The rule of thumb to tell the difference between the two is that the symptoms of the flu may come on quickly and more severely than a cold, which is usually milder. How do I know if I have the flu?Ī lot of illnesses have “flu-like” symptoms – it can be hard to tell whether or not you have the flu because it shares a number of symptoms with other infections and conditions, especially the common cold.įlu and colds – the flu and the common cold can be mistaken for one another because they share a lot of the same symptoms, such as fever, a cough, and a sore throat. If you’re getting worse or not feeling any better after a week, call NHS 111 or go and see your doctor.įor more information on the flu, you can read our page on flu symptoms here. Go see a doctor if your symptoms last longer – if you still feel very ill after a week then it may mean that you have an underlying condition that is stopping you from recovering, or the flu is causing more serious health complications. Most of your symptoms should have subsided by this point, but it’s normal to feel weak and tired while your body recovers from the infection. You should make a full recovery within 2 weeks – while your body may have fought off the infection successfully, you may not feel 100% for up to 2 weeks after being infected. It’s recommended that even if you are feeling a little bit better, you should still rest as much as possible to help your body recover. You usually have symptoms for around 3 to 7 days – once you’re through the worst of the flu, you will still have some lingering symptoms to recover from, which can include a dry cough, fatigue, and weakness. During this time you will most likely be confined to bed with fatigue, weakness, and a high fever. The most severe symptoms generally last 2 to 3 days – the start of the flu is when the infection is at its worst, so the symptoms are at their most severe. Symptoms of the flu can appear quite suddenly and intensely, so it is common to be fine one day and then be out of action the next day with the flu. The flu can come on unexpectedly – the flu has a short incubation period, between 1 to 4 days, so you can start showing symptoms very quickly after being exposed to the virus.
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