Fight the flu

Sections

Quick tips

Flu prevention

Get plenty of rest, physical activity and eat healthy.
Stay home from school or work if you have a respiratory infection. Avoid exposing yourself to others who are sick with flu-like symptoms.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue whenever you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue away. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve.
Clean surfaces you touch frequently, such as doorknobs, water faucets, refrigerator handles and telephones.
Wash your hands often with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

When to seek care

Most people can fight the flu at home with rest and fluids. If you are in a group at high risk for complications and you become sick with the flu virus, you should contact your health care provider early on so that you can be given antiviral medication if needed. Contact your health care provider if your symptoms worsen.

Will I get sick from the flu shot?

Do I need a flu shot if I am healthy?

The flu vaccine isn't like other vaccines with longer-lasting protection. Even if you had a flu shot last season, you will need a flu shot each year to be protected. Flu viruses are unpredictable, and every season puts you at risk.

Anyone can become sick with the flu and experience serious complications. Older adults, infants, pregnant women and people with medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or kidney disease are at especially high risk from the flu. However, kids, teens and adults who are active and healthy also can get the flu and become very ill from it.

How does the flu shot work?

Is it ever too late in the season to get a flu shot?

Signs and symptoms	Influenza	Cold
Onset	Sudden	Gradual
Fever	Temperature of 100° F and above, lasting 3-4 days	None or a temperature of less than 100° F
Cough	Dry, sometimes severe	Hacking
Headache	Prominent	Rare
Muscle pain	Usual, often severe	Uncommon or mild
Tiredness and weakness	Lasting 2-3 weeks	Very mild and brief
Extreme exhaustion	Early and prominent	Never
Chest discomfort	Common	Uncommon or mild
Stuffy nose	Sometimes	Common
Sneezing	Sometimes	Typical
Sore throat	Sometimes	Common