feel when you have the flu is often more intense than the tiredness that comes with a cold, and it can also feel like physical body weakness.
Symptoms can look a little different in kids.
“Some people will have vomiting and diarrhea, but that’s generally more common in children than adults,” Aderson said.
Children also may be more fussy than usual, according to the Mayo Clinic.
There are things you can do to protect yourself, like getting your flu shot.
“The best ways to protect against the flu also will work for many other respiratory viruses,” Roberts said. “These include washing hands, avoiding people who are ill, good ventilation, masking in high-risk settings.”
Beyond this, the flu shot is a great layer of protection — and it’s not too late in the season to get it either.
“Although the flu shot may not protect against infection, it can limit the severity of symptoms and the length of illness,” Long said, noting that the shot can’t give you the flu, which is a common misconception.
If you feel sick and suspect it’s the flu, it’s important to get tested and take care of yourself.
“If you think you might have the flu, you should get tested, as there are medications that can help shorten the illness,” Long said. “Flu antivirals are different than those used for COVID and will not work against the common cold, so a positive test can be helpful in guiding [treatment].”
You can get tested for the flu at a healthcare facility or can pick up at-home flu tests from pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens.
Those who come down with the flu this season should also drink plenty of fluids, take medications for bothersome symptoms (like Tylenol for a fever) and get rest.
“If you get sick and are part of a high-risk population, which includes people who are immunocompromised, 65 or older, or have any chronic medical conditions, you should talk to your doctor,” Aderson said. “They can prescribe you flu medication and also make sure you don’t have any severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, dehydration or chest pain.”
While many people recover just fine from the flu, it can be deadly. Upward of 36,000 people die each year in the U.S. from the flu, and many more require hospitalization. If you’re high-risk or notice any of the severe symptoms mentioned above, it’s important that you alert your physician so you can get the treatment you need.