How long does the flu last? Timeline and recovery

Symptoms of the flu generally appear within a few days of infection. They usually peak between days 2 and 4, and most people feel better after 5–7 days. However, symptoms can last longer in some cases, and a cough may persist for several weeks.

The flu can leave a person unable to work, perform household duties, or tend to children for several days. Some people develop severe symptoms and may need hospital care.

In this article, we discuss how long the flu usually lasts, a timeline of the common symptoms, and when to see a doctor for treatment.

For people who do not develop serious flu complications, symptoms usually last 3–7 days. Some people find that their symptoms get better and then worse again or that they are worse at certain times of the day, such as in the morning.

Although fever and the most severe symptoms typically resolve within a week, some people have low energy for up to 2 weeks, and it is possible to experience a cough for up to 8 weeks.

The flu shot reduces the risk of getting the flu but does not eliminate it. However, people who still get the flu after receiving a shot tend to have less severe symptoms that last for a shorter period.

Antiviral drugs, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu), can also shorten the length of the flu and lower the risk of serious complications.

Infants and very young children, older adults, and people with respiratory diseases may have symptoms that last longer. These individuals are also more vulnerable to serious flu complications, such as pneumonia and breathing difficulties.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 200,000 people in the United States need to go to the hospital each year as a result of the flu.

Flu complications are unlikely to resolve on their own, and they can be a medical emergency. They may require a person to stay in the hospital. It can be weeks or even months before a person recovers from serious flu complications.

For more information and resources to help keep you and your loved ones healthy this flu season, visit our dedicated hub.

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Unlike the cold and other viruses, which present gradually, flu symptoms tend to appear suddenly. Within a few hours, a person may transition from feeling fine to having a fever and other symptoms.

A high fever occurs more commonly with the flu than with a cold, and it often appears before other symptoms.

The most common symptoms of the flu include:

• high fever
• chills
• muscle aches
• a headache
• weakness and extreme exhaustion
• a dry cough
• a sore throat
• vomiting
• congestion

The symptoms tend to peak between days 2 and 4. By day 5, some people begin to feel better. A few feel well enough to return to work or school.

However, it is important to stay at home for 24 hours after a fever breaks. If the fever only goes away with anti-fever medication, remain at home.

By day 7, most people feel significantly better, although some are still sick. It is not unusual for the flu to last longer than a week, so slow healing is not necessarily a bad sign. However, if the symptoms continue to get worse after a week, it may be best to see a doctor.

The best and most effective treatment for the flu is an antiviral flu drug. Taking this drug within 2 days of getting sick may shorten the duration of the flu and help a person avoid complications.

Before taking any anti-flu medication, a person can weigh up the risks and benefits with a doctor. It is important to tell the doctor about any previous health problems or drug reactions because some people experience side effects when they take anti-flu drugs.

Antibiotics cannot treat the flu. The flu is a virus, and antibiotics only treat bacterial infections.

However, some people develop secondary infections because of the flu. Children are especially vulnerable to ear infections, but adults can get them too. If symptoms suddenly change or get worse, this could mean that there is a new infection, which could be viral or bacterial.

The following strategies can help speed up the healing process:

• Resting and staying in bed.
• Avoiding going to work, school, or anywhere else, as this can spread the flu.
• Drinking plenty of fluids. If fever or vomiting occurs, try drinking an electrolyte drink to prevent dehydration.
• Using over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
• Washing the hands frequently to avoid spreading the infection to other members of the household.

People should try to see a doctor within 24 to 48 hours after flu symptoms appear, as this is when antiviral treatments are most effective.

It is also important to see a doctor if symptoms do not improve after 7 days or new symptoms, such as ear pain, appear.

People should seek emergency medical treatment if:

• breathing becomes difficult or labored
• muscle pain is unbearable or severe enough to prevent walking
• a child develops a fever above 104°F
• when breathing, a child or infant makes loud sounds or pulls in the muscles around their ribs
• a person has seizures, loses consciousness, seems confused, or is unable to communicate effectively
• a baby under the age of 12 weeks develops a fever
• symptoms of chronic medical conditions get worse
• there is intense dizziness that does not go away after a few hours
• a person stops urinating or urinates very rarely
• symptoms get better but then return later and are worse

Most people who get the flu will have symptoms that last between 3 and 7 days. If they develop complications, they may be ill for longer.

Thousands of people die from the flu every year. Children, older adults, or people with compromised immune systems are much more vulnerable to flu complications. People should take the flu seriously by resting and avoiding public places until their symptoms disappear.

