Are There Medicines To Treat Infection With Flu?: 800-CDC-INFO

Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus) Kidney disorders Liver disorders
Are there medicines to treat infection with u?

Yes. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) that ght against the u in your body. While a u vaccine is the rst and most important step in preventing u, antiviral drugs are a second line of defense to treat the u if you get sick. Antiviral drugs are not sold over-the-counter; you must have a prescription to get them. Antiviral drugs are not a substitute for vaccination.
Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders) Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids)
People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy People who are morbidly obese (Body Mass Index, or BMI, of 40 or greater)
How long should I stay home if Im sick?

CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick. Continue to cover coughs and sneezes and wash hands even after you return to work. It is important to know that even if you dont have a fever, you may have u and be contagious if you get u symptoms.
Flu &
If you (or your child) are in one of the groups above and develop u-like symptoms, consult a health care provider to get advice about seeking medical care. Also, its possible for otherwise healthy people to develop severe illness, so any one concerned about their illness should consult their doctor. There are emergency warning signs that should signal anyone to seek medical care urgently.
You
Emergency Warning Signs In Children:

Fast breathing or trouble breathing Bluish skin color Not drinking enough uids 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

Flu Symptoms can include

fever * cough sore throat runny or stuffy nose body aches headache chills fatigue sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

In Adults:

*Its important to note that not everyone with u will have a fever.
Difculty breathing or shortness of breath Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen Sudden dizziness Confusion Severe or persistent vomiting
For more information, visit or call
http://www.cdc.gov/flu 800-CDC-INFO.
May 2013
CS241014-A
Influenza (Flu)
Flu is a serious contagious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes death.
Prevention
#1
A u vaccine is the rst and most important step in protecting against u viruses.
#3
Take u antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.
How does u spread?

Most experts think that u viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when people with u cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. A person might also get u by touching a surface or object that has u virus on it and then touching their own eyes, mouth or nose.
While there are many different u viruses, the u vaccine protects against the viruses that research indicates will be most common. Flu vaccines protect against three or four viruses; an H1N1, an H3N2, and one or two inuenza B viruses, depending on the vaccine. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated against the u each year. Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe u illness. Vaccination also is important for health care workers, and those who live with or care for high risk people to keep from spreading u to high risk people. Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious u illness, but are too young to be vaccinated. People who care for or live with them should be vaccinated to protect these babies.
If you get the u, antiviral drugs can treat your illness. These drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick.
Antiviral drugs work best when started in the rst 2 days of symptoms to treat people who are very sick (such as those who are hospitalized) or people who are sick with u symptoms and who are at increased risk of severe u illness.
How long can a sick person spread u to others?

People infected with u shed virus and may be able to infect others from 1 day before getting sick to about 5-7 days after getting sick. This can be longer in some people, especially children and people with weakened immune systems. This means that you may be able to pass on the u to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
If You Get Sick

What should I do if I get sick?
If you become ill with inuenza symptoms you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to seek medical care. Most people are able to recover at home from u without medical care. However, some people are at greater risk of serious u-related complications. They are:
Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
How severe is illness associated with u?

Each u season, different u viruses spread and affect people differently based on their bodys ability to ght infection. Even healthy children and adults can get very sick from the u and spread it to friends, co-workers, and family. In the United States, thousands of healthy adults and children have to visit the doctor or are hospitalized from u complications each year. While u can make anyone sick, certain people are at greater risk for severe illness resulting in hospitalization or death. This includes older adults, young children, people with certain long term health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease and women who are pregnant. (See What should I do if I get sick? for the full list of high risk persons.)
#2

Take everyday actions to help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you are sick with u-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Your fever should be gone without the use of a feverreducing medicine. While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
People 65 and older Pregnant women People who have:

Asthma
What can I do to protect myself from getting sick from u?

CDC recommends a three-step approach to ghting the u: vaccination, everyday preventive actions, and the correct use of antiviral drugs if your doctor recommends them.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the u.
Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions [including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury]. Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic brosis)
Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)

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Are There Medicines To Treat Infection With Flu?: 800-CDC-INFO

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Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus) Kidney disorders Liver disorders

Are there medicines to treat infection with u?

How long should I stay home if Im sick?

Emergency Warning Signs In Children:

Flu Symptoms can include

For more information, visit or call

Take u antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.

How does u spread?

How long can a sick person spread u to others?

If You Get Sick

How severe is illness associated with u?

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

People 65 and older Pregnant women People who have:

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick from u?

Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)

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