Flu Symptoms Checklist for Colleges

The symptoms of influenza (flu) include fever, cough, sore throat, and sometimes body aches, headache, chills, and feeling tired. Some people also have diarrhea and vomiting. The most important thing you can do to keep flu from spreading in your campus community is to stay home if you are sick.

Use the following checklist to help decide if you may have the flu:

• Do you have a cough?
• Do you have a sore throat?
• Do you have a headache, body aches, or chills?
• Do you have vomiting or diarrhea?
• Do you have a fever of 100° F or more?

Should I stay home?

If you said "yes" to a fever of 100° F or more AND a cough or sore throat, you have an influenza-like illness. Stay home for four days after symptoms start or 24 hours
after fever has resolved, without the use of fever reducing medication, whichever is longer.

If you checked “yes” to only one of the questions above, or if you are ill with other symptoms, stay at home at least one day to observe for other symptoms. If other symptoms develop, use the checklist questions again to decide whether to continue to stay home.

When should I go to the doctor?

Call your doctor if you have:

• any questions or concerns about your symptoms
• a chronic disease such as asthma and develop any symptoms listed in the checklist
• if you have trouble breathing, or pain or pressure in the chest or belly
• sudden dizziness
• confusion
• severe or persistent vomiting
• a fever that returns a few days after going away

For more information about caring for people with flu-like illness at home, see the Boston Public Health Commission's flu website. (Information on this page adapted from the BPHC.)