Early symptoms of influenza in adults

Early symptoms of influenza usually include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches and fatigue. If you experience the above symptoms, it is recommended to seek medical attention as soon as possible, especially if you have high fever or difficulty breathing, so as not to delay treatment.

1Fever and chills

The most typical symptom of influenza in the early stage is a sudden high fever, which often reaches 38°C or above, and may be accompanied by chills. This is a defensive response of the body to viral infection, but you also need to pay attention to the burden of high fever on the body. For early fever, you can relieve symptoms by drinking more water, resting, and physically cooling down, such as wiping your armpits and forehead with a warm water towel. If the body temperature continues to rise or is accompanied by other serious symptoms, you need to take antipyretic drugs such as acetaminophen in time and go to the hospital for treatment.

2. Cough and sore throat

Flu viruses often attack the respiratory mucosa, causing coughs and sore throats. Early coughs are mostly dry coughs, which may then turn into sputum. If the cough is severe, especially if there is blood in the cough or chest pain, you should be alert to complications such as lung infection. Ways to relieve sore throats include using anti-inflammatory lozenges or gargling with salt water, and avoiding eating too cold or too hot food. If necessary, cough suppressants such as dextromethorphan or anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken under the guidance of a doctor.

3. Fatigue and muscle aches all over the body

After influenza infection, the virus triggers a systemic inflammatory response, leading to significant fatigue and muscle aches, and early symptoms are similar to a "bad cold." Supplementing sleep and doing moderate amounts of light exercise can help alleviate these symptoms, while ensuring that you take in easily digestible, nutritious foods such as vegetable soup and fruits rich in vitamin C to provide the body with sufficient recovery energy.

4Other early symptoms

Some adults may also experience mild nasal congestion, runny nose, headache and other symptoms. These symptoms vary from person to person, but regardless of the severity of the symptoms, they should be taken seriously, especially for those with underlying diseases or low immunity, who are more likely to develop more serious conditions after being infected with the flu.

If influenza infection is confirmed, early use of antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir and zanamivir can effectively relieve symptoms and shorten the course of the disease. Daily prevention measures such as influenza vaccination, frequent hand washing, and wearing masks can significantly reduce the risk of illness. If you or your family have the above symptoms, please seek medical attention as soon as possible to avoid complications caused by influenza.