Medication
≤ Saline rinses: Intra-nasal saline sprays, neti pots and similar products can help loosen mucus that is clogging the nose and sinus cavities, allowing it to flow out. This makes blowing your nose more effective and may help prevent post-nasal drip. Avoid prolonged use of medicated decongestant sprays.
Self-care
The NIH note that some of the most important ways of fighting the flu at home include:
- getting lots of rest
- drinking plenty of fluids, including juices and water
- taking acetaminophen or other over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce fever (people with underlying health conditions should ask their doctor what medication is safest for them)
- avoiding smoking or being around people who are smoking
- avoiding drinking alcohol while sick
Nutrition
- To reduce fever and pain — analgesics: Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is generally preferred. ...
- To dry out the nose — antihistamines: Try an antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl®). ...
- To relieve a stuffy, clogged nose — decongestants: Try an oral decongestant, such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed®). ...
How to cure influenza A?
Writing for the Havard health blog, clinical assistant professor at Tufts University School of Medicine and primary care doctor at Harvard Vanguard, Marcelo Campos MD, said: "The so-called keto flu is a group of symptoms that may appear two to seven days ...
What is the best way to treat influenza?
What is the best treatment for the flu?
What is the worst symptom of the flu?
What is the best treatment for influenza type A?
Unlike bacterial infections, the influenza virus is best treated with bedrest. Most people feel better after a few days. Fluids, such as the following, are also helpful in treating symptoms of the flu: water....Common antiviral prescriptions include:zanamivir (Relenza)oseltamivir (Tamiflu)peramivir (Rapivab)
How can influenza can be treated?
Antiviral drugs can help treat flu illness: Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. Flu antivirals are prescription medicines (pills, liquid, intravenous solution, or an inhaled powder) and are not available over the counter. Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick.
Which drug is indicated for influenza type A?
Zanamivir and oseltamivir are newer agents indicated for the treatment of both influenza A and B. For antiviral agents to be effective, they must be used within 48 hours of the onset of influenza symptoms.
How long does it take to get over influenza A?
For most healthy people, the flu is an uncomfortable but short-term illness that resolves itself as the immune system fights it off. Symptoms usually appear from one to four days after exposure to the virus, and they last five to seven days.
Is flu A or B worse?
Type A influenza is generally considered worse than type B influenza. This is because the symptoms are often more severe in type A influenza than in type B influenza. Type A influenza is more common than type B influenza. Researchers suggest that most adults have considerable immunity against type B influenza.
How long does Type A flu last?
How long does Type A flu last? Symptoms typically last five to seven days, although they can linger for up to two weeks.
Does Tamiflu work for influenza A?
Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is an antiviral drug that treats both influenza A and influenza B, the two main types of viruses that cause the seasonal flu.
Is Tamiflu effective for influenza A?
Tamiflu is used to treat people 2 weeks of age and older who have the flu (influenza A and B viruses).
Can influenza A be treated with antibiotics?
Remember, over-the-counter medicines may provide temporary relief of symptoms, but they will not cure your illness. Antibiotics won't help if you have flu.
How effective is Tamiflu?
"One of the problems is that Tamiflu is seen by the public as a drug that will save you from all cases of the flu," he says. "Tamiflu can decrease the duration of illness by 30% to 40%, and decrease flu severity by about 40% -- but only if taken in the first 36 to 48 hours of illness.
Why does flu get worse at night?
At night, there is less cortisol in your blood. As a result, your white blood cells readily detect and fight infections in your body at this time, provoking the symptoms of the infection to surface, such as fever, congestion, chills, or sweating. Therefore, you feel sicker during the night.
Can you be around someone with the flu?
Person to Person People with flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away. Most experts think that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
What is influenza A?
Influenza A is a type of virus that causes influenza (the flu), a highly contagious respiratory illness. If you get it, you will need to rest at ho...
What are the types of influenza A?
As well as infecting people, the influenza A virus can infect animals, including birds (causing avian flu) and pigs (causing swine flu or H1N1). In...
What are the symptoms of influenza A?
If you have influenza A, you will have some or all of these symptoms: fever and chills headache and muscle aches feeling tired and weak sneezing, a...
How is influenza A treated?
If you have influenza, you are likely to get better within a week or so by: resting in bed taking mild pain relief to reduce your pain drinking ple...
Can influenza A be prevented?
Influenza spreads very easily from one person to another. If you have influenza, you should stay at home while you're sick, cover your face when yo...
What are the other drugs used to treat flu?
Two other drugs, rimantadine (Flumadine®) and amantadine (Symmetrel®), were used to treat flu infection in the past. They worked by disrupting ion channels in the wall of the virus, preventing the virus from replicating during the initial stages of infection, soon after its been taken inside a human cell. However, rimantadine and amantadine are only effective in treating Influenza A, and several strains of flu have already developed resistance to them. Thus, the two medicines are no longer recommended in the United States for treating the flu.
Why are antiviral medications important?
Antiviral medicines are an important tool in both controlling influenza by treating the patient’s infection and helping to prevent severe illness that can result from flu, including bacterial pneumonia.
When was Peramivir approved?
For example, NIAID supported the initial Phase 1 clinical studies of peramivir, which was approved in 2014 by the Food and Drug Administration to treat flu infection in adults.
What is the type of influenza?
What is type A influenza? Influenza — also known as the flu — is a contagious viral infection that attacks your respiratory system. Influenza viruses that infect humans can be classified into three main groups: A, B, and C. Type A influenza infection can be serious and cause widespread outbreaks and disease. Common symptoms of type A infection can ...
