Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsInfluenza BSymptomsTreatmentFlu A vs. Flu BWhen to See a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Influenza B
Symptoms
Treatment
Flu A vs. Flu B
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Influenza B is one of two main types of viruses that are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics each year. The other type is flu A, which can be more serious.Both are highly contagious and cause the sameflu symptomsincluding coughing, fever, and body aches.
Treatment for flu B often includes home remedies and letting the virus take its course. In some situations, prescription antiviral medications are used to treat the flu.
What Is Influenza B?
Influenza B viruses cause a respiratory illness that infects the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs.
On average, about 8% of the United States population is diagnosed with flu each year.The influenza A virus is typically more common and accounted for more than 97% of cases during the 2022-2023 season.Globally, however, influenza B accounts for about 23% of cases.
Types of FluThere are four types of flu viruses, designated A, B, C, and D, but the most common in humans are A and B.
Types of Flu
There are four types of flu viruses, designated A, B, C, and D, but the most common in humans are A and B.
Flu A and B cause the same types of symptoms, so it’s impossible to tell which variety you have from symptoms alone. Flu B symptoms can range from mild to severe. They often come on quickly and last for about a week.There are a number of common flu symptoms that can affect the different parts of the body.
Respiratory symptoms may include:
Body symptoms may include:
Flu in a child can cause a fever as high as 103 degrees to 105 degrees Fahrenheit.If a fever does not improve with medication, or occurs in a child younger than 12 weeks, seek urgent medical care.
Although it is rare, some people may also have stomach symptoms, such as:
Children with influenza are more likely than adults to experience stomach symptoms with the flu. They’re also more likely in people with a flu B infection.
How to Treat Flu B
In most cases, treatment for the flu involveshome remedies(including resting, staying hydrated, and sticking to mild, comforting foods, like chicken soup) and letting the virus take its course.
However,prescription antiviral medicationscan be used to treat the flu if it is diagnosed within the first 48 hours of symptoms. This is especially important for high-risk individuals, including people over 65, those who are pregnant, or people with other health conditions.
8 Home Remedies for Flu
Influenza A vs. Influenza B
Influenza A and influenza B both cause symptoms of cough, sore throat, body aches, and fever.They have their differences, though, including:
It’s commonly said that flu A causes worse illness than flu B. However, research from the CDC indicates both flu strains are similarly dangerous and can cause severe illness, especially in high-risk populations such as people over age 65.
Influenza is most contagious in the 24 hours before symptoms begin, but it can still be spread for about five to seven days.
Seek medical attention if you experience:
If you are over the age of 65 or have health issues considered high-risk, call your healthcare provider as soon as symptoms start to get tested and start antiviral treatment if your test is positive.
Summary
A Word From VerywellInfluenza B viruses can cause epidemics [outbreaks of disease affecting a region], but influenza A viruses can cause both epidemics and pandemics [which spread across the country or world].The seasonal flu shot is designed to protect against both influenza A and influenza B viruses. Talk to your healthcare provider about getting the vaccine before flu season begins.—JANE KIM, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Influenza B viruses can cause epidemics [outbreaks of disease affecting a region], but influenza A viruses can cause both epidemics and pandemics [which spread across the country or world].The seasonal flu shot is designed to protect against both influenza A and influenza B viruses. Talk to your healthcare provider about getting the vaccine before flu season begins.—JANE KIM, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Influenza B viruses can cause epidemics [outbreaks of disease affecting a region], but influenza A viruses can cause both epidemics and pandemics [which spread across the country or world].The seasonal flu shot is designed to protect against both influenza A and influenza B viruses. Talk to your healthcare provider about getting the vaccine before flu season begins.
Influenza B viruses can cause epidemics [outbreaks of disease affecting a region], but influenza A viruses can cause both epidemics and pandemics [which spread across the country or world].
The seasonal flu shot is designed to protect against both influenza A and influenza B viruses. Talk to your healthcare provider about getting the vaccine before flu season begins.
—JANE KIM, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bhat YR.Influenza B infections in children: A review.World J Clin Pediatr. 2020 Nov 19;9(3):44-52. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v9.i3.44.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of influenza.
Tokars JI, Olsen SJ, Reed C.Seasonal Incidence of Symptomatic Influenza in the United States.Clin Infect Dis. 2018 May 2;66(10):1511-1518. doi:10.1093/cid/cix1060.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Influenza Activity in the United States during the 2022–23 Season and Composition of the 2023–24 Influenza Vaccine.
Ghebrehewet S, MacPherson P, Ho A.Influenza.BMJ.2016;355:i6258. doi:10.1136/bmj.i6258
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu symptoms and complications.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Influenza (Flu) in Children.
Avni T, Babich T, Nir A, Yahav D, Shaked H, Sorek N,et al.Comparison of clinical outcomes of influenza A and B at the 2017-2018 influenza season: a cohort study.Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020 Jun;39(6):1109-1114. doi: 10.1007/s10096-020-03822-x.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Influenza in Animals.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
