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Antiviral medicines for influenza: do they need?
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
Influenza refers to diseases caused by a virus. Therefore, it is logical to assume that people are fighting the flu with the help of antiviral drugs. If the flu is not treated, it can cause various kinds of diseases, ranging from mild symptoms of colds, typical for influenza, to life-threatening pneumonia, bacterial infections and other serious complications.
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Antiviral drugs against influenza
There are a number of antiviral drugs approved by medical experts for the treatment and prevention of influenza. Vaccination is the main means of prevention and control of influenza.
- Vaccine against seasonal flu
- Other influenza vaccines
Vaccination is desirable to be carried out every year for children up to six months and adults up to 59 years to reduce the risk of the incidence of influenza. The vaccine makes the body's immune system more powerful and helps it fight the flu by destroying its viruses. The vaccine against influenza begins to work two weeks after the injection and its effect lasts for up to a year.
Use of antiviral drugs to treat influenza
Influenza outbreaks occur every year and usually reach epidemic levels during the disease season (it starts around October). As a rule, uncomplicated influenza can pass without treatment, but it can cause significant discomfort and restriction of human activity. Complications of influenza may include bacterial infections, viral pneumonia, cardiac and other disorders of organs and systems. People with chronic diseases may be at increased risk of complications after the flu.
Many other diseases, including rapidly progressing blood infection, can begin with symptoms resembling flu. Laboratory tests can help to find out what it is: flu or not. However, a negative result does not exclude the possibility of entry into the body of an influenza infection, as well as the possibility of other diseases.
Many people with uncomplicated influenza can simply sleep more and drink plenty of fluids to reduce flu symptoms. Sometimes they take over-the-counter drugs. But antiviral medications prescription by a doctor can shorten the time of improvement of symptoms, they are also used in some situations to reduce the likelihood of the disease in people exposed to influenza.
Different types of treatment for influenza
To treat complications of influenza and other diseases that resemble influenza, different types of treatment may be required, and in some cases urgent medical care. It is worth knowing that antiviral drugs do not eliminate the risk of complications, so they can be supplemented with other drugs.
Some complications of influenza can be life threatening. The fact is that influenza viruses can become resistant to specific antiviral drugs against influenza, and all of them can give side effects. If you experience any new symptoms during treatment, or if your symptoms persist or worsen during treatment, you should immediately consult your doctor.
Depending on the strain of the influenza virus, antiviral drugs can be very effective or, conversely, useless. Therefore, do not treat them yourself, but contact a doctor. And by the way: antiviral drugs against influenza are not a substitute for a vaccine. They are used in addition to the vaccine to fight the flu.
Best Antivirus Tools
Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) and Relenza (zanamivir) are two effective antiviral drugs recommended for use against newly circulating influenza viruses.
The old drugs amantadine and rimantadine are approved by the medical community for the treatment and prevention of influenza A. But many strains of influenza, including the 2009 H1N1 flu, are now resistant to these two drugs. Medical experts recommend the use of these two drugs only when specific strains of the virus can be susceptible to these drugs.
Dosage of antiviral drugs
Be sure to keep in mind that the dose and the regimen for each drug are different. They depend on the age, weight and health status of an adult or child. In addition, the total daily dose and duration of admission in the treatment of acute illnesses may differ from the dosing and duration of admission for the prevention of influenza and should be appropriately adjusted by the physician.
On the package of the drug there is always information about the side effects and the manufacturer of each drug. The doctor's decision to use these drugs should be based on an individual risk assessment. Treatment with antiviral drugs should be done only under the supervision of the therapist to avoid possible uncontrolled deviations.
Antiviral drugs against influenza can help prevent the disease or reduce the severity of its symptoms, or accelerate the duration of treatment. But we must remember that for a good effect of these drugs, self-medication is unacceptable.
Attention!
To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Antiviral medicines for influenza: do they need?" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.
Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.