Key takeaways:
Flu symptoms in teenagers are similar to those in adults. Symptoms can include cough, sore throat, headache, and fever.
Teens can usually recover from the flu without medication. But sometimes symptoms are severe and they need medical treatment.
A yearly flu shot can protect teens against severe flu symptoms and complications.
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The flu (influenza) is a common wintertime virus that affects people of all ages. Most teens recover from the flu within a week. But it can be uncomfortable and even dangerous. If you have a teen at home, here’s what you should know about teens and the flu.
What flu symptoms do teenagers get?
Flu symptoms in teenagers are very similar to those in adults. The most common include:
Cough
Runny nose
Congestion
Sore throat
Fever
Body aches
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Not everyone gets all these symptoms when they have the flu. Some teens may have more severe symptoms than others. For some teens, the flu just feels like a head cold. Other teens may feel more run-down and sick.
How do flu symptoms compare to babies and children?
Babies and children are more likely to have additional symptoms when they have the flu, such as:
Stomach pain
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Teens don’t typically get these symptoms.
Is the flu dangerous for teenagers?
Most of the time, the flu isn’t dangerous for teens. But every year, some teenagers develop severe flu illness. During the winter of 2022-2023, 37 teens between the ages of 12 years and 17 years died from the flu.
Some teens are at much higher risk of serious flu illness. This includes teens with underlying medical conditions like:
Asthma
Diabetes
Cancer
Neurologic conditions
Heart conditions
Muscle weakness
Pregnancy
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But even healthy teens can develop serious flu illness. In a typical year, about half of all teens who die from the flu didn’t have a significant medical condition before they got sick.
Which flu treatments are helpful for teens?
Prescription antiviral medications are available for teenagers with the flu. These medications include:
Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)
Zanamivir (Relenza)
Peramivir (Rapivab)
Baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza)
- OseltamivirGeneric Tamiflu
- RelenzaZanamivir
- XofluzaBaloxavir Marboxil
But most teens can fight the flu without these medications. They’re most often useful for teens with underlying medical conditions and those who need to be hospitalized.
There are many ways you can help your teen feel better when they have the flu. Here are some things you can do:
Allow them plenty of time to rest.
Set up a humidifier near their sleeping area, and offer steamy beverages or broth. The moist air will help keep them hydrated and soothe their throat and nasal passages.
A heating pad can be comforting for muscle or body aches. If you don’t have a heating pad, you can fill a clean sock with dry rice and warm it in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) reduce fever and help treat body aches, sore throats, and headaches.
Decongestants like phenylephrine PE (Sudafed PE) can help open up nasal passages.
Cough suppressants such as dextromethorphan (found in Delsym, Mucinex, and others) can calm a cough and help with sleep. During the day, cough drops might be a better choice because they don’t cause drowsiness.
When to call a healthcare professional
Not all teens need medical care if they have the flu. But you should get care if your child has signs of serious flu illness.
Get care right away if your teen:
Has pain with breathing or trouble catching their breath
Can’t eat, drink, or stay hydrated
Isn’t awake and alert for a few hours every day
Has a fever higher than 104°F (40°C) that doesn’t come down with fever-reducing medication
Has pain in their throat, muscles, or chest that won’t let them rest
Experiences tingling, numbness, or weakness in their hands or feet
Has worsening flu symptoms
Your teen should be seen by a healthcare professional as soon as possible if they have an underlying medical condition and develop flu symptoms. Your teen may need to start taking prescription medication to avoid serious flu illness.
It can also be helpful to get your teen tested for the flu even if they don’t have any underlying medical conditions. A flu test can tell you if your teenager has the flu. And this can let you figure out if their symptoms are from the flu or something else, like strep throat or a sinus infection. A flu test may be an especially good idea if your teen needs to spend time around young children, grandparents, or other vulnerable people.
When should you worry if your child has a fever?
A fever is a normal response to an infection. And many teens can develop fever with the flu. That said, you should contact your teen’s primary care provider if they:
Have a fever higher than 104°F (40°C) that doesn’t come down with fever-reducing medication
Have a fever and other symptoms like sleepiness, confusion, neck pain, or sensitivity to light
Have a fever that lasts longer than 5 days
Develop a new fever in the middle of their flu illness
Have a fever that went away and then came back
How to keep your teenager from getting the flu
The flu shot can protect teens against severe flu illness. Experts recommend that all teenagers get a yearly flu shot to prevent the flu.
The flu shot doesn’t cause the flu. Instead, it “wakes up” the immune system and prepares it to fight the flu quickly. The process of waking up the immune system can sometimes make healthy kids feel tired or achy for a few days. But these symptoms are mild compared to what they could experience from the flu.
Unfortunately, the flu shot isn’t 100% effective. Some children do still get the flu even if they had the flu shot. But teens who get a breakthrough infection usually have less severe symptoms. The flu shot doesn’t protect teens against COVID-19 or the common cold. Your teen may still get sick with these viruses even if they get a flu shot.
Frequently asked questions
Teens may pick up viruses from classmates, teammates, and other people they see at school, work, and other social events. Most healthy teens recover quickly from seasonal viruses and illnesses. Talk with your teen’s primary care provider if your teen seems to get sick more often than their peers. You should also get care if your teen is experiencing other symptoms like fevers, weight loss, night sweats, or rashes.
Many school-aged children and teens don’t need any special treatment for influenza A. They can recover at home with rest, fluids, and over-the-counter (OTC) fever reducers. But some teens should take prescription medications to treat influenza A, like oseltamivir (Tamiflu). Your teen’s primary care provider can help you decide if prescription treatments are right for your teen.
Most toddlers have symptoms for about a week when they are sick with the flu. Toddlers can be sick for up to 2 weeks with flu symptoms. Symptoms should start slowly getting better after a week of illness. Get medical care if your toddler’s flu symptoms aren’t getting better after a week, or they start getting worse at any time.
Teens may pick up viruses from classmates, teammates, and other people they see at school, work, and other social events. Most healthy teens recover quickly from seasonal viruses and illnesses. Talk with your teen’s primary care provider if your teen seems to get sick more often than their peers. You should also get care if your teen is experiencing other symptoms like fevers, weight loss, night sweats, or rashes.
Many school-aged children and teens don’t need any special treatment for influenza A. They can recover at home with rest, fluids, and over-the-counter (OTC) fever reducers. But some teens should take prescription medications to treat influenza A, like oseltamivir (Tamiflu). Your teen’s primary care provider can help you decide if prescription treatments are right for your teen.
Most toddlers have symptoms for about a week when they are sick with the flu. Toddlers can be sick for up to 2 weeks with flu symptoms. Symptoms should start slowly getting better after a week of illness. Get medical care if your toddler’s flu symptoms aren’t getting better after a week, or they start getting worse at any time.
The bottom line
The flu (influenza) can be uncomfortable, but most teens recover within a week. Keep a close eye on your teen if they catch the flu. If you’re concerned by their symptoms, or unsure about what to do next, call your child’s medical team. A yearly flu shot can prevent your teen from getting the flu, or from developing severe symptoms.
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References
Bryant, K. (2025). Which flu vaccine should children get? HealthyChildren.org.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Diagnosis for flu.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Signs and symptoms of flu.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Treating flu with antiviral drugs.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Influenza-associated pediatric mortality.
Grohskopf, L. A., et al. (2024). Prevention and control of seasonal influenza with vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices – United States, 2024-25 influenza season. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
