Seasonal Flu - Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

What is the flu?

Influenza is also called the “flu”. A virus that infects the nose, throat and lungs causes the flu.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

Symptoms of the flu can include: fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches.

Can you get sick to your stomach with the flu?

Not usually. Stomach problems are not common in adults. Children, however, can have additional problems such as a sick feeling in their stomach, vomiting and diarrhea.

What’s the difference between a cold and the flu?

The flu can cause severe illness and can threaten the life of many people, especially the elderly, people with chronic illness and very young people. A cold is usually not that serious. In general, the flu is worse than a cold. The flu has symptoms such as fever, body aches and you can get very tired. Colds have similar symptoms, but they are usually mild.

How can you tell the difference between a cold and the flu?

Often it is difficult to tell the difference because they share many of the same symptoms. Your health care provider can give you a test to determine if you have the flu.

When do people get the flu?

In the U.S., the flu season usually lasts from December through March. Occasionally the season may begin a month or two earlier, or last a month or two longer.

How is the flu spread?

When a person coughs or sneezes and their respiratory droplets spread to another person who is close by (about 3 feet), that second person may become infected. Sometimes flu can spread when a person touches an infected object such as a telephone, doorknob, or other common object, and then touches their face, mouth or eyes before washing their hands.

How soon will you get sick after you’ve been infected?

The time from when you have been exposed to a flu virus to the time when you get sick is about 1 to 4 days. Many people get sick within 2 days.

How long can an infected person spread the flu to others?

This can vary, depending on the age and health of the infected person. In general, healthy adults can infect others from 1 day before they begin to feel sick to about 5 days after they first develop symptoms. Young children and people with chronic illnesses can infect others for about a week or more.

How sick will you get?

Generally, healthy adults will be sick for about 7 to 10 days. Very young infants (birth to 6 months) and older adults can have some serious problems caused by the flu. In addition, people with chronic medical problems and weak immune systems are at the highest risk for having serious problems.

Are there any problems if you are pregnant and have the flu?

There can be. Women who get the flu during pregnancy, especially those with chronic illnesses, can have serious problems. A flu shot is recommended for women who are, or will become pregnant during the flu season.

Also, children over 6 months of age and under the age of 2, who live in the same house, or who have close contact with a pregnant woman, should also get a flu shot.

How many people get sick or die from the flu each year?

On average about 200,000 people in the U.S. get sick each year from the flu. About 36,000 people die in the U.S. each year from problems caused by the flu. Some years may be milder or more severe than others.

Can a flu that has been around become a pandemic?

No. An influenza virus that is new, or one that hasn’t been around for many years causes a pandemic. The type of flu we have each season will vary, but these strains have been around and our bodies are more able to cope with them. Seasonal flu bugs cannot cause a pandemic.

How can you prevent the flu?

The best thing you can do to avoid the flu each year is get a flu shot in the fall. Another thing you should do is wash your hands frequently and stay healthy.

Who should get a flu shot?

The people who should get a flu shot include people 65 years of age and older; people who live in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home; adults who have chronic heart or lung problems, including asthma; adults who need regular medical care, or who have been in the hospital within the past year for a chronic illness; and women who are pregnant.

Should children get a flu shot?

Some children should. Children who should get a flu shot include children 6 months or older who have a chronic heart or lung problem, including asthma; children 6 months or older who need regular medical care, or who have been in the hospital in the past year for a chronic illness; and children 6 months to 18 years of age who are on long-term aspirin therapy.

Children who get their flu shot for the first time will need go back and get a booster (or second flu shot) in four to six weeks.

What about people between the ages of 50 – 65? Should they get a flu shot?

A flu shot is recommended for people between the ages of 50 – 64 because many people at this age have one or more medical problems that put them at risk for other problems caused by the flu.

What about health care workers?

Yes. Health care workers who provide direct patient care should get an annual flu shot.

Where can you get a flu shot?

You can contact your health care provider or visit our Flu Shot web page.

Who shouldn’t get a flu shot?

There are some people who shouldn’t get a flu shot without first talking to their health care provider. These include:

people who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs;
those who have had a severe reaction to a flu shot in the past;
people who have developed Guillain-Barre syndrome within 6 weeks of getting a flu shot in the past;
children between the ages of birth to 6 months of age; and
people who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever. These people should wait to get a flu shot until their symptoms lessen.

What are antiviral medications and what do they do?

Antiviral medicines are used along with the flu vaccine to treat the symptoms of the flu. When used correctly, these medicines can reduce the amount of time you feel sick by 1 or 2 days and make you less contagious to others. Antiviral medications do not cure the flu and are not used for people who have a common cold.

How are antiviral medicines used?

They are often used to help control flu outbreaks in places such as nursing homes or hospitals, where people are at high risk for problems from the flu, and where they are in close contact with one another.

How can you get antiviral drugs?

Antiviral medicines are available through prescription only. Contact your health care provider to discuss whether you should take antiviral drugs for the flu.

How can you get more information about antiviral drugs?

You can get more information about antiviral medicines by visiting.

What should you do if you get the flu?

If you get the flu, you should wash your hands often and stay home from work or school so that you don’t infect others. Visit your health care provider when your symptoms first appear to determine if antiviral medications are right for you. Let your body heal by getting rest, drinking plenty of water or clear liquids, avoiding alcohol, and taking aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve the symptoms.

