Influenza comes on fast. Within a few hours you can have a high fever, body aches, a dry cough and a tiredness that keeps you in bed. A cold builds up slowly over a day or two, with a runny nose, sneezing and a sore throat, and most people can still get through the day. Most healthy adults get over flu within a week with rest and fluids. Babies, older adults, pregnant women and people with diabetes, asthma or heart disease should see a doctor early. A flu shot every year is the best protection.
Flu is going around again
Flu circulates all year in Malaysia, with bigger waves at certain times. In October 2025 the Ministry of Health reported influenza-like illness rising across the country, with most clusters in schools. When one child brings it home, the whole household often follows.
Flu or cold? The quick comparison
| Symptom | Flu (influenza) | Common cold |
|---|---|---|
| How it starts | Suddenly, over a few hours | Slowly, over a day or two |
| Fever | Common, often 38°C or higher | Rare, or a mild one |
| Body aches | Strong, all over | Mild |
| Tiredness | Can keep you in bed for days | Mild |
| Cough | Dry, and can last two weeks | Mild to moderate |
| Runny or blocked nose | Sometimes | Common |
| Sneezing and sore throat | Sometimes | Common |
The biggest clue is speed. People with flu can often tell you the hour it started.
Influenza A and influenza B
Both cause the same illness, and you cannot tell them apart by symptoms. Influenza A causes most of the big yearly waves and changes faster from year to year. Influenza B is more common in children and teenagers. The four-strain flu shot covers two A strains and two B strains.
In Sabah, a high fever can also be dengue
Dengue also starts with a sudden high fever and body aches, so the two are easy to mix up in the first days. Dengue cases in Sabah are up by half this year. If the fever lasts more than two days, or you have pain behind the eyes, a rash, or vomiting, get a blood test. Until dengue has been ruled out, use paracetamol for fever and pain, and avoid ibuprofen, aspirin and mefenamic acid (Ponstan), which raise the risk of bleeding in dengue. Read more in our guide to fever in children.
How long is flu contagious?
You can spread flu from the day before your symptoms start until 5 to 7 days after. Young children can spread it for longer. It passes through droplets when you cough or sneeze, and through hands that touch your face after touching a door handle or a phone.
- Stay home while you have a fever, and for a day after it settles without medicine.
- Cover coughs with a tissue or your elbow, and wash your hands often.
- Wear a mask if you must be around older relatives, babies or anyone who is pregnant.
If you need time off work, the doctor can give you a medical certificate (MC) after seeing you.
Looking after flu at home
- Rest. Your body fights the virus better when you sleep.
- Drink plenty. Water, warm drinks and clear soups. Fever dries you out faster than you think.
- Paracetamol for fever and aches, at the dose on the label.
- Warm water with honey eases a cough and a sore throat. Do not give honey to babies under one year old.
Antibiotics do not work on flu, because flu is a virus. The doctor prescribes them only if a bacterial infection follows, such as a chest or ear infection.
Antiviral medicine
An antiviral medicine called oseltamivir can shorten flu and lower the chance of complications. It works best when started within 48 hours of the first symptoms. The doctor uses it mainly for people at higher risk: older adults, pregnant women, young children and people with long-term illness. This is one reason to come in early if you are in one of those groups.
Go to a hospital emergency department or call 999 if you or your child:
- finds it hard to breathe, or is breathing very fast
- has chest pain or pressure
- is confused, very drowsy or hard to wake
- has blue or grey lips
- has a fit (seizure)
See a doctor the same day if the fever lasts more than three days, if you start to feel better and then get worse again, if a child is drinking much less or passing much less urine, or if you are in a higher-risk group.
The flu shot: who should get it
Everyone from 6 months old can have a flu shot. It matters most for:
- adults aged 65 and over
- pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy
- people with diabetes, asthma, heart, lung or kidney disease
- children under 5
- healthcare workers, and anyone who looks after babies or older relatives
- anyone travelling for Haji or Umrah, or to a cold country in December
The shot takes two weeks to start protecting you, and you need a new one every year because the flu strains change. Children under 9 having their very first flu shot need two doses, four weeks apart. The vaccine has no live virus, so it cannot give you flu. A sore arm, or a mild fever for a day, is normal.
Flu shot at Permai Polyclinics Fortuna
We give Influvac Tetra, a four-strain flu vaccine. Walk in any hour, or WhatsApp us first to check stock. If you are already unwell, a doctor is on duty day and night.
WhatsApp usor call 088-239 393See all the vaccines we give.
Questions people ask
How long does the flu last?
The fever usually settles in 3 to 5 days, and most people feel better within a week. The cough and tiredness can hang on for two weeks or more.
Can I get the flu shot if I have a cold?
Yes, if it is a mild cold without fever. If you have a fever, wait until you are well, then come in for the shot.
Is influenza A dangerous?
Most people recover at home. The risk of pneumonia and hospital stays is higher in babies, older adults, pregnant women and people with long-term illness, so they should see a doctor early.
Do antibiotics help with flu?
No. Flu is a virus and antibiotics only work on bacteria. The doctor gives antibiotics only if a bacterial infection follows the flu.
A general practitioner clinic for the whole family, from babies to grandparents. A doctor and a nurse are on duty every hour of every day, and you can walk in without an appointment. Meet the team
Sources
- World Health Organization: Influenza (seasonal) fact sheet
- NHS: Flu
- Malay Mail, 9 October 2025: Influenza cases climb nationwide, says MOH
- Asia News Network, 15 June 2026: Dengue cases in Sabah jump by over 50%
This article is general health information and does not replace a visit to the doctor. If you are worried about yourself or your child, see a doctor.
