What are common symptoms of influenza?

The symptoms of influenza are characterized mainly by a combination of respiratory and systemic features. Fever, body aches, and congestion are hallmark signs of the illness, making them key indicators for diagnosis.

Fever often presents as a sudden onset, reflecting the body's immune response to the viral infection. Body aches, or myalgia, can be severe, contributing to the lack of energy and overall malaise typically experienced during the illness. Congestion results from inflammation in the respiratory tract, leading to common symptoms like a runny or stuffy nose, further aligning with the flu's respiratory nature.

Other choices include symptoms that are not commonly associated with influenza. Skin rash and headache are not primary indicators, while nausea and vomiting are more typical of gastroenteritis rather than influenza. Diarrhea and fatigue can occur in some cases, particularly in children, but they are not the defining characteristics of influenza symptoms. Therefore, the combination of fever, body aches, and congestion is the clearest representation of what one would expect to see in a patient with influenza.