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Treatment of the flu starts with prevention. Preventive measures include covering your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you sneeze or cough and washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 15 seconds. You can also use antibacterial cleaners to clean hands and surfaces. It is also important to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, which can transmit the virus from your hands into your body.
Getting a yearly flu shot is also critical to avoiding the flu and its complications. Although influenza type C virus is a stable virus, Influenza type A virus and influenza type B virus are viruses that can change and produce new strains of viruses that can overcome the immunity a person might have developed to a particular strain of the flu in a previous flu season. This is why it is necessary to get a new flu shot every year to protect against the newly emerging strain of flu.
Getting a flu shot is especially important for people who are at risk for contracting the flu or serious complications, such as children, those over 50 years of age, and those with compromised immune systems or chronic diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
There is currently no cure for the flu. Once the disease is contracted, treatment includes measures to help relieve symptoms so that one is comfortable enough to get the rest needed to keep up strength and recover without developing complications. Treatment includes rest and over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen as directed to ease body aches and fever. Good care also includes drinking plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Chicken soup is a time-tested home remedy can help to break up congestion and provides easy-to-digest nutrients to help keep up strength.
Antibiotics are not prescribed for the flu because they are ineffective against the viruses that cause the flu. However, antibiotics may be prescribed if a person develops a secondary bacterial infection as a complication of the flu, such as bacterial pneumonia, acute bronchitis, or encephalitis.
There are also antiviral medications available that can limit the length of the flu. These include oseltamivir and zanamivir, which can have side effects and are not appropriate or necessary for all people with the flu. Antiviral drugs may be prescribed only to people who are at a high risk of developing life-threatening complications of the flu, such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis.
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Flu includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.
Alternative treatments or home remedies that have been listed as possibly helpful for Flu may include:
The first step in getting correct treatment is to get a correct diagnosis. Differential diagnosis list for Flu may include:
Products, offers and promotion categories available for Flu:
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Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment or change in treatment plans.
Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Flu include:
The following are some of the latest treatments for Flu:
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The following medical news items are relevant to treatment of Flu:
In 1999, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two new drugs to fight the flu: zanamivir (Relenza®) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu®), the first of a new class of antiviral drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors. (Source: excerpt from New Flu Drugs Neuraminidase Inhibitors, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
Zanamivir is approved
only for treating uncomplicated influenza virus
infection in people 7 years of age and older who have not had
symptoms for more than two days.
Oseltamivir is approved for
treating uncomplicated influenza virus infection in
people 18 years of age or older who have not had symptoms for more
than two days. A liquid suspension of oseltamivir is approved for
treating acute illness in children who are 1 year
of age and older who have been symptomatic for no more than two
days. Oseltamivir also is approved for preventing
influenza A and B in people 13 years and older.
Currently,
oseltamivir is the only neuraminidase inhibitor approved to
prevent the flu. (Source: excerpt from New Flu Drugs Neuraminidase Inhibitors, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
Many people treat their flu infections by simply
The flu shot is the primary method of preventing and controlling the flu. However, four drugs have been approved to treat people who get the flu: amantadine (Symmetrel), rimantadine (Flumadine), zanamivir (Relenza), and oseltamivir (Tamiflu). When taken within 48 hours after the onset of illness, these drugs reduce the duration of fever and other symptoms. These drugs are available only by prescription. (Source: excerpt from Shots for Safety -- Age Page -- Health Information: NIA)
If you get the flu, rest in bed, drink plenty of fluids, and take medication such as aspirin or acetaminophen to relieve fever and discomfort. (Source: excerpt from What to Do About the Flu -- Age Page -- Health Information: NIA)
Antibiotics are not effective against flu viruses. However, four drugs have been approved to treat people who get the flu:
When taken within 48 hours after the onset of illness, these drugs reduce the duration of fever and other symptoms. These drugs are only available by prescription (Source: excerpt from What to Do About the Flu -- Age Page -- Health Information: NIA)
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