How is the flu treated?

The most important treatment is also the simplest; keep your immune system strong. You can do this by staying at home and getting plenty of rest. Staying at home will also prevent you from spreading the flu to others. Drink plenty of fluids, namely water, tea, or soup. Avoid caffeinated drinks as they can make you dehydrated.

Medications such as Advil or Tylenol are very important, as they can relieve headaches and reduce fever. This is very important if you want to be able to sleep through the worst of it! Cough medicine and nasal decongestants can be used for general symptomatic relief.

The swine flu itself can be treated with the Relenza and Tamiflu antiviral drugs, although in a healthy adult, the immune system alone is usually enough to fight off the virus.

-Tamiflu, or Oseltamivir, is used to slow the spread of the inluenza virus in the body. Tarmiflu breaks the ties between the influenza virus and the host cell on which it is reproducing. It is taken orally through capsules.

-Relenza, or Zanamivir, is a neuraminidase inhibitor used to treat influenza A and B. As a neuramindase inhibitar it prevents the influenza virus from budding from reproducing. Relenza is an inhalent.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

The signs and symptoms of influenza can start randomly after one to four days of incubation. Barring chills in some cases, the first noticeable symptom is a sudden, high temperature, generally 100-103°F. It is not uncommon for the fever to be so debilitating that people are confined to bed for several days. Other symptoms of influenza may include;

-Headache
-Cough
-Nasal Congestion
-Sore Throat
-Fatigue
-Irritated Eyes
-Aches and pains
-Reddened eyes, mouth, throat, nose and skin

Note that gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may appear in children, but are uncommon in adults.