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Does One Have to Have a Fever to Have the Flu?

Many misconceptions about the flu are abundant. Many symptoms of the flu can be experienced during a period of illness, but not all symptoms are necessarily required in order to be diagnosed with influenza.

  1. Typical Symptoms of the Flu

    • The seasonal flu and the swine flu are producing similar symptoms in numerous infected people. Certain symptoms such as chills, fatigue, fever, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches and headaches may or may not be present during a bout of the flu. Diarrhea and vomiting also occurs during the flu occasionally. Although the previous symptoms are considered typical, they are not all inclusive and cannot be used alone to determine a case of influenza.

    Misconceptions of Flu Symptoms

    • Because the flu is a viral infection, many people automatically assume that it must be accompanied by a fever. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), although a fever is a common flu symptom, "it's important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever."

      Many people also confuse other illness for the flu, as the symptoms can be fairly identical. One example of this can be confusing a severe cold for the flu when the symptoms are comparable.

    Fever and the Flu

    • According to WebMD, a fever is a symptom rather than an illness and is used as a gauge in determining illness. A fever is the body's way of fighting off an infection. Although the flu often causes a fever, it does not occur in every case. Per WebMD, "A very serious infection may cause little or no fever." Therefore, it is important to evaluate all symptoms of the illness when determining a cause.

    Diagnosing the Flu

    • Although laboratory testing is not necessary in all cases of the flu, it is helpful in diagnosing in certain situations, such as when a fever is not present. The CDC states that timeliness is an important factor in diagnosing influenza, as testing must occur during the first 4 days of illness. Different tests can be performed, including rapid influenza tests, which provide results in 15 minutes, and viral cultures, which provide results in 3 to 5 days. Other tests may be used, including testing respiratory samples or drawing labs.

    Preventing the Flu

    • The CDC recommends being vaccinated to prevent contracting the flu. Two types of flu vaccinations are currently available, the seasonal flu shot and the swine flu shot. In order to be protected against both types of influenza, both vaccinations must be administered. Both of these vaccinations also come in a nasal spray form that contains a live, weakened form of the virus.

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