The flu

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Influenza

Nasal spray flu vaccine

Normal lung anatomy

Flu; Influenza A; Influenza B

If you have mild illness and are not at high-risk, take these steps:

• Rest
• Take medicines that relieve symptoms and help you rest
• Drink plenty of liquids
• Avoid aspirin (especially teens and children)
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco
• Avoid antibiotics (unless necessary for another illness)

If the flu is diagnosed within 48 hours of when symptoms begin, especially if you are high risk for complications, antiviral medications may help shorten the length of symptoms by approximately a day.

In the past, doctors commonly prescribed the antiviral medications amantadine and  rimantadine to treat type A influenza. But in January 2006, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that neither drug should be used for such treatment because of growing resistance to the drugs. Instead, the agency recommended using oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza), which are active against both influenza A and B. Each of these medicines has different side effects and affects different viruses. Your doctor will determine which one is best for you.

Treatment is usually not necessary for children, but if the illness is diagnosed early and the patient is at risk of developing a severe case, it can be started. Oseltamivir is the best choice for children. It is available in a liquid formulation and may be easier to give to the child than zanamivir, which is given by inhaler and is not FDA-approved for children under age 12. Treatment will only help if started early and only if the illness is actually influenza. It will not help treat a regular cold.

In most individuals who are otherwise healthy, the flu goes away within 7 to 10 days.

Possible complications, especially for those at high risk, include:

• Pneumonia
• Encephalitis (infection of the brain)
• Bronchitis
• Sinus infections
• Ear infections

Call your health care provider if someone in a high-risk category develops symptoms of the flu.

Review Date: 01/18/2006
Reviewed By: Daniel Levy, MD, PhD, Infectious Diseases, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.