Skip to main content
Logo for WebMD
Logo for WebMD
  • Coronavirus Update
  • Check Your Symptoms
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Dentist
  • Connect to Care
  • Find Lowest Drug Prices
  • Health
    A-Z     Health A-Z
    Health A-Z
    Common Conditions
    • ADD/ADHD
    • Allergies
    • Arthritis
    • Cancer
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Eye Health
    • Heart Disease
    • Lung Disease
    • Orthopedics
    • Pain Management
    • Sexual Conditions
    • Skin Problems
    • Sleep Disorders
    • View All
    Resources
    • Symptom Checker
    • WebMD Blogs
    • Podcasts
    • Newsletters
    • Best Hospitals
    • Find a Doctor
    • Children's Conditions A-Z
    • Surgeries and Procedures A-Z
      • Featured Topics
    • woman experiencing chest discomfort Symptom Checker COVID-19: Check Your Symptoms Now
    • photo of migraine Slideshow Get Help for Migraine Relief
  • Drugs &
    Supplements     Drugs & Supplements
    Drugs & Supplements
    Find & Review
    • Drugs
    • Supplements
    Drug Basics & Safety
    • Commonly Abused Drugs
    • Taking Meds When Pregnant
    Tools
    • Manage Your Medications
    • Pill Identifier
    • Check for Interactions
    • Drug Comparison Tool
      • Featured Topics
    • assorted vitamins Slideshow Vitamins You Need as You Age
    • photo of vaccine Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Living
    Healthy     Living Healthy
    Living Healthy
    Diet, Food & Fitness
    • Diet & Weight Management
    • Weight Loss & Obesity
    • Food & Recipes
    • Fitness & Exercise
    Beauty & Balance
    • Healthy Beauty
    • Health & Balance
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Oral Care
    Living Well
    • Women's Health
    • Men's Health
    • Aging Well
    • Healthy Sleep
    • Healthy Teens
      • Featured Topics
    • grocery cart Article Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes
    • walking sneakers Quiz Do You Know the Benefits of Walking?
  • Family &
    Pregnancy     Family & Pregnancy
    Family & Pregnancy
    All About Pregnancy
    • Getting Pregnant
    • First Trimester
    • Second Trimester
    • Third Trimester
    • View All
    Parenting Guide
    • Newborn & Baby
    • Children's Health
    • Children's Vaccines
    • Raising Fit Kids
    • View All
    Pet Care Essentials
    • Healthy Cats
    • Healthy Dogs
    • View All
      • Featured Topics
    • apple slices and peanut butter Slideshow Smart Snacks When You're Pregnant
    • photo of dogs kissing Slideshow Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats
  • News &
    Experts     News & Experts
    News & Experts
    Health News
    • COVID and Summer 2022: Boost Now or Wait?
    • Doctors Still Overprescribing Fluoroquinolones Despite Risks
    • REM Sleep Critical to Emotional Health
    • Monkeypox Going Through ‘Accelerated Evolution’
    • Weight Gain May Start Earlier Than You Realize
    Experts & Community
    • Support Groups
    • WebMD Blogs
    • News Center
    • Dr. Whyte's Book: Take Control of Your Diabetes Risk
      • Featured Topics
    • photo of Special Report The Future of Food: What You Need to Know
    • photo of person typing Get Our Newsletters Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox
  • Mobile Apps
  • Subscriptions
  • Sign In
  • Subscribe
  • My Profile
    • My Tools
    • My WebMD Pages
    • My Account
    • Sign Out

    Cold, Flu, & Cough Home

    • Cold
    • Cough
    • Flu
    • News
    • Reference
    • Slideshows
    • Quizzes
    • Videos
    • Medications
    • Find a Doctor
    • Cold & Flu Map

    Flu Guide

    • Overview & Facts
    • Symptoms & Complications
    • Treatment & Care

    Related to Cold, Flu, & Cough

    • Allergies
    • Bronchitis
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    • Ear Infection
    • Flu Vaccine
    • Sinus Infection
    • Strep Throat
    • Drug Interaction Checker
    • More Related Topics
    • Cold, Flu, & Cough
    • Flu Guide

    Flu Guide

    Learn more about the flu, including causes, symptoms, types, risk factors, treatment, and prevention.

