Flu-like Symptoms

What are flu-like characteristics?

Flu-like symptoms are a group of symptoms that are generally due to infection or inflammation in the body. There are a variety of flu-like symptoms that include:

• Body aches and pains

• Chills

• Cough

• Fatigue

• Fever

• Headache

• Nasal congestion

• Sore throat

You may experience all or some of these symptoms, and you can have flu-like symptoms with or without a fever. A fever (increased body temperature) is your body’s response to infection. Most pathogens that cause disease survive best at a normal body temperature, about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Raising the temperature is your body’s natural way of killing the infectious pathogens or preventing their spread. A fever is considered an oral temperature of 99.5 degrees or higher in a child and higher than 99.0 to 99.5 degrees in an adult.

Flu-like symptoms can be associated not only with influenza (flu), but with other infections, recent immunization, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, cancer, and other condtions, including serious or life-threatening infections. If your flu-like symptoms or fever last for more than 48 hours or cause you concern, seek prompt medical care. Fever in infants and very young children can quickly become serious, so you should seek prompt medical care if your baby or toddler develops a fever.

Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have flu-like symptoms that occur with difficulty breathing, stiff neck, seizure, confusion, or a change in alertness.