Flu-like symptoms

Flu-like symptoms are experienced when one has influenza, a flu-like illness, many other illnesses and diseases, and some medications. ME/CFS sufferers experience recurrent flu-like symptoms which increase after exertion due to post-exertional malaise (PEM).

Presentation
Body aches and pains, chills, cough, fatigue, fever, headache, muscle soreness, nasal congestion, sore throat, and stiffness are all flu-like symptoms due to influenza or flu-like illness. Malaise, which is a feeling of weakness, discomfort, like you have an illness, or simply not feeling well is often described by patients with a cold or flu as well as many other illnesses.

Flu-like symptoms in ME/CFS
Patients reporting flu-like symptoms can help confirm a diagnosis of ME/CFS. These symptoms can include general pain (myalgia) and a feeling of being unwell, a fever and temperature control, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands.

Possible causes
There are many illnesses, infections, contagions and contaminants that can cause flu-like symptoms such as: anthrax, brain infection, central nervous system infections, chickenpox, enteroviruses, food poisoning, fibromyalgia, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, Hodgkin's disease, Legionnaires' disease, lyme disease, monkeypox, Percocet withdrawal, respiratory tract infections, tuberculosis, Weil's syndrome, and many more.

Learn more

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