Medication
5 home remedies for the flu
- Herbal tea with garlic, honey, and lemon. Garlic has always been one of the main ingredients in home remedies for the flu. ...
- Ginger tea. In traditional medicine, fresh ginger is one of the most used ingredients to soothe cold and flu symptoms.
- Elderberry herbal tea. ...
- Aloe vera, lemon, and honey gel. ...
- Tisana all echinacea. ...
Self-care
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Nutrition
The best natural cold and flu remedies
- Hydration. Austin's number one recommendation for recovering quickly from a cold or flu virus is staying hydrated.
- Vitamin C. While vitamin C hasn't been proven to prevent cold symptoms, some studies have indicated it can shorten the lifespan of a cold.
- Sleep. ...
- Honey and tea. ...
- Chicken soup. ...
- Aromatherapy. ...
- A steamy shower. ...
- Gargling warm salt water. ...
What is the best home treatment for the flu?
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
What is the best medicine for influenza?
What are some natural ways to fight the flu?
What is the best way to treat influenza?
What are the two main types of influenza treatments?
Type A influenza infection can be serious and cause widespread outbreaks and disease. Common symptoms of type A infection can be confused with other conditions....Treatmentzanamivir (Relenza)oseltamivir (Tamiflu)peramivir (Rapivab)
Is influenza A treated with antibiotics?
Because flu is a viral illness, antibiotics won't help to treat it. In the past, you may have been prescribed antibiotics when you had the flu.
How is influenza managed?
Antiviral drugs for influenza include oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu®); zanamivir (Relenza®); peramivir (Rapivap®); and baloxavir (Xofluza®). This drug is approved to treat influenza in patients who are two weeks of age and older, and it works best in people who have had the flu for fewer than two days.
How is influenza diagnosed and treated?
Rapid molecular assays are the preferred diagnostic tests because they can be done at the point of care, are highly accurate, and have fast results. Treatment with one of four approved anti-influenza drugs may be considered if the patient presents within 48 hours of symptom onset.
Why can't antibiotics treat influenza?
Viruses are surrounded by a protective protein coating; they don't have cell walls that can be attacked by antibiotics like bacteria does. It is because of this that antibiotics don't work on viruses.
Is influenza A virus or bacteria?
Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.
What are the 4 types of influenza?
There are four types of influenza viruses: A, B, C and D. Human influenza A and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics of disease (known as flu season) almost every winter in the United States.
What causes the influenza?
The flu is caused by an influenza virus. Most people get the flu when they breathe in tiny airborne droplets from the coughs or sneezes of someone who has the flu. You can also catch the flu if you touch something with the virus on it, and then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes.
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 ...
What to do if you have the flu?
CDC recommends prompt treatment for people who have flu or suspected flu who are at high risk of serious flu complications, such as people with asthma, diabetes or heart disease.
What is the name of the medication that is prescribed to treat the flu?
There are prescription medications called “antiviral drugs” that can be used to treat flu illness. What are antiviral drugs? Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid, an inhaled powder, or an intravenous solution) that fight against flu in your respiratory tract. Antiviral drugs are not sold over the counter.
What is an antiviral?
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. They also can prevent serious flu complications, like pneumonia, ...
Why is it important to take antiviral medicine early?
It’s very important that antiviral drugs be used early to treat people who are very sick with flu (for example, people who are in the hospital) and people who are sick with flu and have a greater chance of getting serious flu complications, either because of their age or because they have a high risk medical condition.
How long does it take for antiviral drugs to work?
Studies show that flu antiviral drugs work best for treatments when they are started within 2 days of getting sick. However, starting them later can still be helpful, especially if the sick person has a high-risk health condition or is very sick from flu (for example, hospitalized patients).
How to keep from getting sick?
While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Can you buy antiviral medication over the counter?
Antiviral drugs are not sold over the counter. You can only get them if you have a prescription from your doctor or health care provider. Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics, which fight against bacterial infections.
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.
Which treatments should I take for flu symptoms?
The flu treatment you should take depends on your symptoms. For example, if you have nasal or sinus congestion, then a decongestant can be helpful.
Which treatment should I use for nasal congestion?
If you need immediate relief for swollen, congested nasal passages, you may get relief with an over-the-counter decongestant nasal spray. It is important to stop using decongestant nasal sprays after three days to avoid the development of rebound congestion.
Is it safe to take a decongestant if I have high blood pressure?
Decongestants can increase blood pressure and heart rate. Pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine are oral decongestants commonly available in over-the-counter products. Check with your doctor or pharmacist about safety.
Which flu treatment works best for my cough?
An occasional cough may clear the lung of pollutants and excess phlegm. A persistent cough should be diagnosed and treated specifically. On the pharmacy shelf, you'll find numerous cough medicines with various combinations of decongestants, antihistamines, analgesics/antipyretics, cough suppressants, and expectorants.
Which flu treatment should I take to lower my fever and body aches?
Children under 19 should avoid aspirin. Acetaminophen ( Tylenol) or medicines like ibuprofen ( Advil, Motrin) and naproxen ( Aleve) are over-the-counter options for fever and pain relief. Each medication has risks. Check with your doctor or pharmacist as to which medication may be suitable for you.
Which flu treatment is best for my sore throat?
Drinking lots of fluids and using salt water gargles (made by combining a cup of warm water and a teaspoon of salt) can often be helpful for easing the pain of a sore throat. Over-the-counter pain relievers and medicated lozenges and gargles can also temporarily soothe a sore throat.
