How do you do if you have the flu?

How do you know if you have the flu?

You may have the flu if you have some or all of these symptoms:

· Fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, sometims diarrhea and vomiting

*It's important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

Treatmen the flu

If you have the flu, you should stay home and follow your health care provider’s recommendations. Talk to your doctor about the counter and prescription medications to ease flu symptoms and help you feel better faster.

You can treat flu symptoms with and without medication.
Over-the-counter medications may relieve some flu symptoms but will not make you less contagious.
Your health care provider may prescribe antiviral medications to make your illness milder and prevent serious complications.
Your health care provider may prescribe antibiotics if your flu has progressed to a bacterial infection.

Are there ways to treat the flu or its symptoms without medication?

You can treat flu symptoms without medication by:

Getting plenty of rest
Drinking clear fluids like water, broth, sports drinks, or electrolyte beverages to prevent becoming dehydrated
Placing a cool, damp washcloth on your forehead, arms, and legs to reduce discomfort associated with a fever
Putting a humidifier in your room to make breathing easier
Gargling salt water to soothe a sore throat
Covering up with a warm blanket to calm chills

Some ways to treat coughing and sore throat?

Cough medicine, cough drops, and throat lozenges can temporarily relieve coughing and sore throat. Talk to your doctor about which kind is right for you.

Reduce fevers and discomfort?

Is it safe to take flu medications with other over-the-counter or prescription medicines?

If you take several medicines with the same active ingredient you might be taking more than the recommended dose. This can cause serious health problems. Read all labels carefully.

You should talk to your doctor which cold and flu medications are safe for you.

What are antiviral medications and how can they help?

Antiviral medications are prescription pills, liquids, or inhalers used to prevent or treat flu viruses. They are approved for adults and children one year and older. There are four antiviral drugs approved for treating the flu in the United States—oseltamivir (Tamiflu), zanamivir (Relenza), amantadine (generic), and rimantadine (Flumadine).

FDA provides information on availability of antiviralsfor the 2012-2013 seasonal flu season.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the approved use of Tamiflu to treat children as young as 2 weeks old who have shown symptoms of flu for no longer than two days.Tamiflu is the only product approved to treat flu infection in children younger than 1 year old.

If you get the flu, antiviral medications can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious complications from the flu. If you are exposed to the flu, antiviral medication can prevent you from becoming sick. Talk to your health care provider if you have been or may be near a person with the flu.

Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections. They are not effective against viral infections like the flu. Contact your health care provider if you think you need antibiotics.

What are the emergency?

In children

· Fast breathing or trouble breathing, Bluish skin color, Not drinking enough fluids, Not waking up or not interacting, Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held, Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough, Fever with a rash

· You should bring children to hospital or contact doctor

In adults

· Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, Sudden dizziness, Confusion, Severe or persistent vomiting, Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

What should you do if you have the flu

The flu have mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs. If you get sick with flu symptoms, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care.

You have symptoms of flu and are very sick, you should contact doctor, or physician’s assistant, etc.

Certain people are at greater risk of serious flu-related complications and this is true both for seasonal flu and novel flu virus infections. You are in a high risk group and develop flu symptoms, you should contact your doctor. Your high risk status for flu.

Your doctor may prescribe flu drugs. These drugs work better for treatment the sooner they are started.

Not necessary go to the emergency room if you only a little sick?

The emergency room is used for people who are very sick. You should not go to the emergency room if you are a little sick. You get sick with flu symptoms and are at high risk of flu complications or you are concerned about your illness, call your health care provider for advice

The medicines to treat the flu

Drugs your doctor can treat the flu .These drugs can make you better faster and may also prevent serious complications

You should stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other things you have to do and no one else can do for you. You should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.