the flu

[gonzomax]

In Michigan we have a flu strain that is not horrible but hangs in for about a week to 10 days. Slightly elevated temperatures, achy, coughing and the need for endless sleep are the symptoms. Is it in other parts of the country?
My son slept for about 20 hours yesterday. I did it last week.

[KneadToKnow]

I don’t wish to argue with you, but those symptoms describe exactly the common cold. Flu usually has chills and a pretty high fever associated with it:

The symptoms of influenza (flu) appear suddenly and often include:

Fever of 100 F to 104 F, which can reach 106 F when symptoms first develop. Fever is usually continuous, but it may come and go. Fever may be lower in older adults than in children and younger adults.
Shaking chills.
Body aches and muscle pain (often severe), commonly in the back, arms, or legs.
Headache.
Pain when you move your eyes.
Fatigue, a general feeling of sickness (malaise), and loss of appetite.
A dry cough, runny nose, and a dry or sore throat. You may not notice these during the first few days of the illness when other symptoms are more severe. As your fever goes away, these symptoms may become more evident.
When fever is high, other symptoms usually are more severe.

(from WebMD)

Oh, and I hope you feel better.

[gonzomax]

Definitely not a cold. I have had the flu before . This is it.

[Bridget_Burke]

@gonzomax

In Michigan we have a flu strain that is not horrible but hangs in for about a week to 10 days. Slightly elevated temperatures, achy, coughing and the need for endless sleep are the symptoms. Is it in other parts of the country?
My son slept for about 20 hours yesterday. I did it last week.

Something like that passed through my (Houston) workplace last month. It seemed like a bad cold that went on longer than usual. Especially the cough.

But it didn’t seem like flu to me. I’ve had influenza twice & it took me down.

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

@gonzomax

Definitely not a cold. I have had the flu before . This is it.

Sorry, it doesn’t sound like influenza by your description. Some folks do get it as mildly as you describe, but that’s the exception rather than the rule.

A week to 10 days of symptoms is rather short for influenza, too.

Feel better.

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

I don’t find anything at my usual infectious disease sources about an influenza outbreak in Michigan at present either.

In fact, Michigan has downgraded influenza to “sporadic levels” as of April 26.

404

[gazpacho]

Hey doctors,

How do you tell if someone has the flu or a bad cold? Are there tests you run or is it based on reported symptoms?

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

Unfortunately, Michigan doesn’t seem to track “flu-like illness” with results of non-influenza viral cultures posted anymore. I note that early in the season, a lot of RSV, parainfluenza, and H. Influenza were reported, as opposed to the true “Influenza A & B” illnesses which they are reporting now.

2006-2007_Influenza_Summary.pdf

I would wager what you describe could be RSV or the paraflu or H. Flu. All nasty ubercolds, but not as nasty as viral Influenza A or B.

[KneadToKnow]

@Qadgop the Mercotan

nasty ubercold

God-damn I want to change my username to that.

Q, man, you rock.

[gonzomax]

Not that drippy and not that hacking. The fever was not high by guess, wife broke thermometer ,went and bought a new one and broke it. My son has never been sick and he just spent 3 days in bed. Some cold.

[Ferret_Herder]

@gonzomax

Not that drippy and not that hacking. The fever was not high by guess, wife broke thermometer ,went and bought a new one and broke it. My son has never been sick and he just spent 3 days in bed. Some cold.

Could be RSV, as QtM suggested. It can be quite serious in youth. We had an outbreak among patients and staff at the hospital I work at, to the point where an E-mail went out saying that anyone with the listed symptoms should stay home from work. I called in sick the following day. A friend of mine who works there was sent by her boss to Employee Health, sent home that day, and stayed home the following. I felt like crap, but it wasn’t influenza by any means.

gazpacho: When my husband was diagnosed with influenza last year, the doctor did so by doing a nasal swab and then testing that for influenza antibodies. He tested positive, and was sent home with some Tamiflu and a note to not return to work for nearly a week, or longer as symptoms required.