Flu, also called influenza, is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs, which are part of the respiratory system. The flu is caused by a virus. Influenza viruses are different from the "stomach flu" viruses that cause diarrhea and vomiting. Most people with the flu get better on their own.

Jan 28, 2025 · To diagnose the flu, also called influenza, your healthcare professional does a physical exam, looks for symptoms of flu and possibly orders a test that detects flu viruses. The viruses that cause flu spread at high levels during certain times of the year in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

Unlike a cold, the flu tends to come on suddenly and makes you feel much worse than a cold. Common symptoms of the flu often include a fever but not always, as well as headache, aching muscles, and chills and sweats.

Dec 30, 2024 · According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, respiratory infections like colds, flu and RSV are rising across the U.S. When you get sick, it’s helpful to understand how to manage your symptoms effectively, …

Jul 22, 2023 · COVID-19 and the flu are both contagious respiratory diseases. They are both caused by viruses. They have some common symptoms. But COVID-19 and flu infections can affect people differently. Also, since the flu has been around much longer, health care providers know more about how to treat it, while they continue to learn more about COVID-19.

Nov 12, 2024 · For the first time in the U.S., H5N1 avian influenza, commonly known as the bird flu, has been detected in a pig. The virus is widespread among wild birds globally. It continues to cause outbreaks in American poultry and dairy cows, and it has infected humans.

Nov 7, 2024 · Getting vaccinated for the flu and COVID-19 is the best way to keep yourself and the people around you safe from infection. Related posts: Mayo Clinic expert answers questions about the flu, COVID-19

Aug 13, 2020 · COVID-19 and the flu are both contagious respiratory diseases caused by viruses. They have some common symptoms. But through closer comparison, they can affect people differently. Also, since the flu has been around much longer, doctors know more about how to treat and prevent it, while they continue to learn more about COVID-19.

Oct 4, 2024 · Getting a flu vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu and its complications for almost everyone. The flu vaccine can lower the risk of getting the flu. It also can lower the risk of having serious illness from the flu and needing to stay in the hospital or dying of the flu.

The flu pandemic lasts from 1918 to 1920. From spring of 1918 to spring of 1919, the flu causes more than 550,000 deaths in the U.S. and more than 20 million deaths worldwide. In the fall of 1918 at Mayo Clinic, people with the flu and other contagious illnesses are cared for in the isolation hospital.