Treating the Flu
if you have the flu, stay home to prevent spreading the illness to others, even if it means missing out on holiday festivities or an important meeting at work!
Get plenty of rest and drink a lot of liquids - avoid using alcohol and tobacco.
Over-the-counter medications are available to relieve the symptoms of the flu.
Antibiotics won’t help fight a virus so they shouldn’t be taken to treat the flu or a cold.
If your child or teenager has flu-like symptoms or a fever, do not give them aspirin without speaking to the child’s health care provider first.
In most cases, if you or your child develops the flu but are not in a high-risk group, you may only need to consult with your health care provider over the phone.
If you or your child has severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, you should:
- contact your health care provider immediately to set up an appointment
- or visit an emergency department (be sure to ask for a mask in the emergency room if you have had a severe cough for several days).
Those in a high-risk group such people with diabetes, asthma, chronic bronchitis or other chronic illnesses, the elderly, or those with an auto-immune deficiency, should also contact their health care provider as soon as symptoms start to avoid complications.
Antiviral drugs are also available, and are recommended for those at a higher risk of developing serious complications from the flu, such as pneumonia, or those are in close contact with a high risk person.
Some antiviral drugs are available by prescription for treating the flu and can reduce the duration of the flu by about one day. However, these drugs are only effective if taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. These medications may have side effects and do not cure influenza immediately. If you have the flu, you can talk with your doctor about whether to take an antiviral medication.
For more information: Michigan Department of Community Health.
