What is the best treatment for influenza?
The CDC recommends baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza), oseltamivir (Tamiflu), peramivir (Rapivab), or zanamivir (Relenza). The drugs work best when you get them within 48 hours of your first symptoms. They may shorten the time you are sick and make your symptoms milder if you take the medicine early on.
What is the diagnosis and treatment of influenza?
Usually, you'll need nothing more than rest and plenty of fluids to treat the flu. But if you have a severe infection or are at higher risk of complications, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral drug to treat the flu.
What is the first line treatment for influenza?
The recommended treatment course for uncomplicated influenza is two doses per day of oral oseltamivir or inhaled zanamivir for 5 days, or one dose of intravenous peramivir or oral baloxavir for 1 day.
How do you diagnose influenza?
To diagnose the flu, health care providers will first do a medical history and ask about your symptoms. There are several tests for the flu. For the tests, your provider will swipe the inside of your nose or the back of your throat with a swab. Then the swab will be tested for the flu virus.
What is influenza B treatment?
Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are drugs that doctors may use to treat type A or type B influenza. Antiviral drugs can reduce a person's recovery time by around 2 days, but they are only effective if a person takes them within a few days of symptoms starting.
How can influenza be prevented?
CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. Flu vaccines help to reduce the burden of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths on the health care system each year. (Read more about flu vaccine benefits.)
What drugs are used to prevent influenza?
Which Antiviral Drugs Are Recommended for Both Treatment and Prevention of the Flu? The CDC recommends the antiviral drugs baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza), oseltamivir (Tamiflu), and zanamivir (Relenza) for both flu prevention and treatment..
What are the most effective treatments for COVID-19?
The FDA has authorized two antiviral pills for the treatment of COVID-19. On December 22, 2021, the FDA authorized an oral antiviral pill, called Paxlovid, for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in people ages 12 and older who are at increased risk for severe illness.
What is the first line of treatment for COVID-19?
The Panel recommends remdesivir (without dexamethasone) as a treatment option for certain patients with COVID-19 who require minimal supplemental oxygen and are in the early course of the disease (BIIa).
How do rapid influenza diagnostic tests work?
Rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) They can identify the presence of influenza A and B, and they work by detecting the parts of the flu virus called antigens that trigger an immune response. RIDTs usually involve inserting a swab into your nostril to get a sample.
How can I treat flu at home?
We'll review 10 natural remedies and explain how to use them, and why they can help.Drink water and fluids. Drinking water and other fluids is even more important when you have the flu. ... Get plenty of rest. ... Drink warm broth. ... Up your zinc intake. ... Rinse with salt water. ... Drink herbal tea. ... Apply essential oils. ... Use a humidifier.More items...•
What influenza means?
Influenza is a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs. Influenza is commonly called the flu, but it's not the same as stomach "flu" viruses that cause diarrhea and vomiting. For most people, the flu resolves on its own.
Overview
- Influenza is a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs. Influenza is commonly called the flu, but it's not the same as stomach \"flu\" viruses that cause diarrhea and vomiting.For most people, influenza resolves on its own. But sometimes, influenza and its complications can be deadly. People at higher risk of developing flu complications includ…
- Influenza, commonly called \"the flu,\" is caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract. Compared with most other respiratory infections, such as the common cold, the flu often causes a more severe illness.
