10 Symptoms of the Common Flu

4. A Cough

Flu and colds are respiratory diseases, which mean they attack the respiratory organs. In both cases, coughing is common and expected. Coughing usually starts with a sore throat, which develops into a persistent dry cough in within two or three days and often comes hand in hand with a stuffy, runny nose. In some cases, the flu can cause pneumonia. Ill people should contact a doctor if they begin coughing up yellow-green or bloody mucus, have a temperature higher than 102 degrees F, or experience a fever with chills and chest pain. People with other medical conditions or a history of a weakened immune system should also see a doctor. In addition, people over the age of 60 and children under the age of five are at higher risk of complications.