Is an antiviral drug a commonly used flu treatment?
Antiviral flu drugs are taken to decrease the severity and duration of flu symptoms. In some cases they may be used to prevent flu. They include baloxavir marboxil ( Xofluza ), oseltamivir ( Tamiflu ), peramivir ( Rapivab ), or zanamivir ( Relenza ).
When is antiviral treatment recommended?
Antiviral treatment is recommended as soon as possible for any patient with suspected or confirmed influenza who: is hospitalized; has severe, complicated, or progressive illness; or. is at higher risk for influenza complications.
What is the purpose of antiviral medication?
Antiviral medications with activity against influenza viruses are an important adjunct to influenza vaccine in the control of influenza. Influenza antiviral prescription drugs can be used to treat influenza, and some can be used to prevent influenza.
Does oseltamivir reduce death?
Early treatment of hospitalized adult influenza patients with oseltamivir has been reported to reduce death in some observational studies. In hospitalized children, early antiviral treatment with oseltamivir has been reported to shorten the duration of hospitalization in observational studies.
What age is the most at risk for influenza?
residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities. 1 Although all children younger than 5 years old are considered at higher risk for complications from influenza, the highest risk is for those younger than 2 years old, with the highest hospitalization and death rates among infants younger than 6 months old.
Does antiviral medicine reduce fever?
Clinical trials and observational data show that early antiviral treatment can shorten the duration of fever and illness symptoms, and may reduce the risk of some complications from influenza (e.g., otitis media in young children, pneumonia, and respiratory failure).
Is rimantadine an antiviral?
Amantadine and rimantadine are antiviral drugs in a class of medications known as adamantanes, which target the M2 ion channel protein of influenza A viruses. Therefore, these medications are active against influenza A viruses, but not influenza B viruses.
Can you take oseltamivir if you are not hospitalized?
For patients with severe or complicated illness with suspected or confirmed influenza (e.g., pneumonia, or exacerbation of underlying chronic medical condition) who are not hospitalized, antiviral treatment with oral or enterically-administered oseltamivir is recommended as soon as possible.
How to get rid of a flu?
throw it in the trash and. wash your hands . Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like flu.
What is the flu?
Flu is a respiratory illness that spreads from person to person. It can cause mild to severe illness. Serious outcomes of flu can result in hospitalization or death. Some people, such as older people, young children, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk of serious flu complications.
What are the complications of the flu?
Moderate complications of flu include: sinus infections. ear infections. Possible serious complications triggered by flu can include: lung infection (pneumonia) inflammation of the heart, brain, or muscle. organ failure (for example, respiratory and kidney failure) sepsis, which can be deadly.
How old do you have to be to give a child cough medicine?
Children 4 years or older: discuss with your child’s doctor if over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are safe to give to your child for temporary symptom relief. Be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist about the right dosage of over-the-counter medicines for your child’s age and size.
How long does it take to recover from the flu?
Most people who get flu will recover in a few days to less than two weeks. But some people will develop complications (such as pneumonia) as a result of flu, some of which can be life-threatening and result in death.
Can antiviral drugs make you better?
These drugs can make you better faster and may also prevent serious complications. If you are in a high-risk group and develop flu symptoms, you need to contact your doctor when you first notice flu symptoms. Remind them about your high-risk status for flu. See Treatment – Antiviral Drugs for more information.
Can antibiotics help with flu?
Antibiotics Won’t Help. When you have flu, antibiotics will not help you feel better. Antibiotics won’ t help you , and their side effects could cause harm. Side effects of antibiotics can range from minor issues, like a rash, to very serious health problems, such as.
What is the CDC's recommendation for treating a flu?
CDC recommends prompt treatment for people who have flu infection or suspected flu infection and who are at high risk of serious flu complications, such as people with asthma, diabetes (including gestational diabetes), or heart disease.
What is the best antiviral for the flu?
What antiviral drugs are recommended this flu season? 1 oseltamivir phosphate (available as a generic version or under the trade name Tamiflu®), 2 zanamivir (trade name Relenza®) 3 peramivir (trade name Rapivab®), and 4 baloxavir marboxil (trade name Xofluza®).
How long does zanamivir last?
To treat flu, oseltamivir or inhaled zanamivir are usually prescribed for 5 days, or one dose of intravenous peramivir or oral Baloxavir for 1 day. Oseltamivir treatment is given to hospitalized patients, and some patients might be treated for more than 5 days. Top of Page.
How often is zanamivir given?
Oseltamivir and zanamivir are given twice a day for 5 days. Peramivir is given once intravenously by a health care provider and is approved for early treatment of flu in people 2 years and older. Baloxavir is a pill given as a single dose by mouth and is approved for early treatment of flu in people 12 years and older.
How long should you take antiviral medication for a child?
For treatment, influenza antiviral drugs should ideally be started within 2 days after becoming sick and taken for 5 days.
What are the symptoms of the flu?
Flu signs and symptoms can include feeling feverish or having a fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Your doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs to treat your flu illness.
Is Tamiflu a generic?
oseltamivir phospha te (available as a generic version or under the trade name Tamiflu ®), baloxavir marboxil (trade name Xofluza®). and Tamiflu® are available as a pill or liquid suspension and are FDA approved for early treatment of flu in people 14 days and older.
Flu Vaccine
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