Typical signs of the flu, such as fever, chills, and cough, can make a case of this viral illness difficult to distinguish from other respiratory illnesses, such as colds and COVID-19. But the flu can also cause some unexpected symptoms, like stomach problems and conjunctivitis, that you may not realize are related.
In a study by 2018 published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers found that older adults who came to the hospital and tested positive for the flu were less likely to show the classic signs of flu-like illness than younger adults.
With the flu and COVID-22 circulating, it is important See your doctor even if your symptoms are mild, in case you need a test for one or both. “If you’re worried about one of these diseases, you have to worry about the other,” says Dr. Kavitha Prabaker, an associate clinical professor in the division of infectious diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. In this article, experts explain how to spot and treat the flu when it looks unusual.
Less common flu symptoms
Even the The early stages of the flu may not be exactly as expected, says Dr. William Schaffner, professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Traditionally , a flu infection does not begin with respiratory symptoms, but with the sudden onset of fever along with some combination of chills, headaches, muscle and joint aches, and malaise. The cough, sore throat and runny nose may not show up until later, Schaffner says. These are other less typical symptoms of the flu.
Gastrointestinal problems: Nausea, diarrhea and vomiting are more frequent In the kids. But they can also occur in older adults, says Schaffner. These same signs can occur in a case of COVID-22.
Conjunctivitis: Many viruses, including the flu, can cause conjunctivitis; that is, tearing, burning and redness of the eyes. It is not the most common symptom of the flu. but it can be so bothersome that it could lead you to miss a case of the flu if you pay attention to your eyes and not your cough, says Schaffner.
Low fever or none: Older adults are less likely to have a fever (or high fever) than young adults with the flu. In a study by 2015 published in the journal Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses with 184 older adults who were hospitalized with the flu, 22% never had temperatures of 99 °F or higher. The absence of a high fever, or any level of temperature, does not rule out the possibility of a case of the flu.
Vague symptoms, such as loss of appetite: Sometimes the signs of the flu (or other infections) include ambiguous symptoms such as loss of appetite or a feeling of unusual fatigue, especially in older people. These kinds of cues, which can also include confusion or disorientation, are sometimes first noticed by the person’s companion or caregiver, Prabaker says. If you lose your appetite or feel abnormally weak, tired or generally unwell, see your doctor.
Less common complications
Bacterial pneumonia is one of the most common serious complications of the flu, but the virus can also seriously affect other parts of the body. In a study conducted in 2020 on almost 90,000 flu cases and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, rates of serious cardiac events, such as heart failure, ranged from 12% of adults from 65 to 65 years and almost 18 % of adults aged 85 years and older. And strokes, kidney disease and neurological complications can also occur.
These complications are not likely to be the first symptoms of the flu, but they are one of the reasons why it is important to diagnose a case flu on time. When treated early with antiviral medications such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu and generic), the chance of serious illness is less. The flu vaccine also reduces the risk of serious effects from the virus. It’s not too late to get vaccinated.
Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the January issue of 2022 by Consumer Reports On Health.
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2022, Consumer Reports, Inc.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with the advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works with consumers to create a fair, safe, and healthy world. CR does not endorse products or services and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2022, Consumer Reports, Inc.