Home > Departments > Health and Human Services > Community Health > Communicable Diseases > Flu - Influenza > Seasonal Flu
	Seasonal Flu - Frequently Asked Questions and Answers What is the flu? Influenza is also called the “flu”. A virus that infects the nose, throat and lungs causes the flu. What are the symptoms of the flu? Symptoms of the flu can include: fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches. Can you get sick to your stomach with the flu? Not usually. Stomach problems are not common in adults. Children, however, can have additional problems such as a sick feeling in their stomach, vomiting and diarrhea. What’s the difference between a cold and the flu? The flu can cause severe illness and can threaten the life of many people, especially the elderly, people with chronic illness and very young people. A cold is usually not that serious. In general, the flu is worse than a cold. The flu has symptoms such as fever, body aches and you can get very tired. Colds have similar symptoms, but they are usually mild. How can you tell the difference between a cold and the flu? Often it is difficult to tell the difference because they share many of the same symptoms. Your health care provider can give you a test to determine if you have the flu. When do people get the flu? In the U.S., the flu season usually lasts from December through March. Occasionally the season may begin a month or two earlier, or last a month or two longer. How is the flu spread? When a person coughs or sneezes and their respiratory droplets spread to another person who is close by (about 3 feet), that second person may become infected. Sometimes flu can spread when a person touches an infected object such as a telephone, doorknob, or other common object, and then touches their face, mouth or eyes before washing their hands. How soon will you get sick after you’ve been infected? The time from when you have been exposed to a flu virus to the time when you get sick is about 1 to 4 days. Many people get sick within 2 days. How long can an infected person spread the flu to others? This can vary, depending on the age and health of the infected person. In general, healthy adults can infect others from 1 day before they begin to feel sick to about 5 days after they first develop symptoms. Young children and people with chronic illnesses can infect others for about a week or more. How sick will you get? Generally, healthy adults will be sick for about 7 to 10 days. Very young infants (birth to 6 months) and older adults can have some serious problems caused by the flu. In addition, people with chronic medical problems and weak immune systems are at the highest risk for having serious problems. Are there any problems if you are pregnant and have the flu? There can be. Women who get the flu during pregnancy, especially those with chronic illnesses, can have serious problems. A flu shot is recommended for women who are, or will become pregnant during the flu season. Also, children over 6 months of age and under the age of 2, who live in the same house, or who have close contact with a pregnant woman, should also get a flu shot. How many people get sick or die from the flu each year? On average about 200,000 people in the U.S. get sick each year from the flu. About 36,000 people die in the U.S. each year from problems caused by the flu. Some years may be milder or more severe than others. Can a flu that has been around become a pandemic? No. An influenza virus that is new, or one that hasn’t been around for many years causes a pandemic. The type of flu we have each season will vary, but these strains have been around and our bodies are more able to cope with them. Seasonal flu bugs cannot cause a pandemic. How can you prevent the flu? The best thing you can do to avoid the flu each year is get a flu shot in the fall. Another thing you should do is wash your hands frequently and stay healthy. Who should get a flu shot? The people who should get a flu shot include people 65 years of age and older; people who live in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home; adults who have chronic heart or lung problems, including asthma; adults who need regular medical care, or who have been in the hospital within the past year for a chronic illness; and women who are pregnant. Should children get a flu shot? Some children should. Children who should get a flu shot include children 6 months or older who have a chronic heart or lung problem, including asthma; children 6 months or older who need regular medical care, or who have been in the hospital in the past year for a chronic illness; and children 6 months to 18 years of age who are on long-term aspirin therapy. Children who get their flu shot for the first time will need go back and get a booster (or second flu shot) in four to six weeks. What about people between the ages of 50 – 65? Should they get a flu shot? A flu shot is recommended for people between the ages of 50 – 64 because many people at this age have one or more medical problems that put them at risk for other problems caused by the flu. What about health care workers? Yes. Health care workers who provide direct patient care should get an annual flu shot. Where can you get a flu shot? You can contact your health care provider or visit our Flu Shot web page. Who shouldn’t get a flu shot? There are some people who shouldn’t get a flu shot without first talking to their health care provider. These include: people who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs; those who have had a severe reaction to a flu shot in the past; people who have developed Guillain-Barre syndrome within 6 weeks of getting a flu shot in the past; children between the ages of birth to 6 months of age; and people who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever. These people should wait to get a flu shot until their symptoms lessen. What are antiviral medications and what do they do? Antiviral medicines are used along with the flu vaccine to treat the symptoms of the flu. When used correctly, these medicines can reduce the amount of time you feel sick by 1 or 2 days and make you less contagious to others. Antiviral medications do not cure the flu and are not used for people who have a common cold. How are antiviral medicines used? They are often used to help control flu outbreaks in places such as nursing homes or hospitals, where people are at high risk for problems from the flu, and where they are in close contact with one another. How can you get antiviral drugs? Antiviral medicines are available through prescription only. Contact your health care provider to discuss whether you should take antiviral drugs for the flu. How can you get more information about antiviral drugs? You can get more information about antiviral medicines by visiting. What should you do if you get the flu? If you get the flu, you should wash your hands often and stay home from work or school so that you don’t infect others. Visit your health care provider when your symptoms first appear to determine if antiviral medications are right for you. Let your body heal by getting rest, drinking plenty of water or clear liquids, avoiding alcohol, and taking aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve the symptoms.