How serious is type A flu?
Type A influenza infection can be serious and cause widespread outbreaks and disease. Common symptoms of type A infection can be confused with other conditions. While in some milder cases the flu can resolve on its own without significant symptoms, severe cases of type A influenza can be life-threatening.
How contagious is type A flu?
Contagiousness. Both influenza A and B are highly contagious. When a person with the flu coughs or sneezes, droplets can enter another person’s nose or mouth, transmitting the illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , flu viruses can infect others from up to 6 feet away.
Is Type A or Type B flu worse?
Type A influenza is generally considered worse than type B influenza. This is because the symptoms are often more severe in type A influenza than in type B influenza. Type A influenza is more common than type B influenza. Researchers suggest that most adults have considerable immunity against type B influenza.
Why is type A flu the worst?
Influenza A typically causes the majority of illnesses during flu season. It has the potential to lead to pandemics due to its dynamic, faster changing nature and large host range. Both influenza A and B are extremely contagious and cause the same type of illness and symptoms.
Can flu go away on its own?
If you have influenza, you can expect the illness to go away on its own in about 7 to 10 days. In the meantime, you can take steps to feel better: Get extra rest. Extra rest can help you feel better.
How is type A flu treated?
Antiviral drugs can help treat flu illness: Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. Flu antivirals are prescription medicines (pills, liquid, intravenous solution, or an inhaled powder) and are not available over the counter. Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick.
What is difference between flu A and flu B?
Unlike type A flu viruses, type B flu is found only in humans. Type B flu may cause a less severe reaction than type A flu virus, but occasionally, type B flu can still be extremely harmful. Influenza type B viruses are not classified by subtype and do not cause pandemics.
How long should you stay home with influenza A?
Individuals with suspected or confirmed flu, who do not have a fever, should stay home from work at least 4-5 days after the onset of symptoms. Persons with the flu are most contagious during the first 3 days of their illness.
How long does flu A last?
Symptoms usually appear from one to four days after exposure to the virus, and they last five to seven days. For people who’ve had a flu shot, the symptoms may last a shorter amount of time, or be less severe.
Can you get over the flu in 3 days?
You usually have symptoms for around 3 to 7 days – once you’re through the worst of the flu, you will still have some lingering symptoms to recover from, which can include a dry cough, fatigue, and weakness.