    1. Overview & Facts

      1. Flu Basics

        1. What Is Flu?
        2. Causes of Flu
        3. Flu: What Puts You at Risk?

      2. How to Prevent the Flu

        1. Tips to Stay Safe From Flu
        2. How the Flu Shot Works
        3. The Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine (FluMist)
        4. Strengthen Your Immune System

      3. Types of Flu

        1. Type A, B and C Flu Viruses
        2. Bird Flu (H5M1)
        3. H1N1/Swine Flu
        4. Stomach 'Flu'

    2. Symptoms & Complications

      1. How to Tell When You Have the Flu

        1. What Does Flu Feel Like?
        2. Is It the Flu or a Cold?
        3. Should You Get a Flu Test?

      2. Special Situations

        1. When to Call a Doctor
        2. When It's Not Just the Flu
        3. Children and Flu
        4. Pregnancy and Flu
        5. Flu in Older Adults
        6. Asthma and Flu
        7. Heart Disease and Flu
        8. Diabetes and Flu
        9. AIDS, HIV, and Flu
        10. Swine Flu and Chronic Conditions

    3. Treatment & Care

      1. Medications for Flu

        1. How is Flu Treated?
        2. Antiviral Drugs
        3. Can Antibiotics Help?

      2. Managing Flu

        1. Natural Ways to Treat Flu
        2. Coping With Flu
        3. What to Eat When You Have the Flu
        4. Should You Exercise When You Have the Flu?
        5. new: How Not to Spread the Flu

    Top Picks

    • 10 Foods to Eat When You Have the Flu
    • Personalized Treatments for Your Cold Symptoms
    • Tips to Survive Cold & Flu Season
    • Flu Shot and Side Effects
    • 15 Immune-Boosting Superfoods
    • Myths & Facts About Colds

    Today on WebMD

    hot toddy

    Natural Cold & Flu Remedies

    15 tips to help you feel better.
    man sneezing into elbow

    The Truth About the Common Cold

    Do echinacea and vitamin C really help a cold?
    teen girl coughing

    Calm a Nighttime Cough

    Get a good night’s rest with these remedies.
    elder berry

    15 Immune-Boosting Foods

    Eat these to fight colds, flu, and more.

    Recommended for You

    thermograms of woman and man Quiz

    Can Fevers Be Good for You? Facts About Body Temperature

    woman washing hands Article

    Best Ways to Avoid Colds and Flu
    Allergy And Sinus Symptom Evaluator Article

    Is It a Cold or a Sinus Infection?
    money in wallet Slideshow

    Germy Things You Touch Every Day
    woman sneezing Article

    How Exactly Do You Catch a Cold or the Flu?
    lab test results Quiz

    Superbugs: Fact vs. Fiction
    Waking up from sleep Article

    6 Things Crashing Your Immune System
    woman with sore throat Slideshow

    Anatomy of a Sore Throat

    Tools & Resources

    • Tips to Survive Cold & Flu
    • Do Antibiotics Cure Colds?
    • Calm Your Cough at Night
    • 15 Immune-Boosting Foods
    • Inside an Ear Infection
    • Scratchy Throat: Is It Strep?

    Health Solutions

    • Penis Curved When Erect?
    • Could I have CAD?
    • Treat Bent Fingers
    • Treat HR+, HER2- MBC
    • Tired of Dandruff?
    • Benefits of CBD
    • Rethink MS Treatment
    • AFib-Related Strokes
    • Risk of a Future DVT/PE
    • Is My Penis Normal?
    • Relapsing MS Options
    • Liver Transplants Save Lives
    • Finance Plastic Surgery
    • Bent Finger Causes
    • Living With Psoriasis?
    • Missing Teeth?

    More from WebMD

    • 5 Tips to Help With Relapsing MS
    • How to Thrive With Narcolepsy
    • Relief for Blocked Hair Follicles
    • Psoriatic Arthritis and Your Sleep
    • What Psoriasis Feels Like
    • First Psoriatic Arthritis Flare
    • Talking to Your Doctor About RA
    • Crohn's: A 'Full-Body' Disease
    • Avoiding Crohn’s Flares
    • Health Benefits of Hemp Seed Oil
    • Live Better With Psoriatic Disease
    • Types of B-Cell Therapy for MS
    • 5 Health Benefits of Hemp
    • Why Prostate Cancer Spreads
    • Living with Advanced Breast Cancer
    • Where Breast Cancer Spreads
    • Logo for WebMD
      • Visit WebMD on Facebook
      • Visit WebMD on Twitter
      • Visit WebMD on Pinterest

    • Policies

      • Privacy Policy
      • Cookie Policy
      • Editorial Policy
      • Advertising Policy
      • Correction Policy
      • Terms of Use

      About

      • Contact Us
      • About WebMD
      • Careers
      • Newsletter
      • Corporate
      • WebMD Health Services
      • Site Map
      • Accessibility

    • WebMD Network

      • Medscape
      • Medscape Reference
      • MedicineNet
      • eMedicineHealth
      • RxList
      • OnHealth
      • WebMDRx
      • First Aid
      • WebMD Magazine
      • WebMD Health Record
      • Dictionary
      • Physician Directory

    • Our Apps

      • WebMD Mobile
      • WebMD App
      • Pregnancy
      • Baby
      • Allergy
      • Medscape

      For Advertisers

      • Advertise with Us
      • Advertising Policy

    © 2005 - 2019 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved.

    WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

    See additional information.