Days 1–3: Sudden appearance of fever, headache, muscle pain and weakness, dry cough, sore throat and sometimes a stuffy nose. Day 4:
Fever and muscle aches decrease
. Hoarse, dry or sore throat, cough and possible mild chest discomfort become more noticeable. You may feel tired or flat.
Does the flu get worse before it gets better?
Share on Pinterest Flu symptoms
usually last 3–7 days
. For people who do not develop serious flu complications, symptoms usually last 3–7 days . Some people find that their symptoms get better and then worse again or that they are worse at certain times of the day, such as in the morning.
How long does it take to recover from the flu?
Flu symptoms, including fever, should go away after about 5 days, but you may still have a cough and feel weak a few days longer. All your symptoms should be gone
within 1 to 2 weeks
.
How do you know when the flu is almost over?
Your fever is probably gone
. You should have less congestion but may still have a cough. Continue to stay home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids. If you are not starting to feel better by day five and your symptoms are getting worse, call your doctor.
How do I get rid of the flu ASAP?
- Stay home and get plenty of rest.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Treat aches and fever.
- Take care of your cough.
- Sit in a steamy bathroom.
- Run the humidifier.
- Try a lozenge.
- Get salty.
How long am I contagious with the flu?
Period of Contagiousness
People with flu are most contagious
in the first 3-4 days after their illness begins
. Some otherwise healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.
What are the worst days for the flu?
The most severe symptoms generally last
2 to 3 days
– the start of the flu is when the infection is at its worst, so the symptoms are at their most severe. During this time you will most likely be confined to bed with fatigue, weakness, and a high fever.
How long will the flu last 2020?
Most people who become sick will recover in
a few days to less than two weeks
, but some people may become more severely ill. Following flu infection, moderate complications such as secondary ear and sinus infections can occur.
When should I go to the hospital for the flu 2020?
You should contact your doctor or seek care in a hospital's emergency department for the following symptoms, which may be a sign of complications:
Dehydration
and unable to drink fluids. Bloody or brown sputum (saliva mixed with mucus and coughed up) Difficulty breathing.
How can I recover from the flu faster?
- Stay home. Your body needs time and energy to fight off the flu virus, which means that your daily routine should be put on the backburner. …
- Hydrate. …
- Sleep as much as possible. …
- Ease your breathing. …
- Eat healthy foods. …
- Add moisture to the air. …
- Take OTC medications. …
- Try elderberry.
How do you treat the flu in 24 hours?
- Drink plenty of fluids to replace the fluids lost from diarrhea and vomiting. …
- Eat plain or bland foods that are less likely to irritate your stomach. …
- Rest up. …
- Use an over-the-counter (OTC) anti-vomiting or anti-diarrheal medication.
Why does flu get worse at night?
At night,
there is less cortisol in your blood
. As a result, your white blood cells readily detect and fight infections in your body at this time, provoking the symptoms of the infection to surface, such as fever, congestion, chills, or sweating. Therefore, you feel sicker during the night.
What is the difference between flu A and flu B?
Influenza B almost exclusively infects humans and is less common than influenza A. Flu type B also
mutates about two to three times more slowly than influenza A
. Because humans are the natural host of influenza B, pandemics generally do not occur with influenza B viruses.
What is best medicine for flu?
The best overall flu medicine would be
NyQuil and DayQuil severe combo caplets
. This combo pack contains ingredients that target multiple symptoms of fever, pain, and cough. The DayQuil capsule contains a powerful expectorant ingredient that can loosen up your mucus to decrease cough and congestion.
Should I go to urgent care if I have the flu?
If you are not a high-risk patient, you should visit urgent care with symptoms if: Your symptoms are not showing signs of improvement. You have a persistent fever that is not breaking and is climbing (102 degrees is considered high for an adult)
You are losing fluids and displaying symptoms of dehydration
.
How long is flu contagious after fever breaks?
CDC recommends that you stay home for
at least 24 hours
after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.
