Is runny nose a flu symptom?
Question: Is runny nose a flu symptom?
Answer:
A runny nose is indeed a common symptom of influenza, though it tends to be more prevalent in cases of the common cold. When someone contracts the flu virus, the body’s immune response triggers inflammation in the nasal passages, leading to increased mucus production. This excess mucus serves a protective function by helping to trap and flush out viral particles.
Unlike with a cold, where a runny nose might be one of the first and most prominent symptoms, flu-related nasal discharge typically accompanies other more severe symptoms.
The flu usually announces itself with sudden onset fever, severe body aches, extreme fatigue, and chills. The runny nose component may develop as the illness progresses, but it’s generally not the defining characteristic of influenza.
It’s worth noting that not everyone who gets the flu will experience a runny nose, and its presence or absence shouldn’t be used as the sole indicator for diagnosis.
Many flu sufferers report having a stuffy nose rather than a runny one, while others might experience both symptoms simultaneously or neither at all. The severity and combination of symptoms can vary significantly from person to person and between different strains of the influenza virus.