Diagnosis
- The majority of cases of human influenza are clinically diagnosed. However, during periods of low influenza activity and outside of epidemics situations, the infection of other respiratory viruses e.g. rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza and adenovirus can also present as Influenza-like Illness (ILI) which makes the clinical differentiation of influenza from other pathog…
- According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, signs that the flu requires emergency care include:
- Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms. Flu is likely to cause fever, coughing, chills and muscle aches. Flu tends to occur during winter months.Doctors usually assume the diagnosis is flu when you have symptoms of influenza in the winter. If your symptoms or physical examination suggest something other than the flu, your doctor may order a blood test. He or she will swab your nose …
- It is common for healthcare practitioners to diagnose and treat the flu without laboratory testing, especially during peak influenza season and when influenza has already been documented in an area. However, influenza testing can help rule out other illnesses and reduce the chances of people using unnecessary antibiotics, while increasing the chances that they will receive anti-vir…
Signs And Symptoms
- Initially, the flu may seem like a common cold with a runny nose, sneezing and sore throat. But colds usually develop slowly, whereas the flu tends to come on suddenly. And although a cold can be a nuisance, you usually feel much worse with the flu.Common signs and symptoms of the flu include: 1. Fever over 100.4 F (38 C) 2. Aching muscles 3. Chills and sweats 4. Headache 5. Dry, …
- Seasonal influenza is characterized by a sudden onset of fever, cough (usually dry), headache, muscle and joint pain, severe malaise (feeling unwell), sore throat and a runny nose. The cough can be severe and can last 2 or more weeks. Most people recover from fever and other symptoms within a week without requiring medical attention. But influenza can cause severe illness or deat…
- The flu typically lasts between four and five days, although symptoms can last anywhere from two to seven days. Some flu symptoms may be similar to cold symptoms, including: The key difference between cold and flu symptoms, however, is severity. A cold tends to start slowly and gradually get worse over a few days. Symptoms can make you feel pretty lousy, but they usually …
- Typical flu symptoms include fever (usually 100-103 degrees Fahrenheit in adults and often even higher in children) and respiratory symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, as well as headache, muscle aches, and often extreme fatigue. Although nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can sometimes accompany the flu, especially in children, gastrointestinal symptoms ar…
Prevention
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone age 6 months or older.Each year's seasonal flu vaccine contains protection from the three or four influenza viruses that are expected to be the most common during that year's flu season. This year, the vaccine will be available as an injection and as a nasal spray.In recent yea…
- The most effective way to prevent the disease is vaccination. Safe and effective vaccines are available and have been used for more than 60 years. Immunity from vaccination wanes over time so annual vaccination is recommended to protect against influenza. Injected inactivated influenza vaccines are most commonly used throughout the world.Among healthy adults, influenza vaccin…
- Influenza B is less common but still causes outbreaks of seasonal flu. One or two strains of influenza B are included in the seasonal flu vaccine every year to protect people from the strain(s) that researchers believe are most likely to cause illness during the upcoming flu season. The quadrivalent flu vaccine contains two strains of influenza B but the traditional trivalent flu va…
- Though washing your hands regularly and practicing good hygiene are good tactics for preventing the flu, the best course of action is to receive the flu vaccine every year. Each year, researchers determine what strain of the influenza virus will be most active and vaccines are produced to prevent infection.The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. \"…
Treatment
- Patients that are not from a high risk group should be managed with symptomatic treatment and are advised, if symptomatic, to stay home in order to minimize the risk of infecting others in the community. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms of influenza such as fever. Patients should monitor themselves to detect if their condition deteriorates and seek medical attention Patients …
- There is no cure for the flu. There are some prescription antiviral medications, such as Tamiflu, that may help shorten the duration of the illness. However, Tamiflu is only effective if taken within the first 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Your doctor will determine if these medications are right for you.
- Most people infected with influenza recover within one to two weeks without requiring medical treatment, according to the WHO. \"It is very important for anyone diagnosed with influenza to take care of themselves, giving themselves enough time, enough fluids and enough rest to fully recover,\" said Dr. Susan Donelan, medical director of health care epidemiology at Stony Brook U…
- To ease symptoms, your doctor will recommend that you rest and drink plenty of fluids.For fever and body aches, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers. The antiviral drugs zanamivir, oseltamivir or peramivir are another option. An anti-viral drug may speed recovery by about one day. It needs to be started within 48 hours of the start of symptoms. The options are oral oselta…
Complications
- If you're young and healthy, seasonal influenza usually isn't serious. Although you may feel miserable while you have it, the flu usually goes away in a week or two with no lasting effects. But children and adults at high risk may develop complications such as: 1. Pneumonia 2. Bronchitis 3. Asthma flare-ups 4. Heart problems 5. Ear infectionsPneumonia is the most serious complicatio…
- Most people who get flu will recover anywhere from a few days to less than two weeks, but high-risk children and adults may develop complications such as: 1. pneumonia 2. bronchitis 3. asthma flare-ups 4. sinus infections 5. heart problems 6. ear infectionsThe flu is a common cause of pneumonia, especially among younger children, the elderly, pregnant women, or those with certa…
