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FAQs About the Flu Season

About Flu

  • What is the flu?

    The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness and, at times, lead to death.

  • How long does it take for flu symptoms to appear after exposure?

    The time from when a person is exposed to the flu virus and infected to when symptoms begin is usually one to four days – two days is the average.

  • What are symptoms of the flu?

    Flu usually starts suddenly and common symptoms include fevers or chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headache and fatigue.

    Flu vs. Cold 

    Signs and SymptomsInfluenzaCold
    Symptom onset Abrupt Gradual
    Fever Usual: lasts 3-4 days Rare
    Aches Usual: often severe Slight
    Chills Fairly common Uncommon
    Fatigue, weakness Usual Sometimes
    Sneezing Sometimes Common
    Stuffy nose Sometimes Common
    Sore throat Sometimes Common
    Chest discomfort, cough Common: can be severe Mild to moderate: hacking cough
    Headache Common Rare

    Reference: Signs and Symptoms of Flu | Influenza (Flu) | CDC

    Note: Patients exhibiting flu-like illness/respiratory illness should be given a mask and placed in a room as soon as possible.

  • What are the warning signs in patients with the flu, and what should they do?

    Warning signs/symptoms in adults include shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, decreased responsiveness or confusion, worsening headaches or seizures, persistent vomiting, diarrhea, inability to keep liquids down, lightheadedness, dizziness, or fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen.

    In children, some warning signs are fast breathing or trouble breathing, bluish or gray skin discoloration, fever with rash, irritability, ribs pulling in with breathing, dehydration, not alert or interacting when awake, seizures, and not wanting to be held.

    As soon as a person has these symptoms, they MUST contact their healthcare provider, or, if that provider’s office can’t be reached, go to the nearest emergency room.

  • When is a person with flu contagious?

    A person with the flu is contagious from one day before symptoms develop up to seven days after becoming sick. People with the flu are most contagious in the first three to four days after their illness begins. Note that children and individuals who are immunocompromised, such as transplant patients, may shed (meaning replicate or reproduce) the virus for longer.

  • How is flu spread?

    Flu is mainly spread by person-to-person contact through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, or talking. Less commonly, it can also be spread by touching something with flu viruses, such as a doorknob or tissues, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

  • Who is at risk for flu complications?

    Per the CDC, the following patients are at increased risk for complications from the flu:

    • Adults 65 years and older
    • Children younger than 2 years old
    • People with asthma
    • People with chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis)
    • People with neurologic and neurodevelopmental conditions
    • People with blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
    • People with endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
    • People with heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease)
    • People with kidney disorders
    • People with liver disorders
    • People with metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
    • People with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 kg/m2 or higher
    • People younger than 19 years old on long-term aspirin- or salicylate-containing medications
    • People with a weakened immune system due to disease (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or some cancers such as leukemia) or medications (such as those receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer, or persons with chronic conditions requiring chronic corticosteroids or other drugs that suppress the immune system)
    • People who have had a stroke
    • People with certain disabilities – especially those who may have trouble with muscle function, lung function, or difficulty coughing, swallowing, or clearing fluids from their airways
  • Will I need more than one dose of the flu vaccine?

    If you are a healthy adult, you will not need more than one dose of the flu vaccine. Only children 6 months old to 8 years old who receive the flu vaccination for the first time need two doses.

  • Who should get vaccinated?

    CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that everyone 6 months and older with no contraindications receives a licensed and age-appropriate flu vaccine. There is a list of approved vaccines on the CDC.gov website.

  • What is the nasal flu vaccine (aka FluMist)?

    FluMist is a nasal spray flu vaccine approved for use in healthy, non-pregnant people ages 2 through 49 years old. People who are pregnant and people with certain medical conditions should not get the nasal spray flu vaccine. The effectiveness of the nasal flu vaccine can vary from year to year.

  • Do you offer a different flu vaccine recommended for people over 65?

    Yes, we offer the Fluad Trivalent adjuvanted inactivated flu vaccine. This is one of three vaccines recommended based on a review of available studies suggesting that, in this age group, these vaccines are potentially more effective than standard dose unadjuvanted flu vaccines.

  • What tests can detect flu?

    Rapid influenza antigen tests can give results within one hour. However, they tend to have poor sensitivity, so false-negative results can occur. If someone has symptoms consistent with the flu and the rapid influenza antigen test is negative, a more accurate PCR testing can be performed, particularly during peak influenza activity. PCR flu testing is more sensitive and can detect other respiratory viruses.

  • Who should receive flu treatment?

    People who are hospitalized, with higher risk of complications, or with severe, complicated, or progressive illness, should receive treatment with appropriate antivirals. Treatment can be considered in otherwise healthy, low-risk individuals if it can be started within 48 hours of onset. 

  • What should I do if I have flu symptoms?

    If you are an employee with flu symptoms, please notify your supervisor and refer to the Flu Grid for the next steps. Take precautions to prevent flu transmission until you are cleared:

    • Wear a mask or maintain a 6-foot distance from others.
    • Practice good cough etiquette.
    • Wash hands frequently.
    • Use hand sanitizers.

    Post-flu, most people can return to work once they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using a fever-reducing medicine. Usually, that will require staying home for three to five days. People taking an antiviral medication tend to shed the virus for a shorter period. 

  • How can I prevent transmission of the flu?

    Wash your hands frequently. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and then deposit the tissue in a wastebasket and wash your hands with soap and water or a hand sanitizer.

  • What if I was exposed to someone with flu?

    If while at work you had unprotected exposure (within 6 feet and without a mask) to a patient or an employee with the flu, contact Occupational Health. You may continue working but must monitor yourself for signs and symptoms. If you notice any flu-like symptoms, stop all patient care and immediately contact your supervisor and Occupational Health.

    If you had unprotected exposure to someone outside of work with suspected or confirmed flu, contact your health care provider to see if you would be a candidate for post-exposure prophylaxis.

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