How To Tell If Someone Has The Flu

Diarrhea

Diarrhea, which can be severe, often accompanies the flu alongside nausea and vomiting. For some individuals, diarrhea combined with other symptoms can be serious enough to require hospitalization. This is more likely in the very young, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. Diarrhea is a condition that occurs when the body passes loose, watery stools. Not all diarrhea is a sign of the flu. The majority of individuals have two or three episodes of diarrhea each year, even if they don't have any other underlying health conditions. Some health conditions cause patients to experience diarrhea on a more regular basis, such as irritable bowel syndrome. In addition to thin and watery stools, diarrhea may be accompanied by an urgent need to have a bowel movement. There may also be a variety of uncomfortable sensations including bloating in the stomach and abdominal cramps. When the diarrhea is accompanied by a fever, it tends to indicate an infection of some kind in the body.

Learn more about the symptoms linked to the flu now.

Headaches

Headaches commonly accompany the flu. Not everyone who gets the flu will have headaches, but the sudden development of a headache might be an early flu symptom. In addition, patients might experience headaches throughout their case of the flu. The headaches might be accompanied by aching in other muscles throughout the body, or they may appear on their own. On top of experiencing generalized pain, individuals might also have an increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli like sounds, lights, and scents. When headaches persist beyond other flu symptoms, they tend to be caused by muscle tension or migraines. Research has shown individuals with chronic migraines tend to experience more intense migraines when they have the flu. This may be due to inflammation of the mucous membranes in the sinuses and nasal passages. The inflammation and increased production of mucus lead to an increase in pressure in the cheeks and forehead. Sometimes this causes a sinus headache by itself, and sometimes the pressure can make an already-existing headache more intense.