Symptoms of a flu typically last for around five to seven days. For some older adults, particularly those with high risk factors, the flu may last one to two weeks. Some have reported experiencing cough and fatigue for up to three weeks.

How does the flu affect the elderly?

Older adults are at higher risk of serious flu and flu-related complications including pneumonia and hospitalization. But there are also other risks that may not be as obvious—flu increases the risk of heart attack by 3-5 times and stroke by 2-3 times in the first 2 weeks of infection for those 65+.

When should an adult go to the ER for the flu?

When to go to the ER Adults with a sustained fever of more than 102 degrees, as well as any combination of the below flu-like symptoms, should seek medical attention: Difficulty breathing. Severe chest or stomach pain. Vertigo and lightheadedness.

How long does it take for someone to recover from the flu?

You should make a full recovery within 2 weeks – while your body may have fought off the infection successfully, you may not feel 100% for up to 2 weeks after being infected. Most of your symptoms should have subsided by this point, but it’s normal to feel weak and tired while your body recovers from the infection.

Does the flu cause confusion in elderly?

In an older person, feeling weak or confused may be the only sign of having the flu. Influenza can become a life-threatening illness in older adults and other high-risk groups of people.

Why older adults are vulnerable to influenza?

According to new research, the elderly are more susceptible to influenza because their immune systems have trouble recognizing new viral strains. The findings, published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, may help researchers design more effective flu vaccines for the elderly.

How do you tell if you might have Covid?

People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

1. Fever or chills.
2. Cough.
3. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
4. Fatigue.
5. Muscle or body aches.
6. Headache.
7. New loss of taste or smell.
8. Sore throat.

What helps flu fast?

9 Tips to Ease Flu Symptoms

• Stay home and get plenty of rest.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Treat aches and fever.
• Take care of your cough.
• Sit in a steamy bathroom.
• Run the humidifier.
• Try a lozenge.
• Get salty.

What is the best medicine for flu?

But if you have a severe infection or are at higher risk of complications, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral drug to treat the flu. These drugs can include oseltamivir (Tamiflu), zanamivir (Relenza), peramivir (Rapivab) or baloxavir (Xofluza).

How long do coronavirus symptoms last for?

The great majority of people with coronavirus will have mild or moderate disease and will make a full recovery within 2-4 weeks. But even if you are young and healthy – meaning your risk of severe disease is low – it is not non-existent.

How long does it take for Covid to go away?

How long does it take to recover? The COVID-19 recovery period depends on the severity of the illness. If you have a mild case, you can expect to recover within about two weeks. But for more severe cases, it could take six weeks or more to feel better, and hospitalization might be required.

Why is my flu not going away?

Call your doctor or go to the emergency room. Your fever doesn’t get better. If it won’t go away it might mean you’ve got another infection in your body that needs treatment. Generally, a fever for an adult is a temperature over 100.4 degrees F.

Does flu cause permanent lung damage?

The proper functioning of influenza-specific T cells is critical for efficient clearance of the virus from the lungs. When T cell function declines, such as with increasing age or during use of immunosuppressive drugs, viral clearance is delayed. This results in a prolonged infection and greater lung damage.