How to treat Influenza

People have been trying to find ways of getting rid of cold and flu’s for as long as anyone can remember. For some reason, certain people catch everything that’s going around. If you have school age children, then you may be one of these few, because the school environment breeds germs and children tend to be carriers. Some people just give up because they feel their susceptible to getting the flu every year no matter what they do to try and prevent it. It’s true the cure for colds and flu does not exist…yet. For now, about the best you can do after you’ve gotten the flu is to:

• Get lots of rest
• Drink plenty of fluids
• For muscle aches and fever take either Tylenol or Advil
• If your treating your child or teenager, never give them aspirin
• Don’t smoke or use alcohol

Usually, once you’ve gotten the flu you will pretty much have to let it run its course. High fevers, vomiting and diarrhea although very unpleasant, is your body’s way of getting rid of this virus as fast as possible. If your symptoms persist, a trip to your doctors’ office may be the only way of getting rid of the flu. If you think taking some left-over antibiotics you have in your medicine cabinet will kick this virus out of your system, don’t waste your time. Antibiotics do not work on viruses; they only work if your body is carrying foreign bacteria. If you see your doctor, he or she will probably prescribe medications like

• Tamiflu® (oseltamivir) helps adults 18 years and older and Relenza® (zanamivir) helps adults and children 7 years and older who have an uncomplicated flu infection and who have had symptoms for no more than two days. FDA recently approved Tamiflu® for use in children 1 year of age and older who have had symptoms for no more than two days. Both treat influenza type A and type B infections.



• Flumadine® (rimantadine) helps adults who have influenza type A virus infections. It has no effect on influenza type B virus infections.
  
• Symmetrel® (amantadine) can be taken by adults and children who are 1 year of age and older to prevent and treat type A or type B influenza virus infections. Amantadine, however, is more likely to cause side effects such as lightheadedness and inability to sleep more often than is rimantadine.