Flu Symptoms

The symptoms of the flu or influenza typically include fever, chills, body aches, muscle pain, headache and fatigue. Other flu symptoms that may not be noticed initially are dry cough, runny nose, and sore throat. The fever is usually the first of the flu symptoms that a person notices and it may be very high, up to 106 degrees.

The symptoms of the flu act like other conditions such as the common cold, but microbe infections and mononucleosis also have similar symptoms. Transmissions respond well to antibiotics, but antibiotics will not relieve flu symptoms or the symptoms of mononucleosis, which are a result of viruses. Some people still call their doctors requesting antibiotics when they have the symptoms from the flu, but doctors will often deny this request, because it is believed that bacterial infections are becoming and are becoming more resistant to antibiotics, because they were over-prescribed and overused over the last several decades.

Recommendations for treating flu symptoms fever include extra rest, extra fluids plus an over the counter fever and pain reducer. Over the counter products may be used to relieve nasal congestion, but antihistamines needs to be avoided as they are not meant to treat the symptoms with the flu and they can make nasal fluids thicker. Furthermore, teenagers and children shouldn't be give aspirin or aspirin containing non-prescription products to treat flu symptoms, as a result of risk of developing Reye's syndrome, a life threatening illness.

Flu Symptoms Fever ©