With rest and medical care, it is possible to recover even from serious complications. Anyone with severe flu symptoms should see a doctor. To reduce the risk of getting the flu again, a person can get the flu shot every year.

How long does the flu last? Timeline and recovery

Symptoms of the flu generally appear within a few days of infection. They usually peak between days 2 and 4, and most people feel better after 5–7 days. However, symptoms can last longer in some cases, and a cough may persist for several weeks.

The flu can leave a person unable to work, perform household duties, or tend to children for several days. Some people develop severe symptoms and may need hospital care.

In this article, we discuss how long the flu usually lasts, a timeline of the common symptoms, and when to see a doctor for treatment.

For people who do not develop serious flu complications, symptoms usually last 3–7 days. Some people find that their symptoms get better and then worse again or that they are worse at certain times of the day, such as in the morning.

Although fever and the most severe symptoms typically resolve within a week, some people have low energy for up to 2 weeks, and it is possible to experience a cough for up to 8 weeks.

The flu shot reduces the risk of getting the flu but does not eliminate it. However, people who still get the flu after receiving a shot tend to have less severe symptoms that last for a shorter period.

Antiviral drugs, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu), can also shorten the length of the flu and lower the risk of serious complications.

Infants and very young children, older adults, and people with respiratory diseases may have symptoms that last longer. These individuals are also more vulnerable to serious flu complications, such as pneumonia and breathing difficulties.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 200,000 people in the United States need to go to the hospital each year as a result of the flu.

Flu complications are unlikely to resolve on their own, and they can be a medical emergency. They may require a person to stay in the hospital. It can be weeks or even months before a person recovers from serious flu complications.

For more information and resources to help keep you and your loved ones healthy this flu season, visit our dedicated hub.

Was this helpful?

Unlike the cold and other viruses, which present gradually, flu symptoms tend to appear suddenly. Within a few hours, a person may transition from feeling fine to having a fever and other symptoms.

A high fever occurs more commonly with the flu than with a cold, and it often appears before other symptoms.

The most common symptoms of the flu include:

• high fever
• chills
• muscle aches
• a headache
• weakness and extreme exhaustion
• a dry cough
• a sore throat
• vomiting
• congestion

The symptoms tend to peak between days 2 and 4. By day 5, some people begin to feel better. A few feel well enough to return to work or school.

However, it is important to stay at home for 24 hours after a fever breaks. If the fever only goes away with anti-fever medication, remain at home.

By day 7, most people feel significantly better, although some are still sick. It is not unusual for the flu to last longer than a week, so slow healing is not necessarily a bad sign. However, if the symptoms continue to get worse after a week, it may be best to see a doctor.

The best and most effective treatment for the flu is an antiviral flu drug. Taking this drug within 2 days of getting sick may shorten the duration of the flu and help a person avoid complications.

Before taking any anti-flu medication, a person can weigh up the risks and benefits with a doctor. It is important to tell the doctor about any previous health problems or drug reactions because some people experience side effects when they take anti-flu drugs.

Antibiotics cannot treat the flu. The flu is a virus, and antibiotics only treat bacterial infections.

However, some people develop secondary infections because of the flu. Children are especially vulnerable to ear infections, but adults can get them too. If symptoms suddenly change or get worse, this could mean that there is a new infection, which could be viral or bacterial.

The following strategies can help speed up the healing process:

• Resting and staying in bed.
• Avoiding going to work, school, or anywhere else, as this can spread the flu.
• Drinking plenty of fluids. If fever or vomiting occurs, try drinking an electrolyte drink to prevent dehydration.
• Using over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
• Washing the hands frequently to avoid spreading the infection to other members of the household.

People should try to see a doctor within 24 to 48 hours after flu symptoms appear, as this is when antiviral treatments are most effective.

It is also important to see a doctor if symptoms do not improve after 7 days or new symptoms, such as ear pain, appear.

People should seek emergency medical treatment if:

• breathing becomes difficult or labored
• muscle pain is unbearable or severe enough to prevent walking
• a child develops a fever above 104°F
• when breathing, a child or infant makes loud sounds or pulls in the muscles around their ribs
• a person has seizures, loses consciousness, seems confused, or is unable to communicate effectively
• a baby under the age of 12 weeks develops a fever
• symptoms of chronic medical conditions get worse
• there is intense dizziness that does not go away after a few hours
• a person stops urinating or urinates very rarely
• symptoms get better but then return later and are worse

Most people who get the flu will have symptoms that last between 3 and 7 days. If they develop complications, they may be ill for longer.