How does influenza A clear?
In some cases, influenza A symptoms can clear on their own with ample rest and fluid intake. In other cases, your doctor may prescribe antiviral medication to fight the infection.
What is the name of the drug that stops the virus from replicating?
A new medication called baloxavir marboxil ( Xofluza ), created by a Japanese pharmaceutical company, was approved in October 2018 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Trusted Source. . This antiviral drug helps stop the influenza virus from replicating.
What are the symptoms of the flu?
Common signs of an influenza infection include: coughing. runny or stuffy nose. sneezing. sore throat. fever. headache.
How long does it take for flu symptoms to go away?
chills. body aches. Sometimes, influenza A symptoms may resolve on their own. However, if symptoms persist for more than a week without improvement, schedule a visit with your doctor.
How long does it take for a doctor to test for influenza?
In this procedure, your doctor swabs your nose or throat. The test will detect influenza viral RNA within 30 minutes or less.
Is type B influenza as severe as type A?
Type B influenza can be just as severe. Trusted Source. as type A influenza but is less common throughout the flu season compared to type A. Humans are the natural host for type B infection. Type B viruses mutate much slower than type A infections and are categorized by strains, but not subtypes.
How to get better if you have the flu?
If you have influenza, you are likely to get better within a week or so by: resting in bed. taking mild pain relief to reduce your pain. drinking plenty of liquids . eating light foods when you are hungry. In some people, the flu can be severe and lead to serious complications such as pneumonia.
Why is it important to get a new flu shot every year?
A new vaccine is needed every year because influenza viruses change constantly. Flu vaccine is available for everyone aged over 6 months. The vaccine is particularly recommended if you are at risk of complications of influenza, or if you live or work with people at high risk of getting the flu.
What is the type of flu in children?
Influenza type C can cause an illness in children that is similar to the common cold. Most people who have flu are infected with the influenza type A virus. This virus has caused flu pandemics — the worldwide spread of a new disease.
Can a cold cause fever?
Influenza A is a bit like a very bad cold, but a cold doesn't usually cause aches and pains or a high fever. If your symptoms get worse instead of better, it's best to see a doctor. You should also get help straight away if you feel chest pain, you are short of breath, dizzy or confused, or you are vomiting a lot.
Can the bird flu be passed on to humans?
In some cases, these types of influenza can be passed on to humans. Bird flu: Avian influenza — also known as 'bird flu' — is a subtype of influenza virus A (H5N1) that mainly affects birds. The virus has caused serious infections in humans and deaths but has not been found in Australia. Swine flu: This is a type of influenza A virus found in pigs.
How to help a person with the flu?
If you do come down with the flu, these measures may help ease your symptoms: Drink plenty of liquids. Choose water, juice and warm soups to prevent dehydration. Rest. Get more sleep to help your immune system fight infection. You may need to change your activity level, depending on your symptoms.
What to take for achiness from influenza?
Consider pain relievers. Use an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), to combat the achiness associated with influenza.
How long should you stay home with a fever?
To help control the spread of influenza in your community, stay home and keep sick children home until fever has been gone for 24 hours. Avoid being around other people until you're feeling better, unless you're getting medical care. If you do need to leave your home and get medical care, wear a face mask.
Can you take zanamivir with asthma?
Oseltamivir is an oral medication. Zanamivir is inhaled through a device similar to an asthma inhaler and shouldn't be used by anyone with certain chronic respiratory problems, such as asthma and lung disease.
Do you need to be tested for influenza?
During times when influenza is widespread, you may not need to be tested for influenza. Your doctor may diagnose you based on your signs and symptoms. In some cases, your doctor may suggest that you be tested for influenza. He or she may use various tests to diagnose influenza. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is becoming more common in many ...
How to prevent the flu from spreading?
A person can regularly wash their hands to help prevent the spread of flu. To help prevent the flu from spreading, people should wash their hands regularly, especially during the winter months. Several vaccines are effective at preventing the flu.
How long does it take for the flu to clear up?
Influenza A will usually clear up on its own within 2 weeks. Stay at home for the first few days, and get plenty of rest and water. Over-the-counter medications can help to ease symptoms but do not shorten the illness duration.
What proteins help the virus to attach to cells in the body?
These proteins, hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N), help the virus to attach to cells in the body, causing the infection. There are 18 different H subtypes in influenza A that run from influenza H1 to H18. There are 11 N subtypes, ranging from N1 to N11.
How to help a blocked nose?
During this time, drink plenty of fluids and rest as much as possible. A range of over-the-counter medications can help ease symptoms. For example, decongestants help to clear a blocked nose, and cough suppressants can ease throat pain from coughing.
What is the most common symptom of influenza A?
A cough is common symptom of influenza A. The four types of influenza are A, B, C, and D. Types A and B are widespread. Trusted Source. during most winters in the United States. Type C is milder than types A or B and does not spread as easily. Type D influenza mostly affects cattle and not humans. Scientists divide influenza A into two further ...
What are the symptoms of a virus?
a cough. sore throat. runny or stuffy nose. muscle or body aches. headache. fatigue. In more severe cases, some people experience vomiting and diarrhea. These symptoms tend to be more common in children than in adults. In most cases, the body’s immune system will fight the virus off itself.
Can zanamivir shorten the duration of a virus?
These medications do not treat the virus itself and cannot shorten illness duration. People at risk of complications may need antiviral drugs to fight the virus. Examples of these medications include oseltamivir ( Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza). They can reduce recovery time by a couple of days.
