The flu is an infection in the nose, throat and lungs caused by a virus. About 10% to 20% of Americans get the flu each year. Typically, the flu season occurs any time from November through March.
The flu usually causes fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and body aches. The flu may also cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Most people feel better after 5 to 7 days. However, some people get very sick. About 114,000 people go to the hospital and 36,000 people die from the flu each year.

The best way to battle the flu is to avoid it. Practice good hand washing and hygiene. Keep your immune system tuned with adequate sleep, proper diet and moderate exercise. Get the influenza vaccine each fall, before the flu season hits. If you get the vaccine you may still get the flu, but it will likely be a milder case than if you weren't vaccinated.

There are prescription medicines that can be used to treat the flu. If you take one of these drugs within 2 days of getting sick, it can lessen your symptoms, decrease the amount of time you are sick and make you less contagious to other people.

There are also medications to prevent the flu. These drugs are not a substitute for the influenza vaccine, but are useful for flu prevention in nursing homes or hospitals during a flu outbreak until the vaccine takes effect.

If you get the flu, get plenty of rest, drink lots of liquids, and avoid alcohol and tobacco products. If children or teenagers have flu symptoms, they should never take aspirin as this could cause a more serious condition called Reye's syndrome.

You are at higher risk for complications of the flu if you have heart disease, asthma, chronic bronchitis, kidney disease, diabetes, a chronic medical problem or a weakened immune system. If you have a painful cough, are coughing up phlegm or have other worsening symptoms you may have pneumonia, bronchitis or another flu complication. In all cases, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.