How Long Does the Flu Last?

The flu normally last five to seven days, but not for everyone. The flu shot may not prevent the flu, but it can make the virus shorter or less severe.

Aches and pains, chills, fever, cough, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and sore throat are all possible symptoms of a flu virus.

How long does the flu last?

The usual course runs like this: Symptoms appear from one to four days after exposure, lasting five to seven days. Many people feel tired for a while even after the worst is over. In some people, the flu lasts longer.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Symptoms of the Flu

If you get a flu but had the flu shot, the symptoms may go away more quickly or be less dramatic.

You get the flu from airborne saliva when someone sneezes or coughs, or if you kiss or share eating utensils. An infected adult is contagious about a day before symptoms start and may continue to be contagious for five to seven days, children a bit longer.

The flu season in the United States begins in October and November. The peak hits between December and February, but the virus may still be active in May. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in your body and protect you.

It’s best to try to get your vaccine by the end of October, but it’s still worth having in February. Flus often come in two waves, with a different kind of virus in each wave. Getting a shot even in January can protect you from the second wave.

If you develop symptoms, you should rest and drink plenty of fluids. You can take over-the-counter fever reducers like acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve).

People most at risk for the flu include:

• Small children
• The elderly
• Pregnant women
• The very obese (with a body mass index of 40 and up)

People with a chronic illness — such as asthma, heart disease, or type 1 or type 2 diabetes — are at risk for a lingering case or other complications, including pneumonia, bronchitis, or a sinus or ear infection. People with asthma may have an attack. The flu may trigger heart complications in people with chronic congestive heart failure.

If you have symptoms of the flu, it’s especially important to stay away from people in those high-risk groups, to avoid infecting them.

The common cold rarely causes a fever above 101 degrees, and you’re less likely to have muscle aches. Either way, it’s important to stay away from the most vulnerable people.

If you are in a risk group, talk to your doctor about taking oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza). Some doctors prescribe drugs that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn’t recognize as treatments for the flu: amantadine (Summetrel) and rimantadine (Flumadine).

How to avoid the flu

1. Get the flu shot every year.
2. Wash your hands with soap and water before eating or touching your face.
3. Quit smoking.
4. Talk to your doctor about medication.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Our Cold and Flu Season section