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Do I have the flu? Flu Season: What You Need to Know
This year's flu season is one of the worst in more than a decade. Like most hospitals, we are also experiencing an increase in the number patients worried that they or a loved one has the flu. We know you have questions. Below is information you need to know during this flu epidemic:
What may seem like the flu, could, in fact, be a cold. Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus. A common cold is relatively harmless and clears up by itself over time.
Be aware of these differences:
| Cold symptoms |
Flu symptoms |
|
Low or no fever |
High fever |
|
Sometimes a headache |
Always a headache |
|
Stuffy, runny nose |
Clear nose or stuffy nose |
|
Sneezing |
Sometimes sneezing |
|
Mild, hacking cough |
Cough, often becoming severe |
|
Slight aches and pains |
Often severe aches and pains |
|
Mild fatigue |
Several weeks of fatigue |
|
Sore throat |
Sometimes a sore throat |
|
Normal energy level |
Extreme exhaustion |
If you have the flu, the emergency room may not be your best option. Seek immediate medical attention when in doubt. Know as well that emergency room doctors must care for people with life-threatening illnesses first. Urgent care or a trip to your doctor may be the better option.
Want to learn more about the flu?
The resources below can help you stay healthy or get better sooner:
Montefiore Patient Health Library
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Flu.gov
Flu Vaccinations: Your First Line of Defense
