Medication
However, if you are at high risk for complications, you should contact your physician or seek medical care as soon as you notice symptoms. Your healthcare provider will determine whether you should be tested and treated for the flu. In children, emergency warning signs that require urgent medical care include:
Self-care
Antiviral drugs need to be taken within 2 days of your first flu symptoms. When you have flu, antibiotics will not help you feel better. Antibiotics won’t help you, and their side effects could cause harm.
Nutrition
CDC recommends prompt treatment for people who have flu or suspected flu who are at higher risk of serious flu complications, such as people with asthma, diabetes, or heart disease. Antiviral drugs can help treat flu illness:
When should I seek medical care for the flu?
You have trouble breathing or chest pain . Your cold or flu shouldn't make you short of breath or cause your chest to hurt. If that's happening to you, it could be a sign of a more serious problem, such as heart disease, asthma, or pneumonia. Call your doctor or go to the emergency room.
When to take antiviral drugs for flu?
What are the CDC’s treatment recommendations for the flu?
When to go to the ER for a cold or flu?
When should you seek medical help for the flu?
1. You have shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Being sick with flu shouldn't affect your breathing. It could be a sign of a something more serious, such as pneumonia, an infection of the lungs.
Should I go to the ER if I think I have the flu?
Generally, you shouldn't need to visit the ER unless you feel very sick. However, if you experience the following emergency warning signs of the flu, you should visit the emergency room. Signs in children: Fast breathing or difficulty breathing.
Can I recover from flu in 2 days?
Flu symptoms typically last about a week, but the most severe symptoms only occur for two to three days (though it might feel like an eternity). You might continue to experience fatigue, weakness, and a cough for another week after you recover.
When am I sick enough to go to the hospital?
Signs in adults: Having difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen. Sudden dizziness. Confusion.
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 should I do if I get sick?
Most people with the flu have mild illness and don’t need medical care or antiviral drugs. In most cases, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people, except to get medical care.
Are there medicines to treat the flu?
Yes. Your doctor may prescribe an antiviral, a drug that can help you feel better faster and may prevent serious complications. Antivirals work better the sooner they are started. Learn more at the CDC.
What should I do when I'm sick?
What should I do while I’m sick? Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. If you must leave home, for example to get medical care, wear a facemask if you have one, or cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Wash your hands often to keep from spreading flu to others.
Can the flu cause death?
Influenza (flu) can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death . Flu is different from a cold. Flu usually comes on suddenly. People who have flu often feel some or all of these symptoms: Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
Can you go to the emergency room if you are sick?
No. The emergency room should be used for people who are very sick. You should not go to the emergency room if you are only mildly ill. If you have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness, you should go to the emergency room. If you get sick with flu symptoms and are at high risk of flu complications or you are concerned about your illness, ...
Can you take Aspirin with the flu?
CDC also recommends that children and teenagers (anyone aged 18 years and younger) who have flu or are suspected to have flu should not be given Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) or any salicylate containing products (e.g. Pepto Bismol); this can cause a rare, very serious complication called Reye’s syndrome.
What is the warning sign of a flu?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a flu-related fever that improves but suddenly returns or worsens is the key warning sign that you should seek medical attention. 2 . The issue is different in kids.
How long does it take for a cold to clear?
Most colds clear up in seven to 10 days. Those that last longer should be always a cause for concern, especially in children.
What temperature should a sore throat be?
However, a severe sore throat should be seen by a doctor if accompanied by a fever over 104 degrees F or if it is interfering with your ability to breathe while sleeping. Symptoms like these could be a sign of a secondary bacterial infection. 6 .
What are the side effects of over the counter cough and cold medicine?
Shortness of breath. Persistent pain or pressure in the chest. Severe weakness. Persistent dizziness or confusion. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises against the use of over-the-counter cough and cold medications in children under 2 due to safety concerns and the lack of proven efficacy. 5 .
How long does it take for mucus to go away from a child?
Cough with bloody mucus. Children three months and under with a fever over 100.4 degrees F should be taken to the emergency room without exception or delay. 4 . Even if symptoms are not severe, you should see a doctor if they persist for more than three weeks or recur.
Do you go to the doctor if you have a cold?
Most people don't go to the doctor when they have a cold or even the flu. In most cases, staying at home, resting, hydrating, and taking over-the-counter medications is all that's needed. But there are also times when certain symptoms warrant a visit to a doctor or even the emergency room. Knowing when to act can help you potentially avoid ...
Is coughing from colds and flu bad?
Coughs from colds and flu tend to be annoying at best, but there are times when they are warning signs of something serious. Broadly speaking, you should be concerned if a cough:
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.
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 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 old do you have to be to take pain relievers?
Pain relievers: Children younger than 6 months: only give acetaminophen. Children 6 months or older: acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be given. Cough and cold medicines: Children younger than 4 years old: do not use unless specifically directed by a doctor.
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.
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.
