Diseases & Conditions
Why does the flu cause body aches?
Ask the doctor
Q. I recently had the flu and was struck by how achy I felt. Why does the flu act that way?
A. It's all about the inflammation that influenza triggers in the body. Flu symptoms run the gamut from fever, sore throat, and headache to fatigue and weakness, but muscle and joint aches are at the heart of the misery — and they're caused by inflammation.
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About the Author
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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