Guides

Practical writing on flu — when to test, whether antivirals are worth it, how to read the season, and what to actually do when you're sick. Grounded in CDC surveillance data and published clinical sources.

When you're sick right now

• Is it flu, a cold, or COVID?
  The symptoms overlap enough to be genuinely confusing — fever, body aches, fatigue, cough. Here's how to tell them apart, why the current regional activity level matters for your odds, and when to test for which.
• Antivirals: the 48-hour window and whether they're worth it
  Tamiflu, Xofluza, and Rapivab all work on the same basic principle — they're only effective if you start them within 48 hours of symptom onset. What the evidence actually says about benefit, who qualifies, and why the clock starts when you feel it, not when you test.
• How long does the flu last?
  Day-by-day progression, what's normal versus a warning sign, when to return to work or school, and the post-flu fatigue that catches people off guard.
• Flu at home: what to actually do
  Fever management, hydration, what OTC medications do what, and the specific signs that mean it's time to go to urgent care or the ER.

Prevention and vaccination

• When to get your flu shot — and whether it's too late
  The CDC says "by the end of October," but the real answer depends on where you are in the season. This guide explains the two-week activation window, how regional peak timing varies, and how to use the vaccine window tool on this site to get a real answer for your location right now.
• Is the flu shot worth it?
  An honest look at the evidence — what the vaccine does and doesn't do in a given year, why effectiveness varies, who benefits most, and what the critics get right and wrong.
• High-risk groups: who needs to be most careful
  Adults 65+, young children, pregnant women, and people with certain chronic conditions face meaningfully higher risk from flu complications. What that risk looks like and what to do differently.

Understanding the season

• When does flu season start and end?
  The US flu season runs roughly October through April — but that average hides enormous variation. Some seasons peak in December, others in February. Here's what drives early versus late seasons, how the CDC tracks it week by week, and what to watch for in your region.
• Flu in kids: what parents need to know
  Children under 5 — especially under 2 — are at elevated risk for serious flu complications. Symptom differences, when to call the pediatrician, and why antivirals are often recommended earlier in kids than in adults.