The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus. It can cause mild to severe illness, and occasionally lead to death. The best way to avoid getting the flu is by getting a vaccine every year.
What are the symptoms of the flu?
Flu symptoms are similar to other illnesses, so it can be hard to diagnose just from symptoms. There are tests to see whether or not a person is ill from influenza or not.
Flu symptoms generally show up 2 days after someone is exposed and infected to the influenza virus. However, this can range from 1 day to 4 days.
It is also important to note that not everyone with the flu will have all of the symptoms. For example, vomiting and diarrhea are more common in children with the flu than adults. Symptoms of the flu include:
- Fever
- Feeling feverish/having chills
- Sore throat
- Coughing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Tiredness or fatigue
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
How contagious is the flu?
A lot of factors impact how long someone who has the flu will be contagious. For example, the person’s individual immune system and the strain of flu will cause the contagious period to vary.
On average, people are the most contagious in the first 3-4 days after their illness starts. Otherwise healthy adults can spread the flu 1 day before their own symptoms develop and up to a week after becoming sick. Young children and those with weaker immune systems might be able to spread the flu for an even longer period of time.
How can I avoid getting the flu?
While avoiding those who have been sick with the flu during their contagious periods is a great way to prevent getting the flu, it is not easy to predict and may not be entirely accurate.
The best way to avoid getting the flu is to get a flu vaccine. The vaccine is available as a shot or a nasal spray. The CDC does not promote one method over the other, both are effective at preventing the flu. If you do not want to make a doctor’s appointment just to receive a flu shot, consider visiting an urgent care center. Urgent care centers accept walk-ins and can get you a flu shot quickly.
Visit AFC Urgent Care Little Ferry for Flu Shots and More
AFC Urgent Care Little Ferry is a local urgent care center and walk-in clinic that can help patients get flu shots, flu testing, and flu treatment in Little Ferry, NJ. To get a flu shot you can book online or simply visit our clinic as a walk-in patient. We don’t require appointments so you can get your flu shot when it suits your needs and schedule!
