Flu Symptoms in Adults
Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly and tend to be more severe than symptoms of the common cold. You may feel like you were hit by a truck and struggle to get out of bed.
Symptoms typically include:
- Fever or feeling feverish/chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children)
Occasionally adults with the flu have no fever, at least not at first. Some go on to develop a fever, some do not. “Children tolerate high fevers better than adults, but 102 degrees F is a significant fever, especially for adults,” says Randy Bergen, MD, a pediatric infectious disease consultant in Walnut Creek, California.