Buzz
You start coughing, your nose gets stuffy, and you feel the beginnings of a fever. It’s a rough flu season—seems like it’s always that way—and your mind jumps to the worst-case scenario. But is it truly the flu?
The flu—short for influenza, in case you’re wondering—is a virus that shares many of the same broad, uncomfortable symptoms as colds and other infections. These can include fever, cough, a runny nose, headaches, fatigue, and more. There are countless cold viruses, but they rarely cause fever or body aches, and symptoms usually appear more gradually. (Feeling sick right now? Compare symptoms with this CDC chart of the differences.)
Flu is not the same as the so-called “stomach flu,” which is simply a term used for illnesses causing vomiting and diarrhea. You can experience those symptoms with actual flu, but they’re more like side effects where the main symptoms are cough, fever, and body aches.
One useful tip is that if you have a cough and a fever, and the flu is circulating in your community, there’s an 80 percent chance it’s the flu, says Dr. Pat Salber, an emergency room internist based in San Francisco.
If you're wondering whether you truly have the flu, a doctor can confirm with a test. This could be a rapid test done during your visit (though keep in mind that these tests may produce false positives) or a lab test that will take a day or two for results. Many of us won’t bother with a test—if flu is widespread and our symptoms match, we'll simply be told to rest and assume it's the flu. Tests are more critical for those who are at higher risk, such as the elderly.
Have you considered calling or video chatting with your doctor?
For healthy adults, there's no miracle cure for the flu. Resting is often the best option, and while you’ll likely feel awful for a few days to a week, you’ll recover. However, seeking medical care isn’t pointless. If the flu worsens, you may need assistance to prevent further complications. If you're diagnosed with the flu but your condition continues to deteriorate, head to the emergency room immediately—recently, a girl tragically passed away when what appeared to be the flu turned out to be a more serious infection.
In California, Dr. Salber notes that emergency rooms are currently overwhelmed with flu patients, so hospitals are encouraging people to call first. If you don’t have the flu, you can avoid a trip to an already crowded emergency room. And if you do have the flu, it’s often possible for a doctor to make a diagnosis over the phone. Video consultations (typically costing around $40) are another great way to get professional advice on whether in-person care is necessary, and many health insurance plans offer a free nurse hotline for these types of questions.
Those who are elderly, pregnant, or have other health risks should seek medical attention promptly. If a doctor can prescribe an antiviral like Tamiflu within the first 48 hours, it could reduce the severity or duration of your illness. While Tamiflu isn’t highly effective, its use may prevent a severe flu case from becoming life-threatening.
There are several strains of the flu virus, and each year some become more widespread than others. This year's dominant strain is the H3N2 type, which hasn't been part of the flu mix in recent seasons. This makes children more vulnerable, as their immune systems have not encountered this virus before, unlike adults who have built up some immunity.
My children's preschool recently notified parents that, due to the flu season, local doctors recommend we take immediate action if young children show symptoms and might need Tamiflu. However, they mistakenly referred to Theraflu in the email as the critical medicine. Please note: Theraflu is an over-the-counter cough treatment and is not a replacement for proper medical care when a child is unwell.
