Flu or Influenza as it is known in the medical field is a disease of respiratory system with extreme communicable nature. The disease is caused by influenza virus. The virus enters the human body through mucus of the nose, eyes and mouth. When an infected person sneezes the virus spreads through air to the non infected person.
Flu Season
Flu is wide spread during the winter and fall seasons. Hence these seasons are also known as ‘Flu Season’. The characteristic symptoms of influenza are dry cough, muscle aches, fatigue, running nose, head ache and fever. Running nose is more commonly found in children.
Flu season usually occurs at the time of cold periods in each hemisphere. Its chief characteristic is the tremendous increase in the number of outbreaks in flu. It is a practice to associate a flu season occurring in a particular year to a specific type of influenza virus.
What is flu treatment?
Influenza is usually a disease which is known to be of an uncomplicated nature, however if left untreated it could lead to many health complications. Hence it is better to treat flu as soon as it is diagnosed to prevent other undesirable consequences.
The two most commonly followed methods of treating Influenza are Antivirals and Over the Counter Treatments or OTCs as they are commonly known.
An Introduction to Antivirals
Antivirals are specific kind of drugs that stop the virus in a person’s body from multiplying. If the antiviral is administered within 12-48 hours of onset of flu symptoms, then the effect of the drug is at its peak. Antivirals are very helpful in shared facilities like nursing homes, clinics and dormitories as it prevents extensive out break of the disease. Further this leads to prevention of nosocomial infections. Antivirals can help in treating flu that is caused by strains of viruses that are not included by the vaccine.
Antivirals help in:
- Prevents extensive outbreak of flu in shared facilities like clinics, nursing homes and dormitories.
- This way it also contributes in prevention of nosocomial disease (infection acquired in hospital).
- Protection against a flu epidemic which is caused by a strain of virus other than those included by the vaccine
Types of Antivirals
Four types of Antivirals are approved by FDA and they are as follows:
- Amantidine (Symmetrel)
- Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)
- Rimantadine (Flumadine)
- Zanamivir (Relenza)
It is interesting to note that Antivirals are even helpful in treating infants as young as 12 months. As Antivirals not only help in flu treatment but also in flu prevention, it is advisable to go for an antiviral shot even if one of the family members is suffering from flu. However it should only be done with the assistance of one’s physician.
Over the Counter Medicines for Flu Treatment
These are medicines that can be purchased without physician’s consultation. This usually helps in relieving discomforts such as running nose, cough and muscular pain. Cough suppressants, Decongestants, Analgesics and Expectorants are few of the OTCs that are helpful in flu treatment. It is important to know all the details of the OTC drugs as they might result in undesirable side effects sometimes.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are strictly not for flu treatment as they are drugs that fight against bacterial infection. Inappropriate use of antibiotics can lead to complications.
It is highly recommended to be fully aware of all flu treatment methods in detail before choosing the apt one. This way one could not only prevent flu but also fight it without any side effects.
