Diagnosis
H1N1, also called swine flu, may be diagnosed with a physical exam to look for common symptoms. Or the healthcare professional may review your symptoms with you over the phone. Your care team also may order a test that finds influenza viruses such as H1N1.
There are many tests used to find out if you have influenza. But not everyone who has the flu needs to be tested. Most of the time, knowing that you have the flu doesn't change your treatment plan.
Tests for flu are more likely if:
- You're already in the hospital.
- You're at high risk of complications from the flu.
- You live with someone who is more likely to get very sick from the flu.
- A child younger than age 2 is ill.
Your healthcare team may use a test to see if a flu virus is causing your symptoms. Or the tests may be used to get more information to see if another condition is causing your symptoms, such as:
- Heart conditions, such as heart failure or an infection of the heart muscle.
- Lung and breathing issues, such as asthma or pneumonia.
- Brain and nervous system issues, such as encephalopathy or encephalitis.
- Septic shock or organ failure.
A test called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may be used to see if you have the flu. This test can be better at finding the flu than other tests and might be able to tell which type of flu it is.
It is possible to have both flu and another virus such as COVID-19 at the same time.
Treatment
If you don't have risk factors that make a serious illness more likely, treatment for seasonal flu, including H1N1, means helping you feel better. It can be helpful to rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take medicine to manage fever and headache.
If you have a long-term breathing condition, your healthcare professional may give you medicine to ease your symptoms.
Healthcare professionals may give you antiviral medicines within the first day or two after you start feeling sick. These medicines can help with your symptoms and might lower the chance of having complications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved these four antiviral drugs to treat flu:
- Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)
- Zanamivir (Relenza)
- Peramivir (Rapivab)
- Baloxavir (Xofluza)
But flu viruses can become resistant to these medicines. Because of this, healthcare professionals usually save these medicines for certain people. This includes people at high risk of complications and those who are often around others who are at high risk.
Using antiviral medicines wisely helps prevent resistance and makes sure these medicines work for the people who need them most.
Lifestyle and home remedies
Here are some ways to feel better if you have the flu:
- Drink plenty of fluids. Choose fluids such as water, juice and warm soups to keep your body hydrated.
- Rest. Sleep and rest help your body clear out the infection.
- Consider pain relievers. You can take pain-relieving medicines that are available without a prescription. Examples are acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Children and teenagers recovering from flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. This is due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition.
To help control the spread of flu in your community, stay home if you have the flu. Keep sick children home until they've been fever-free for 24 hours without taking medicine for a fever. Try to avoid being around other people unless you have to go out, such as to a medical appointment. If you need to go out, wear a face mask.
Sept. 24, 2026