Influenza

About Influenza

Influenza (“the flu”) is a contagious respiratory infection caused by influenza A or B viruses, typically circulating from late fall through early spring. It comes on abruptly with fever, body aches, headache, sore throat, dry cough, and profound fatigue. Most healthy adults recover in a week; complications such as pneumonia, sinus infection, and worsening of chronic disease are more common in older adults, young children, pregnant patients, and those with comorbidities. Annual vaccination is the best prevention; antivirals such as oseltamivir reduce duration and complications when started within 48 hours of symptom onset.