- Respiratory complications include: 1. Acute bronchitis (about 20% of cases, with increased risk in the elderly and those with chronic disease). 2. Secondary bacterial pneumonia (especially Staphylococcus aureus). 3. Primary viral pneumonia. 4. Exacerbations of asthma and COPD. 5. Empyema. 6. Pulmonary aspergillosis. 7. Sinusitis.Non-respiratory complications include: 1. Feb…
- Initial flu symptoms include headaches, chills, and a cough. Symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite, and muscle aches soon follow. Other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are rare in adults but more common in children.Since many people think they have the flu when it's actually a bad cold, here's a quick guide to help you tell the difference:For most people, the flu la…
Causes
- Flu viruses travel through the air in droplets when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes or talks. You can inhale the droplets directly, or you can pick up the germs from an object — such as a telephone or computer keyboard — and then transfer them to your eyes, nose or mouth.People with the virus are likely contagious from the day or so before symptoms first appear until about f…
- People of all ages can get the flu. However, children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are most susceptible and more likely to develop serious complications. There are many different strains of the flu virus, and they mutate often. This is why people continue to come down with the flu year after year. The flu is a very contagious illness that spreads easily. C…
- The main three types of influenza virus that cause illness in people are named A, B, and C. Influenza A and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics of disease almost every winter in the United States, while influenza C causes only mild respiratory symptoms and is not thought to cause epidemics, according to the CDC. The influenza A virus is broken down into subtypes, and both …
- Influenza is contagious, which means it can be spread easily from person to person. Viruses that cause influenza spread from person to person mainly by droplets of respiratory fluids sent through the air when someone infected with the virus coughs or sneezes. Other people inhale the airborne virus and can become infected.Flu virus can live on some surfaces for up to 24 hours. T…
Epidemiology
- All age groups can be affected but there are groups that are more at risk than others. 1. People at greater risk of severe disease or complications when infected are: pregnant women, children under 59 months, the elderly, individuals with chronic medical conditions (such as chronic cardiac, pulmonary, renal, metabolic, neurodevelopmental, liver or hematologic diseases) and individual…
- People can get the flu any time of year, but in the United States and most of the Northern Hemisphere, flu season spans late fall to early spring. Flu activity typically peaks between December and March.
- For most people, the flu is an inconvenience that subsides in a few days. For others, influenza can lead to health complications, visits to the hospital and even death. Globally, 5 to 10 percent of adults and 20 to 30 percent of children get the flu each year and 3 to 5 million of these cases are severe, leading to about 250,000 to 500,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization …
- Cases peak: 1. From December to March in temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere. 2. From May to September in the Southern hemisphere. 3. Throughout the year in tropical areas.Up to 15% of the population can develop influenza in any year. There is a 10-20% seroconversion rate with or without symptoms. In an average year, there are 50-200 GP consultations for influenza o…
Vaccine
- The single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year. The CDC recommends an annual flu shot for everyone older than six months old.The flu vaccine is available as an injection or as a nasal spray. The most common way that flu vaccines are made is using an egg-based manufacturing process that has been used for more than 70 years. There is …
- In the United States, annual vaccination for seasonal influenza is recommended for those aged ≥6 months and is the most effective way to prevent influenza and its complications. Several influenza vaccines are approved for use in the United States (www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/vaccines.htm) and can be grouped into categories: inactivate…
- There are many different kinds of influenza vaccines licensed and available in the U.S. NVIC encourages consumers to read the vaccine manufacturer’s package insert information carefully before receiving influenza vaccine or any vaccine. Like all vaccines, the influenza vaccine only gives a temporary, artificial immunity confined to the three to four influenza virus strains contain…
- Immunization against influenza infection is paramount in reducing disease burden. Currently, there are three types of influenza vaccine available in the U.S., including trivalent and quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccines (IIVs) and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) (TABLE 1).The trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) first became available in the 1940s.1 The vaccine co…
Prognosis
- Most people who get the flu recover completely in one to two weeks, but some people develop serious and potentially life-threatening medical complications, such as pneumonia. Because each flu season is different in length and severity, the number of serious illnesses and deaths that occur each year varies. In the past 30 years, the annual death rate from flu-related causes has ra…
- In some cases, even seemingly healthy people can become severely ill from the flu. For example, the Spanish flu killed many otherwise healthy adults ages 20 to 50 years old. The reason for the high death rate in young adults is still unknown.
- Most people recover fully from the flu. But some develop serious complications. Complications can include life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia.
- Estimates of excess winter deaths potentially attributable to influenza since 2004 in England and Wales range from not determined (in 2005-6 and 2006-7) to 10,351 (in 2008-9). The highest estimate since the mid-1990s was 21,497 for the 1999-2000 influenza season.The risk of serious illness from influenza is higher amongst children under 6 months of age, older people and those …