Dealing with the Flu Once You Have It

The easiest way to deal with the flu is to avoid getting it altogether. However, even if you do get a vaccination, there is a chance that you could become infected with the influenza virus.

The way this happens is usually that either a virus that was not included in the vaccination manifests itself as part of the flu season or the virus drifts – meaning it changes a bit – over the course of the flu season, making an inoculation less effective.If you do get the flu, there are some options for treatment.

This is a virus, so you do, for the most part, have to let it run its course, but you can reduce the symptoms of influenza and, for some patients, that may be a very big deal.

Antiviral Drugs for The Flu

Antiviral drugs diminish the effects of a virus on the body. If you have influenza and, in particular, if you are at high risk because of a compromised immune system, a respiratory illness or another condition, you’ll want to talk to your physician about antiviral treatments. These don’t make the flu “go away”, but they may make it more bearable and they can reduce some of the most dangerous outcomes of contracting influenza, such as subsequently contracting pneumonia.

Talk to Your Physician About The Flu You Have

Influenza symptoms are so well known that the symptoms of other infections are sometimes referred to as flulike symptoms. If you start to feel the symptoms of influenza coming on, even if you had a vaccination, be sure to talk to your physician right away. 

The two things you want to avoid are further putting yourself at risk and putting other people at risk by infecting them with the virus. Your physician can give you information on how to make sure there isn’t undue risk either way.