Thousands of people die from the flu every year. Children, older adults, or people with compromised immune systems are much more vulnerable to flu complications. People should take the flu seriously by resting and avoiding public places until their symptoms disappear.

With rest and medical care, it is possible to recover even from serious complications. Anyone with severe flu symptoms should see a doctor. To reduce the risk of getting the flu again, a person can get the flu shot every year.

Watch out for the flu! – Clinic “Family Doctor”.

Influenza is an acute viral infection that spreads easily from person to person. The influenza virus circulates throughout the world and can affect anyone at any age. Annual seasonal epidemics occur in the winter period. Influenza is a serious threat to human life and health, as it can lead to serious complications, even death.

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection. But what to do if you failed to get vaccinated on time, you were left alone with this insidious virus and fell ill?

You can suspect that you have the flu by the following symptoms: sudden onset of a high temperature (39-40 ° C), cough (usually dry), severe headache, severe muscle and joint pain, severe malaise, sore throat and runny nose.

Antiviral drugs are available to treat influenza, but influenza viruses can develop drug resistance. It is very important to remember that antibiotics do not kill viruses, and their appointment in the early days of the disease is not justified, since antibiotics kill a bacterial infection and do not act on a viral one. Moreover, if prescribed unreasonably, they can cause side effects. The doctor may prescribe an additional antibacterial drug for you on the 3rd-5th day of a viral infection, when a bacterial infection joins the viral infection.

In order to avoid complications, it is very important to start the correct treatment of influenza in time. Remember that the doctor must prescribe the treatment! Self-treatment, without the supervision of a doctor, can be not only ineffective, but also dangerous to your health.

Considering the severe course of the disease, the frequent development of complications and the risk of infecting others, if you feel flu symptoms, call a doctor at home! The doctor in a calm, homely atmosphere will examine you, prescribe the necessary examination and reasonable drug therapy.

The recovery period for influenza lasts 1-2 weeks. Many convalescents experience asthenia, which lasts from a few days to 2-3 weeks and is manifested by fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbance and sweating. Subfebrile body temperature up to 37.0-37.2 ° C and weakness may persist. All of these symptoms usually resolve on their own within 1 month.

Publications of our doctors on FLU and SARS

• Protecting ourselves from influenza and SARS
• Acute respiratory diseases
• Treatment of SARS and influenza
• Treatment and prevention of influenza in children
• Influenza shot
• Measures to prevent influenza and SARS

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How to distinguish influenza from SARS

In this article you will learn what is the difference between influenza and SARS and why you need to distinguish between these diseases for proper treatment and prevention.

Many people are accustomed to calling any ailment a “cold” and do not consider this condition dangerous. Indeed, there are similarities between all acute respiratory diseases. But they can be caused by different viruses and bacteria, run differently, and lead to different health outcomes. Therefore, the diagnosis and control of the doctor is actually very important.

At the first symptoms of a respiratory viral infection, you can contact a MedEx clinic physician. We will help to accurately determine the nature of the disease and quickly cure it.

Miscellaneous exciters

The main difference between influenza and SARS is the reason. The causative agent of SARS can be any of more than 200 viruses (adenoviruses, parainfluenza, rhinoviruses, coronaviruses and many others). All respiratory viruses cause similar symptoms and require the same treatment, but from a scientific point of view, SARS is not one disease, but a large group.

With the flu, the situation is different: it is caused by a very specific virus. Of course, the flu virus exists in three different types and constantly mutates, but scientists constantly monitor these changes and take them into account when preparing for each season of the epidemic.

Miscellaneous onset and course of disease

An experienced doctor can recognize the cause of the disease by the way it began and proceeds. Therefore, at the appointment with the therapist, tell in detail about your feelings from the first day when you felt that you were sick.

The main differences are:

• Influenza usually starts very abruptly. Literally within an hour or two, a high temperature rises and chills begin. The person feels unwell and tends to lie down, even if there are no respiratory signs of the disease yet. At the same time, ARVI can develop gradually and begin with slight weakness and sore throat.
• The general condition of a sick person with ARVI is usually better – there is weakness due to fever and unpleasant symptoms like a runny nose. During the flu, the patient often feels severe body aches, appetite disappears, sometimes weakness and dizziness literally do not allow to get out of bed. And most importantly, after the flu, weakness usually persists for another week or more.
• Complete recovery from SARS usually occurs within a week. Influenza usually lasts longer: up to 10 days the acute phase of the disease, 2-3 weeks – asthenic syndrome, that is, weakness and decreased performance due to intoxication of the body.

