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The flu

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Flu; Influenza A; Influenza B

Symptoms:

• Fever - may be high
• Headache
• Tiredness
• Dry cough
• Sore throat
• Stuffy, congested nose
• Muscle aches and stiffness

Other symptoms may include:

• Nasal discharge
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Croupy cough
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Malaise
• Sweating
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Worsening of underlying illness, such as asthma or heart failure

Signs and tests:

The evaluation of an individual with flu symptoms should include a thorough physical exam and, in cases where pneumonia is suspected, a chest x-ray .

Additional blood work may be needed. They may include a complete blood count , blood cultures, and sputum cultures.

The most common method for diagnosing the flu is an antigen detection test, which is done by swabbing the nose and throat, then sending a sample to the laboratory for testing.

The results of these tests can be available rapidly, and can help decide if specific treatment is appropriate. However, the diagnosis can often be made by simply identifying symptoms without further testing.

References:

CDC Recommends Against the Use of Amantadine and Rimantadine for the Treatment or Prophylaxis of Influenza in the United States during the 2005-06 Influenza Season . Atlanta, Ga. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; January 14, 2006.

Long SS, Pickering LK, and Prober CG, eds. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 2 ^nd Ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone, 2003:1159-1160.

Ferri FF. Ferri’s Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. 2005 ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2005:447-448.

Noble J., ed. Textbook of Primary Care Medicine . 3 ^rd Ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2001.

• Review Date: 1/18/2006
• Reviewed By: Daniel Levy, MD, PhD, Infectious Diseases, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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