Influenza (flu)

Influenza Treatment

Most cases of flu require no treatment other than symptom relief. If you have a chronic condition such as respiratory or heart disease your doctor may prescribe additional medication to manage symptoms.

Antivirals

Influenza is sensitive to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), both of which are neuraminidase inhibitors. These antiviral drugs can reduce the severity of symptoms and are most effective if treatment begins within 48 hours of developing symptoms.

Healthy individuals with H1N1 infection do not require treatment with antivirals.

Treatment with either oseltamivir or zanamivir is recommended as soon as possible for suspected or confirmed influenza in people who:

• Are hospitalized
• Show signs or symptoms of lower respiratory tract illness, such as shortness of breath or rapid breathing
• Are younger than 5 years of age
• Are 65 years and older
• Are pregnant
• Are younger than 19 years of age and are receiving long-term aspirin therapy, because of an increased risk for Reye syndrome
• Have certain chronic medical conditions: Chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell disease), neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus)
• Have suppression of the immune system due to medications or HIV infection or AIDS

Self-Care

If you develop symptoms of influenza but you're otherwise healthy:

• Stay home from work or school. Anyone who tests positive for Influenza A at this time of the year can be presumed to have H1N1. The CDC recommends that people with influenza-like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100° F [37.8°C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. In addition, the CDC recommends that health care workers with H1N1 remain off work for seven days from the onset of symptoms or until fever is gone, whichever is longer.
• Drink plenty of liquids.
• Rest. Get more sleep to help your immune system fight infection.
• Consider pain relievers. Use an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) cautiously, as needed.

Remember, pain relievers may make you more comfortable, but they won't make your symptoms go away any faster, and pain relievers may have side effects. Ibuprofen may cause stomach pain, bleeding and ulcers. If taken for a long period or in higher than recommended doses, acetaminophen can be toxic to your liver.

Talk to your doctor before giving acetaminophen to children. And don't give aspirin to children or teens because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease.