How is the flu diagnosed?
In order to definitely know whether a person has the flu a laboratory test must be done of a swab from inside the nose or the throat. A doctor who considered it necessary would order the test. For that, a patient must first feel sick enough to go to the doctor.
Other than a laboratory test, doctors may also diagnose the flu based on some common symptoms. Signs of the flu include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Aches in joints and muscles
- Cough
- Sore throat
Flu symptoms are similar to those of the common cold, but with the flu a person will fall ill much faster and feel much worse. Also, fever, chills and aches are very common to the flu and rare with a common cold.