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Conditions›Viral infections›Flu (influenza)

Flu (influenza)

A highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory passages, causing fever and severe aching, often occurring in epidemics.

Dr. Geoffrey Rutledgereviewed this

Internal Medicine 39 years experience

Is a type of:Respiratory tract infections, Viral infections

How long it usually lasts:

Short-term (lasts days to weeks)

How common is it?

Very common

Very common	Extremely rare	Very rare	Rare	Common	Very common
Baby0-2					Very common
Preteen6-13					Very common
Teenager14-18					Very common
Young adult19-40					Very common
Middle-aged adult41-60					Very common

How it can usually be treated?

Can be managed without a doctor visit

How is it usually diagnosed?

Self-diagnosable

Body locations

Chest

Symptoms

Cough, no sputum (non-productive)

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Medications

Ratings show how effective doctors think these medications are at treating Flu (influenza)

Procedures

Ratings show how effective doctors think these procedures are at treating Flu (influenza)

Surgery

Nasal saline irrigation

Other treatments

Watchful waiting

Warm compresses

Throat lozenges

Tests

Basal body temperature

Vaccinations

Flu vaccine nasal spray

Risk factors

Personal

Recent contact with coronavirus infected person

Prior covid-19 illness with positive test result

Cigarette smoking

First dose of covid-19 vaccine more than 2 wks ago

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