What are the main manifestations of flu symptoms?

Feb 07, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Ren Yi
Introduction
Influenza refers to the flu. Under normal circumstances, the main symptoms of influenza include fever, cough, runny nose, headache, muscle aches, and so on. If you experience related symptoms, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly. After the influenza virus infects the human body, it multiplies extensively within the body, stimulating the immune system to produce an immune response. This causes the body's temperature set point to rise, leading to increased heat production and consequently resulting in fever.

Influenza refers to the flu. Generally, main symptoms of influenza include fever, cough, runny nose, headache, muscle aches, etc. If related symptoms appear, timely medical attention is recommended. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Fever

Influenza virus replicates extensively in the human body after infection, stimulating the immune system to mount an immune response, which raises the body's temperature set point, leading to increased heat production and reduced heat dissipation, thus causing fever.

2. Cough

The influenza virus primarily attacks the respiratory tract, damaging the epithelial cells of the respiratory mucosa and irritating the respiratory mucosa, causing a local inflammatory response. The inflammation stimulates nerve endings in the respiratory tract, triggering the cough reflex.

3. Runny nose

Infection with the influenza virus causes nasal mucosal congestion and edema, while also stimulating goblet cells and mucus glands in the nasal cavity to secrete more mucus. Excessive mucus results in a runny nose.

4. Headache

Toxins produced by the influenza virus can affect the normal functioning of the nervous system, leading to cerebral vasodilation or spasm, which stimulates nerve endings and causes headaches. In addition, cerebral hypoxia can also cause headaches.

5. Muscle pain

Following infection with the influenza virus, the body's immune response releases inflammatory mediators, which stimulate nerve endings in muscle tissue, causing the accumulation of metabolic byproducts such as lactic acid, thus producing a sensation of muscle soreness.

In daily life, it is important to maintain good indoor air circulation by regularly opening windows for ventilation, thereby reducing the concentration of viruses in the air.

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