Which is more severe in symptoms: type B influenza or type A influenza?
Disease description:
Recently I've had coughing and fever, feeling quite unwell. I'm not sure what kind of flu I've caught, but it seems somewhat severe. Could you please tell me which one has more serious symptoms, influenza B or influenza A?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Jiang Weimin
Both type A and type B influenza are acute respiratory infectious diseases caused by influenza viruses, and share many similar symptoms, including chills, fever, headache, cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, fatigue, muscle aches, and sore throat. However, in general, type B influenza tends to cause milder symptoms, whereas type A influenza usually leads to more severe and complex illness. The main difference between type A and type B influenza lies in their incidence and mortality rates. Type A influenza spreads rapidly, increases the likelihood of complications such as pneumonia, and is associated with more severe complications that progress quickly, potentially leading to serious outcomes such as alveolar damage and respiratory failure.
