Wednesday, February 19, 2025

What’s the difference between flu A and flu B?

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What’s the difference between flu A, flu B? Experts on the symptoms – NBC Chicago

It’s flu season right now, and the U.S. is in the midst of a wave that’s straining hospitals. But not all influenza is the same. There are some notable differences between flu A and flu B strains.

What’s the difference between flu A and B?

What we colloquially refer to as “the flu” is not just a single strain.

“Influenza is a family of viruses — a group that has similarities in the way that their biology works,” Dr. Stuart Ray, professor of medicine and oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, tells TODAY.com.

Different lineages of influenza have risen and persisted, similar to the way other viruses work, Ray explains, like the coronavirus.

The two most severe and most common flu strains are type A and type B. There is also a type C influenza, but it’s less common and doesn’t tend to follow the same seasonal patterns as the other two, Ray says.

Flu A is generally more severe, Ray says, and only influenza A has been known to cause pandemics — including the 1918 flu pandemic.

Unlike type A, influenza B only infects humans, he explains, “so it changes more slowly and it tends to be milder.” But on an individual level, influenza B infections have the potential to become just as severe.

What are the symptoms of flu A vs. B?

Whether you have influenza A or B, you can expect to develop the same general set of symptoms, the experts say.

In fact, experts sometimes use the term “flu-like illness” to refer to other diseases because “influenza is sort of the prototype” of a fever-causing respiratory illness, Ray explains.

A flu infection typically causes these symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Body aches
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Headaches

The flu can also cause a general feeling of fatigue or malaise, Ray says, as well as gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea and nausea, especially among children. As with COVID-19, some people also experience a loss of taste and smell with the flu, he adds.

But, if you’re comparing flu A vs. flu B, it’s impossible to tell which strain you have based just on your symptoms.

“They’re clinically indistinguishable on a case-by-case basis,” Ray says. “So when we see someone, we have to test them to see whether they have A or B.”

What are the possible complications of the flu?

Possible complications of the flu can include pneumonia. You can develop viral pneumonia, Liu says, or a secondary bacterial pneumonia. Rarely, influenza can spread to other organs, including the brain where it causes a life-threatening condition called encephalitis, Ray says.

Vaccines protect against both A and B

Flu vaccines protect against a set of influenza A and B variants every year, the experts say.

“Every year, the community, including groups from CDC, work hard to do surveillance worldwide and locally to get a sense for what’s circulating and what’s likely to circulate,” Ray says.

Vaccine makers choose one variant of type A H1N1, a variant of H3N2 and a B flu strain from a particular lineage, the CDC explains. Previously, they also included a B strain from another lineage, called Yamagata, but that strain is now thought to be extinct thanks to COVID-19 safety measures like social distancing and masking, Liu says.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while both flu A and flu B can cause severe illness, flu A is generally more severe and has caused pandemics in the past. The symptoms of flu A and flu B are similar, and it’s impossible to tell which strain you have based on symptoms alone. Vaccines protect against both A and B variants, and there are precautions you can take to protect yourself from the flu.

FAQs

Q: What are the symptoms of flu A and flu B?

A: The symptoms of flu A and flu B are similar and can include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, and headaches.

Q: Can you tell which strain of flu you have based on your symptoms?

A: No, it’s impossible to tell which strain of flu you have based on your symptoms alone. You need to get tested to determine whether you have flu A or flu B.

Q: Are flu vaccines effective against both A and B?

A: Yes, flu vaccines protect against a set of influenza A and B variants every year.

Q: What precautions can I take to protect myself from the flu?

A: You can take precautions such as washing your hands or using hand sanitizer, wearing a mask in public areas, getting a flu vaccine, and staying home if you’re sick.

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