How do you know that you have flu?
Once you get infected with the virus. It takes 1 to 4 days for you to feel symptoms due to the disease.
The most common signs and symptoms are:
1. Headaches, muscle aches, joint pains, body malaise and fatigue that can be severe during the first few days but will slowly improve.
2. Sore throat which is more common in older children (because young ones cannot complain) and adults.
3. Cough which starts as dry and hacking and progresses by the 3rd day to wet with thick mucus. Your cough can worsen during the next 4-7 days and can last for over 2 weeks. You have a higher risk to develop bronchitis and pneumonia if you smoke.
4. Fever with a temperature of 38oC to 40oC, with or without chills, within 12 hours from onset of infection. Fever is higher in children and can reach to as high as 41oC.
5. Nasal congestion, watery eyes or runny nose.
6. Vomiting and/or diarrhea. Diarrhea is more common in children less than 6 years of age.
