Flu-like symptoms Treatments

Flu-like symptoms: Treatments Inroduction

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.

Alternative Treatments for Flu-like symptoms

Alternative treatments, home remedies, other other complementary therapies that have been listed as possibly helpful for Flu-like symptoms in various sources may include:

Garlic
Echinacea
Goldenseal
Cat's claw
Cayenne pepper
Lemon juice
Tomato juice
Hydration
Hydrotherapy
Avoid dairy products
Ginger
Astragalus
Yarrow tea
Fever few
Elderberry tea
Vitamin C
IP-6 (inositol hexaphosphate) supplement
Thymus extract
Humidity
Thyme oil mist
Eucalyptus oil mist
Rose geranium oil mist
Acerola berry
Chicken soup
Hot chile peppers
Rest
Liquids
Yogurt
Chamomile tea
Resveratrol
Pomegranate juice
Resveratrol (found in red wine)
Soak feet in a mustard powder bath
Reduce stress
Naturopathy
Breathing exercise
Triphala tea or supplement
Tulsi tea (holy basil)
Fennel seed powder with raw sugar
Ginger, cinnamon and cardamom tea
Ginger, cinnamon and lemongrass tea
Influenzinum homeopathic prevention
Arsenicum album homeopathic prevention and treatment
Gelsemium homeopathic prevention and treatment
Oscillococcinum homeopathic remedy
Aconite homeopathic remedy
Bryonia homeopathic remedy
Eupatorium perfoliatum homeopathic remedy
Rhus tox homeopathic remedy
Belladonna homeopathic remedy
Nux vomica homeopathic remedy
Pulsatilla homeopathic remedy
Sulphur homeopathic remedy
Phosphoric acid homeopathic remedy
Inhale warm rice vinegar
Garlic milk
Chinese folk remedies
Radish and green onion
Green tea with mung beans
Chinese patent herbs
Fenugreek tea
Drink water with mullein tincture
Avoid medicated nasal sprays
Oral fever reducer if very uncomfortable or high-risk group (e.g. elderly and very young children)
Popsicles

Treatments for Causes of Flu-like symptoms

Review the treatment information pages for various causes of Flu-like symptoms:

Anthrax - flu-like symptoms
Bornholm disease - flu-like symptoms
Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia - flu-like symptoms
Chickenpox - flu-like symptoms
Classical Hodgkin disease - flu-like symptoms
Coccidioidomycosis - influenza-like symptoms
Hepatitis A - flu-like symptoms
Hepatitis B - flu-like symptoms
Hepatitis D - flu-like symptoms
Hepatitis E - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF01_AE - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF02_AG - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF04_ cpx - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF05_ D/F - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF06_cpx - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF07_BC - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF08_BC - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF11_cpx - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF12_BF - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF13_cpx - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF14_BG - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF15_01B - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF16_ A2D - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF17_BF - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF18_cpx - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF19_cpx - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF20_BG - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF21_A2D - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF22_01A1 - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF23_BG - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF24_BG - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF25_cpx - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF26_AU - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF27_cpx - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF28_BF - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF29_BF - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF30_0206 - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF31_BC - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF32_06A1 - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF33_01B - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF34_01B - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF35_AD - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF36_cpx - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF37_cpx - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF38_BF - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF39_BF - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF40_BF - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF41_CD - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF42_BF - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1, CRF43_02G - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1A - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1A1 - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1A2 - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1A3 - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1B - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1C - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1D - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1E - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1F - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1F1 - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1F2 - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1G - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1H - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1J - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1K - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1M - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1N - flu-like symptoms
HIV-1O - flu-like symptoms
HIV-2 - flu-like symptoms
HIV-2A - flu-like symptoms
HIV-2B - flu-like symptoms
HIV/AIDS - flu-like symptoms
Hodgkin's Disease - Flu-like symptoms
Hodgkin's disease, adult - Flu-like symptoms
Hodgkin's disease, childhood - Flu-like symptoms
Hodgkin's disease, nodular sclerosis - flu-like symptoms
Legionnaires' disease - flu-like symptoms
Leukemia - flu-like symptoms
Lyme disease - flu-like symptoms
Lymphocyte depletion Hodgkin's disease - flu-like symptoms
Lymphogranuloma venereum - flu-like symptoms
Mastitis - flu-like symptoms
Metal fume fever - flu-like illness
Metal Fume Fever -- Aluminium - flu-like illness
Metal Fume Fever -- Antimony - flu-like illness
Metal Fume Fever -- Cadmium - flu-like illness
Metal Fume Fever -- Chromium - flu-like illness
Metal Fume Fever -- Copper - flu-like illness
Metal Fume Fever -- Iron - flu-like illness
Metal Fume Fever -- Magnesium - flu-like illness
Metal Fume Fever -- Manganese - flu-like illness
Metal Fume Fever -- Nickel - flu-like illness
Metal Fume Fever -- Selenium - flu-like illness
Metal Fume Fever -- Silver - flu-like illness
Metal Fume Fever -- Tin - flu-like illness
Metal Fume Fever -- Zinc - flu-like illness
Mixed cellularity Hodgkin's disease - flu-like symptoms
Nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's lymphoma - flu-like symptoms
Occupational Cancer -- Hodgkin's lymphoma - flu-like symptoms
Occupational Cancer -- Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma - flu-like symptoms
Pediatric AIDS - flu-like symptoms
Polymer Fume Fever - flu-like illness
Polymyalgia rheumatica - flu-like symptoms
Puerperal fever - flu-like symptoms
Reiter’s syndrome - flu-like symptoms
Salmonella food poisoning - flu-like symptoms
Sandfly fever - flu-like symptoms
SARS - flu-like symptoms
Slap-cheek syndrome - flu-like symptoms
Syphilis - flu-like symptoms
Systemic Capillary Leak Syndrome - flu-like symptoms
Temporal arteritis - flu-like symptoms
Toxic Shock Syndrome - Flu-like symptoms
Tuberculosis - flu-like symptoms

More causes: not all possible causes for Flu-like symptoms are listed above; for a full list refer to causes of Flu-like symptoms.

Treatment Notes

Only your doctor can advise whether any of these treatments are appropriate for your specific medical situation. Always discuss all treatment options with your doctor before making a decision, including whether to start or discontinue any treatment plan.

Conditions listing medical symptoms: Flu-like symptoms:

The following list of conditions have 'Flu-like symptoms' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which include a symptom of Flu-like symptoms or choose View All.