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Conditions
Viral infections
Influenza

Influenza

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Influenza (the "flu") is a contagious respiratory viral illness that can cause mild to severe illness including death. There is treatment available to decrease symptoms, but it is better to prevent the flu is by getting the vaccine every year.

Dr. Keegan Duchicela reviewed this

16 year experience in family medicine

Is a type of:

Respiratory tract infections • Viral infections

How long it usually lasts:

Short-term (lasts days to weeks)

How common it is:

Very common
Baby
0-2
Very common
Preteen
6-13
Common
Teenager
14-18
Common
Young adult
19-40
Common
Middle-aged adult
41-60
Very common

Body locations

Chest

Symptoms

Sneezing
Fever
Vomiting
Chills
Diarrhea
Load more

Medications

Ratings show how effective doctors think these medications are at treating Influenza
Oseltamivir
3.8
60 reviews
Amantadine
3.2
25 reviews
Zanamivir
3.0
22 reviews
Rimantadine
2.9
60 reviews
Acetaminophen
2.7
36 reviews
Load more

Procedures

Ratings show how effective doctors think these procedures are at treating Influenza

Surgery

Nasal saline irrigation
2.3
47 reviews

Other treatments

Watchful waiting
Throat lozenges

Tests

Rapid flu test

Vaccinations

Flu vaccine nasal spray
Flu shot

Risk factors

Personal

Recent contact with coronavirus infected person
Cigarette smoking

Related questions

A 46-year old asked:

How could i not get influenza?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 30-year old asked:

How can I keep from spreading influenza?

3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 29-year old female asked:

If someone close to me has influenza an now I am very sick does that mean I have it now?

2 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in

A 29-year old female asked:

I am coughing and feeling unbalanced. My son just had influenza and a cold. Can it be i took it from him?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 69-year old male asked:

I have sometimes developed a cold or influenza after being exposed to extremes of cold. However, could you please tell me whether this can happen if a person has not had physical contact with any other person?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 45-year old asked:

How do I prevent influenza?

2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

A 35-year old male asked:

I am experiencing flu (influenza).

2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

A 18-year old male asked:

I want to know everything about influenza! is for a research project for my anatomy class.

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A member asked:

Influenza symptoms&its protection

3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 23-year old male asked:

Influenza - what medication can be taken?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 32-year old asked:

Can you tell me how someone get influenza?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 45-year old asked:

How many times can you get influenza each year?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 34-year old asked:

Please tell me what can be the cause of influenza?

1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

A 29-year old male asked:

What is the definition or description of: influenza?

1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

A member asked:

What is an influenza and what disease is caused by it?

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 36-year old male asked:

Influenza symptoms appear after 5 hours of exposure a possibility?

3 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 29-year old asked:

How do you know when to be hospitalized when you have influenza type b?

3 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in

A 48-year old asked:

What are the chances of my baby brother dying if he caught the real influenza?

3 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

A 40-year old asked:

What are some facts about the subtype of influenza, h2n3? What is it spread by?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 28-year old male asked:

What is the definition or description of: influenza found on rapid diagnostic test?

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 37-year old female asked about a female:

Can I receive the influenza shot if my ESR=45m.m.?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 43-year old asked:

How should I prepare for the cold influenza season?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 31-year old asked:

How come I have not heard about avian influenza for a long time? Is it still prevalent?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 48-year old female asked:

I have just finished a course of antibiotics a f have not improved from influenza...why is that?

2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

A 42-year old female asked:

How can I recover from influenza? Seven days in, no appetite, kidneys hurt, coughing to the point of gagging.

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 63-year old female asked:

I'm on day 7 of influenza b. My temp has been below 100 for 24hours, but i'm still slightly achy. Am i still contagious?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 29-year old female asked:

Got treated for influenza A. Was hospitalized for 4 days. Am I still contagious ? Can I pass it on to others even after a week?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 35-year old asked:

I have influenza and I am taking tamiflu (oseltamivir) i just wanted to know how long I am contages for while taking the tamiflu (oseltamivir)?

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 37-year old female asked:

In February I got sick with influenza and ecoli. I didn't start feeling better for about 2 1/2 weeks. Then I started dealing with a lot of stress in m?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 36-year old asked:

What is the cause of influenza a?

1 doctor answer • 5 doctors weighed in

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