Have I got

theflu?

Flu symptoms can come on suddenly,1 and early signs of the flu are often confused with those of a cold. Knowing the difference between a cold and the flu can help speed up the treatment process and aid a quick recovery. 

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Symptoms checker

Here are the early flu symptoms to look out for:1,2

thermometer

Fever of 38°C - 40°C
(although not everyone with the flu will have a fever)

bone

Body aches

thunder

Headaches

snow

Chills

sleep

Weakness and fatigue

cough

Cough

throat

Sore throat

nose

Runny or stuffy nose

thermometer

Diarrhea or vomiting
(more common in children)

thermometer

Fever of 38°C - 40°C
(although not everyone with the flu will have a fever)

bone

Body aches

thunder

Headaches

snow

Chills

sleep

Weakness and fatigue

cough

Cough

throat

Sore throat

nose

Runny or stuffy nose

thermometer

Diarrhea or vomiting
(more common in children)

Of course, everybody is different, and while some people with the flu will get all of these symptoms, others might only experience a few.1

Cold

or the flu?

cold-or-flu

Unlike those associated with the flu, cold symptoms come on gradually. They include:1

nose

Runny or stuffy nose

throat

Sore throat

cough

Mild/moderate cough

throat

Sneezing

Colds do not usually require any specific measures beyond taking over-the-counter medications to help ease symptoms,  and you can normally get these from your local pharmacy.

See if you can guess who has the flu and who just has a cold below…

Chloe

Age: 5 years old

Symptoms include:
Runny nose, sore throat, diarrhoea

David

Age: 17 years old

Symptoms include:
Moderate cough (slow to develop), fatigue

Janice

Age: 42 years old

Symptoms include:
Fever (developed suddenly),weakness, stuffy nose

Mr. Tan

Age: 71 years old

Symptoms include:
Body aches, headaches, cough

doctor

Suspect the flu?  Speak to your doctor

If you feel ill with some or all of the symptoms listed above, and you suspect the flu, speak to your doctor as soon as possible to confirm a diagnosis.

Treatments are available to protect you from the flu and its complications. These include a specific type of treatment called antiviral flu medications.3

Discover more about antiviral medications  for the flu

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu Symptoms & Complications, 2018. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/consumer/symptoms.htm Last accessed: February 2019.
  2. Banning M. Br J Nurs 2005; 14(22): 1192–1197.
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Treatment. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/consumer/treatment.htm Last accessed: February 2019.

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu Symptoms & Complications, 2018. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/consumer/symptoms.htm Last accessed: February 2019.
  2. Banning M. Br J Nurs 2005; 14(22): 1192–1197.
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Treatment. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/consumer/treatment.htm Last accessed: February 2019.