The flu typically lasts about a week, with symptoms like fever, chills, body aches, and fatigue improving within a few days. However, for some people, certain flu symptoms linger for weeks, making recovery feel slow. If you’ve found yourself still suffering from symptoms long after the flu should’ve passed, you’re not alone. In this blog, we’ll explore the most common reasons flu symptoms stick around, when to seek medical care, and how to speed up your recovery.

For same-day flu symptom relief, visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Livingston. Our board-certified medical providers specialize in diagnosing and treating flu symptoms 7 days a week. No appointments are required– simply walk-in today!

Get Directions

What Causes The Flu?

The flu is a respiratory illness caused by exposure to what is called the influenza virus. It is a common illness, especially during winter, with numerous variants passing around that require a flu shot to protect yourself.

Common symptoms associated with the flu include:

• Chills and fever
• Headache
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Body aches
• Fatigue
• Post-nasal drip
• Sore throat

What Makes Flu Symptoms Linger?

A lingering flu infection might just be a sign of a secondary illness, such as pneumonia. It can also be because of poor treatment or underlying problems with the affected immunity. There are some risk cases and individuals that are especially vulnerable and are more likely to experience flu that lasts for several weeks, such as:

• Children under the age of 5
• Older people that are 65 and above
• People with underlying respiratory issues such as asthma or bronchitis
• Individuals with naturally weak immune responses
• Unvaccinated people
• People who are already suffering from an autoimmune disease or diabetes

Sometimes, this lingering flu can also happen whenever the afflicted individual doesn’t get enough rest and treatment.

Understanding The Flu Cycle

Influenza starts with incubation, in which the virus begins to rapidly increase in the body, and this incubation can take up to two days. Around day 2, initial symptoms such as fever, chills, body aches, and headaches begin to surface. By the third and fourth day, the symptoms hit their peak, and that is when severe fatigue and possibly even delirium hit like a truck. Around day 5 to 7, these symptoms begin to ram down with less body pain, headaches, and more appetite. Afterward is the recovery and recuperation period.

Flu Prevention

• Get Your Shot: For any viral infection like the flu, your best bet is to make sure you are vaccinated. A lot of people avoid getting their shot either due to laziness, work, or simply because they believe they do not require another one since they have already taken one. But that is a wrong mindset because influenza tends to have several variants and even new variants that you might not have as much immunity against.
• Cover Your Face and Avoid Public Places During Flu Season: This virus spreads through droplets ejected into the air by people already infected. This makes public and crowded spaces like stadiums, trains, parks, and offices the most likely areas to easily catch it. To keep yourself protected, you should wear a mask in public spaces to protect your nose and face from these aerosols.
• Wash Your Hands and Face After Interacting With Public Items: Don’t touch items likely swarming with influenza, like handrails, park benches, and doorknobs, without covering your hands first. Even if you have no choice but to use those items or touch them, you should still wash your hands and face with soap and water after doing so.

How To Treat Lingering Flu

1. Get plenty of rest, and allow the body to recuperate. Doing this will reduce the risk of having lingering flu.

2. Consuming some chicken soup or tea filled with honey or ginger will give the body the right kick to fight off the virus.

3. You need to stay hydrated when you are down with the flu, so drink a lot of water.

4. Try taking nasal or oral decongestants to relieve your nose of any congestion.

5. Steam Inhalation has also been shown to relieve the nose and help fight off the fever.

6. Use antivirals to fight off the infection.

Get Walk-In Flu Treatment at AFC Urgent Care Livingston

While it’s normal for some flu symptoms to persist for a couple of weeks, symptoms that worsen or linger beyond the normal timeframe may indicate a complication. The best way to recover from lingering flu symptoms is to support your immune system with plenty of rest and hydration. If you’re struggling with prolonged symptoms, come visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Livingston. We can provide an expert evaluation and care to get you back to feeling your best! We understand that flu symptoms can significantly disrupt your quality of life. That’s why we’re open 7 days a week to provide exceptional urgent care to all patients in the Livingston, NJ area.

We accept most major health insurances and offer cost-effective care for self-paying patients. If you have any additional questions about cold and flu treatment, or other services we provide, please call us directly at (973) 601-2626.