Flu: Signs and Symptoms
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Recognising the flu
The flu can cause severe illness and significant negative impacts on quality of life,1,2 so it helps to understand how to identify this viral disease.
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Signs and symptoms
Both colds and flu may share similar and overlapping symptoms,3,4 including:
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Nasal and sinus congestion
- Cough, usually dry5
- Sneezing
- Malaise4
The flu usually presents with sudden onset and may also cause additional symptoms such as:
- High fever lasting for 3-4 days6
- Severe myalgia
- Fatigue and weakness that may last 2-3 weeks or more
- Chills
- Loss of appetite7-11
The symptoms also affect quality of life by reducing alertness,12,13 causing a negative mood,12,13 performance reduction,13 slower reaction times,14,15 and disturbed/poor sleep2,14
An influenza infection has the potential to deteriorate into pneumonia and respiratory failure, and may be life-threatening.10,11
Understanding the flu
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Learn more
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Patient care resources
Access a leaflet for your patients, which can help them understand the causes of the flu and how best to treat it.