Medical Dictionary: Influenza

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Influenza: Another name for Flu.
Influenza (condition): Very common viral respiratory infection.
Influenza (condition): Flu is a common respiratory virus that is usually more severe than the common cold. Symptoms often include high fever, headache, fatigue, weakness, and exhaustion. Cold-like symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose, and stuffiness can also occur but are less common than in common cold.

Early diagnosis of flu often involves distinguishing flu from common cold, which is not always easy, but is important because of newer antiviral medications for the flu. There are numerous other less common conditions that start out like the flu (see flu-like symptoms).

Influenza: Influenza, or the flu, is a respiratory infection caused by a variety of flu viruses. The most familiar aspect of the flu is the way it can "knock you off your feet" as it sweeps through entire communities. ¹

More information on medical condition: Flu:

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from The Flu, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID

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