Influenza (the flu)

Influenza (the flu) is a contagious disease that is caused by the influenza virus. It attacks the respiratory tract in humans (nose, throat, and lungs). The flu is different from a cold. The flu usually comes on suddenly and may include these symptoms:

These symptoms are usually referred to as "flu-like symptoms."

Anyone Can Get the Flu, But the Disease Is More Severe for Some People

Most people who get the flu will recover in 1 to 2 weeks, but some people will develop life-threatening complications (such as pneumonia) as a result of the flu.  Millions of people in the United States — about 10% to 20% of U.S. residents — will get the flu each year.  An average of about 20,000 people per year in the United States die from the flu, and 114,000 per year have to be admitted to the hospital as a result of influenza. 

Anyone can get the flu (even healthy people), and serious problems from flu can happen at any age.  People > 65 years old, people of any age with chronic medical conditions, and very young children are more likely to get complications from flu.  Pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus and ear infections are three examples of complications from flu.  The flu can make chronic health problems worse.  For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they have the flu, and people with chronic congestive heart failure may have worsening of this condition that is triggered by the flu.

For a list of groups that are at high risk for complications (pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus/ear infections, death) from the flu, see: Influenza (flu) Immunization.

How the Influenza Virus Is Passed Around

The flu is spread, or transmitted, when a person who has the flu coughs, sneezes, or speaks and sends flu virus into the air, and other people inhale the virus.  The virus enters the nose, throat, or lungs of a person and begins to multiply, causing symptoms of the flu.  Flu may, less often, be spread when a person touches a surface that has flu viruses on it – a door handle, for instance – and then touches his or her nose or mouth. 

The Flu Is Contagious

A person can spread the flu starting one day before they feel sick. Adults can continue to pass the flu virus to others for another 3-7 days after symptoms start.  Children can pass the virus for longer than 7 days.  Symptoms start 1-4 days after the virus enters the body.  Some persons can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms.  During this time, those persons can still spread the virus to others.

How To Know if You Have the Flu

Your respiratory illness might be the flu if you have sudden onset of body aches, fever, and respiratory symptoms, and your illness occurs during November through April (the usual flu season in the Northern Hemisphere).  However, during this time, other respiratory illnesses can cause similar symptoms and flu can be caught at any time of the year.  It is impossible to tell for sure if you have the flu based on symptoms alone.  Doctors can perform tests to see if you have the flu if you are in the first few days of your illness.

What You Should Do If You Get the Flu  

Influenza is caused by a virus, so antibiotics (like penicillin) don’t work to cure it.  The best way to prevent the flu is to get an influenza vaccine (flu shot) each fall, before flu season.

Do Not Give Aspirin To a Child or Teenager Who Has the Flu

Never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms – and particularly fever – without first speaking to your doctor.  Giving aspirin to children and teenagers who have influenza can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome. Children or teenagers with the flu should get plenty of rest, drink lots of liquids, and take medicines that contain no aspirin to relieve symptoms.

The Myth of the "Stomach Flu”

Many people use the term "stomach flu” to describe illnesses with nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that are not caused by the flu virus, but can be caused by many different viruses, bacteria, or even parasites.  However, while vomiting, diarrhea, and being “sick to your stomach” can sometimes be related to the flu — particularly in children — these problems are rarely the main symptoms of influenza.  The flu is a respiratory disease and not a stomach or intestinal disease.

Source: U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -- National Center for Infectious Diseases