Flu affects people in different ways. Therefore, treatment plans vary. Not everyone with the flu shows the symptoms, and how the flu progresses depends on the person and their immune system.

The flu cycles through several stages, and the symptoms follow a day-to-day progression. Therefore, knowing about the stages’ progression can help treat and prevent the infection’s spread since it is more contagious in some stages more than others.

How Long Do Flu Symptoms Last?

People who don’t develop severe flu complications tend to have symptoms that last for three to eight days. However, some people will have flu symptoms that progress up to two weeks and sometimes experience coughing up to eight weeks. Receiving a flu shot only reduces the symptoms and the timeline but doesn’t prevent you from contracting the infections.emergency medical care near you

Some groups such as infants, the aged, and people with respiratory conditions are more susceptible to flu, and the symptoms tend to last longer. Such groups also tend to develop severe flu complications, which include pneumonia and breathing difficulties.emergency medical care near you

Flu symptoms don’t quickly resolve on their own and can be medical emergencies. Therefore, the patients should visit an emergency room to prevent further complications and ease the symptoms.

Flu Symptoms Day by Day and Treatments

Below are the progressions stages of the flu in 2020:

Day 0

The day before, the flu symptoms show you might still be contagious. During this stage, you will be feeling okay and will be able to carry on with your daily activities. Day zero of flu infection can be 48 hours after contact with someone with flu symptoms and is contagious.

During this period, the flu virus will spread through aerosol oral or nasal droplets, especially when you sneeze, talk, or cough.

Day 1

Day one is the day when flu symptoms start showing. You are likely to feel okay when you wake up and start showing signs as the hours’ pass. Some of the initial flu symptoms you might experience include:

• Headaches
• High fever
• Body aches and fatigue
• Chills throughout the body

Once you experience the above signs, you should consider visiting a doctor. The doctor can recommend a rapid test to confirm the viral infection. Your doctor will then recommend antiviral medications such as Tamiflu.

Day 2

During the second day, the flu symptoms might be severe, and you might wake up feeling miserable. Sometimes, you might not be able to get out of bed. At this stage, you are still contagious and might portray additional symptoms such as congestion, coughing, and itchy eyelids.

At this stage, it is advisable to stay at home for 24 hours after your fever is gone unless you are seeking medical services or other necessities.

Day 3

On the third day, the flu symptoms might be the worst. Therefore, you should consider taking plenty of fluids and rest. During this stage, the symptoms reach their intensity peak, and you might experience gastrointestinal symptoms. On this day, you are still contagious. Therefore, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

Day 4

On the fourth day, you might not experience fewer symptoms and marks the beginning of recovery. However, you are still contagious until the fever is gone for more than 24 hours.

Day 5

During the fifth day, your symptoms will start lessening, and the fever should be gone. At this point, you are not contagious anymore. However, it would be best if you still stayed at home, take plenty of fluids, and rest.

Day 6

On the sixth day, you should be breathing fine but might feel a little bit tired. It would help if you took all your prescriptions since some flu symptoms go and return.

Day 7

At this stage, you should be feeling better. Therefore, you are not feeling better yet; you should consider contacting your doctor.

Day 8

After eight days, you should be on your way to recovery. However, if you still have symptoms, you should consider visiting an emergency room near you for diagnosis and treatments since it might be a sign of a secondary infection.

Emergency Room Near Me

If you have any flu complications, you can consider emergency medical care near you. For diagnosis and treatments, you can consider visiting our emergency room at Express ER in Temple.