Slight differences in symptoms

In general, the picture with ARVI and influenza is similar: a person feels very cold, he is concerned about respiratory manifestations of the disease and fever. But the difference still exists, and it is important to see it in order to consult a doctor in time at the slightest suspicion of the flu.

The most important differences between flu and SARS symptoms to be aware of:

• With ARVI, a runny nose and sneezing usually appear immediately, on the very first day of the disease. With influenza, these symptoms are initially absent, they can only join on the 2-3rd day of illness and are considered a complication.
• The body temperature during influenza is higher: it can rise to 38.5-40 ° C and stay for several days. If it’s the flu, it’s usually hard to bring down the fever. At the same time, ARVI rarely gives a temperature above 38 ° C, and after 2-3 days the fever subsides.
• Some symptoms are especially pronounced with influenza: chills, pain in the eyes and photophobia, increased sweating, intense headache, redness of the mucous membranes of the eyes. Dizziness may also appear. All this is a consequence of the fact that with influenza, intoxication of the body is stronger and develops faster.
• Influenza more often than SARS is accompanied by indigestion – especially in a child.
• Cough with ARVI usually appears immediately, and with influenza it may not occur at all or join on the 2-3rd day of illness. During the flu, the cough is dry, often accompanied by chest pain.

There is a vaccine against influenza

Unlike SARS, influenza in adults and children can be prevented by vaccination. This is possible because although the flu virus is constantly evolving, it still comes in only 3 types: A, B and C. The number of strains is limited, and scientists constantly monitor their mutation, so they can prepare for each season of the epidemic.

What is important to know if you are planning to get a flu shot:

• It does not provide 100% protection. If a person has been vaccinated, this does not mean that he will definitely not get the flu this season and may not comply with preventive measures. But the risk is still reduced by 70-80%, and this is already a good indicator.
• Vaccination reduces the risk of complications from influenza and relieves symptoms of the disease. Even if a vaccinated person becomes infected, they are likely to recover from the flu more quickly and easily. Therefore, it makes sense to take root in any case.
• A vaccine is developed annually. Each season of the epidemic is dominated by different strains of the virus, so the vaccine formula is regularly adapted by scientists. The vaccine simultaneously provides protection against several of the most dangerous varieties of influenza that will be common this year.
• Vaccination should be done in advance, and not during the season of high incidence. The optimal margin of time to have time to form your own immunity is 3-4 weeks before the start of the season. In Russia, it usually begins in October-November, so the standard time for influenza vaccination is early autumn.

At the same time, it is impossible to vaccinate against SARS, because this is too large a group of viral diseases. To prepare for a seasonal outbreak of SARS, you should strengthen your immune system in advance with proper nutrition, hardening, healthy sleep patterns and other methods. And directly in the cold season, you need to take additional precautions: dress according to the weather, wash your hands more often and avoid crowded places unless absolutely necessary.

What do SARS and influenza have in common

Despite the differences in the symptoms of influenza and SARS in adults, there are some common points. Strictly speaking, the flu is also one of the varieties of SARS. But since it is more severe and more likely to lead to complications, it is important to diagnose it separately and distinguish it from all other respiratory infections.

What unites these two diagnoses:

• It is useless to treat both ARVI and influenza with antibiotics – these are diseases of a viral nature; drugs for their treatment are selected by a general practitioner after a personal consultation.
• The main thing for recovery is to keep the body calm, drink plenty of warm liquids and make sure that the body temperature does not rise excessively. These rules are relevant for any acute respiratory disease – an acute respiratory disease.
• Influenza and SARS are highly contagious and are transmitted in the same way: by airborne droplets, by physical contact with a sick person, or through surfaces that an infected person has touched.
• Epidemic nature: the incidence of SARS and influenza in Russia increases sharply every year in the autumn-winter period and in the spring. The peak incidence usually occurs in January-February. At this time, schools and kindergartens are closed for quarantine throughout the country, and polyclinics are overcrowded.
• At risk for SARS and influenza are children under 14 years of age, pensioners, pregnant women and adults with weakened immunity for various reasons. These groups of people are more likely to catch the virus and need to be monitored by a doctor during an illness.
• SARS and influenza are fraught with similar complications: against their background, inflammatory processes can occur in the lungs and bronchi, middle ear, sinuses, and even in the heart or brain.

In addition, after the flu, the likelihood of serious life-threatening complications is higher. Therefore, it is so dangerous to carry the disease “on your feet” and self-medicate – it is important to diagnose and treat it under medical supervision.