What Can I Take to Prevent the Flu

Overview

What are colds and the flu?

The common cold and the flu (influenza) are infections of the upper respiratory organisation - the olfactory organ, oral cavity, throat and lungs. The infections are caused by viruses.

How can I tell if I have a cold or the influenza?

Colds and flu accept many of the same symptoms. Nonetheless, cold symptoms are normally milder than flu symptoms and develop more than slowly.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of colds and flu?

Symptoms of Colds and Influenza

Symptom	Common cold	Flu
Fever	Adults-rare; children- sometimes	Loftier fever (100°F and higher; tin can concluding 3 to 4 days)
Runny nose	Common (Nasal belch may have a yellow- or light-green-colored tint)	Sometimes
Stuffy nose	Mutual	Sometimes
Headache	Sometimes (usually mild)	Common
Torso aches	Sometimes (commonly mild)	Common (can be severe)
Fatigue	Sometimes (normally mild)	Common (tin can last upwardly to ii-3 weeks)
Exhaustion	Never	Common (at the start of flu)
Chills, sweat	No	Mutual (extreme)
Nausea	Uncommon	Mutual
Loss of appetite	Sometimes	Common
Sneezing	Common	Sometimes
Coughing	Common	Mutual (can exist intense)
Sore throat	Common	Sometimes
Chest congestion, discomfort	Common (balmy to moderate)	Mutual (tin can be astringent)
Watery eyes	Common	Sometimes

Direction and Treatment

Can colds and the flu exist "cured" with medications?

No medicines can "cure" colds and influenza. Notwithstanding, there are many over-the-counter (OTC) medicines that tin ease the discomfort caused by the symptoms of colds and flu. In add-on, there are prescription medicines and a vaccine that tin care for and prevent the flu.

Notation on antibiotics: Colds and the flu are causes by viruses and cannot exist cured with antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, such as strep throat and ear, skin and urinary tract infections. Using antibiotics for infections they are not able to treat makes the antibiotics less effective for infections they are supposed to treat (a situation called antibiotic resistance). Never take antibiotics to treat colds and flu.

To ease the discomfort from specific cold and flu symptoms, consider using the post-obit types of OTC medicines:

To reduce fever and pain — analgesics: Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is generally preferred. Ibuprofen (Advil®) or naproxen (Naprosyn®) is also unremarkably used. Aspirin should be avoided due to its risk of developing Reye'due south syndrome. (Reye's syndrome is a condition that affects all torso organs and is nigh harmful to the encephalon and liver.) Annotation on acetaminophen: Read all cold medicine packet labels. Exercise not accept more than than one drug that contains acetaminophen. Taking besides much acetaminophen can damage your liver. Acetaminophen doses should not exceed iv grams per day. Individuals with liver damage or liver bug should not exceed 2 grams of acetaminophen per day.
To dry out the nose — antihistamines: Endeavor an antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl®). Considering these products can make you sleepy, avoid driving and other complex tasks while taking these medicines. Loratadine (Claritin®), available (OTC), is a non-drowsy alternative, but may not be as effective as other antihistamines for reducing cold and influenza symptoms. Other OTC antihistamines include Allegra®, Zyrtec® and Xyzal®.
To salve a stuffy, chock-full nose — decongestants: Try an oral decongestant, such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed®). However, insomnia, nervousness and irritability tin occur when taking these drugs. Those who are pregnant or have uncontrolled high claret force per unit area should avoid pseudoephedrine products. Oftentimes decongestants are combined with other drugs (specially antihistamines) in OTC medicines. A "-D" at the end of a medicine's name means it includes an oral decongestant.
To relieve a runny nose or sinus pressure — nasal steroids: Medications like fluticasone (Flonase®, bachelor without a prescription) or mometasone (Nasonex®; prescription needed) tin relieve symptoms. These medicines are also used for seasonal allergies. These are non the same as Afrin® or other OTC nasal preparations. Antihistamines will also help.
To make bravado your nose easier or loosening cough/mucus product — expectorants: Attempt guaifenesin (Robitussin®, Mucofen®, Humibid LA®, Mucinex®, Humibid E®). These products help thin the thick, discolored drainage coming out of the nose and oral cavity.
To reduce coughing — antitussives: Dextromethorphan can help suppress coughing.
To relieve a sore throat: Try throat lozenges (such as Cepacol®) or gargle with warm common salt water a few times a day. Analgesics are also helpful.
For other symptoms: OTC cold products (for example, Nyquil® or Tylenol Cold & Sinus®) tin provide much relief. Be sure to read product labels to find the best cold preparation to match your symptoms and to determine if that medicine is rubber for you.

What are other ways to treat and foreclose the influenza?

Antiviral prescription medicines and an annual flu vaccine are available for treating and preventing the flu.

Prescription anti-flu medicines include amantadine (Symmetrel®), rimantadine (Flumadine®), zanamivir (Relenza®) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu®). These drugs do not cure the flu, but they tin make the symptoms milder and make you feel better more than chop-chop. They are only constructive when used in the first 48 hours of flu-like symptoms.

These drugs are not needed for good for you people who get the flu. They are ordinarily reserved for people who are very sick with the influenza (for example, those who have been hospitalized) or those who are at risk of complications from the flu, such as people with long-term chronic medical conditions (such as diabetes or chronic obstructive lung disease, asthma) or older age.

Influenza vaccine (by shot and nasal spray). Although in that location is currently no vaccine against the common cold, at that place is a vaccine to prevent the flu. The vaccine is bachelor past both shot and nasal spray. It works by exposing the immune arrangement to the viruses. The trunk responds by building antibodies (the body'southward defense organization) against the flu. The flu shot contains dead flu viruses. The nasal spray contains live, but weakened, flu viruses. The nasal spray is simply approved for healthy children and adults 2 to 49 years old and who are not pregnant.

Prevention

Who should get an annual flu shot?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the post-obit groups receive an almanac influenza vaccine shot between November and February (flu flavor):

All people aged half dozen months and older.

Information technology is especially important for certain individuals at high take a chance of influenza complications and those who come up in contact with people at high run a risk of complications to receive the flu vaccine. These people at loftier risk include:

Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
People who have chronic medical conditions such equally asthma, heart affliction, diabetes, kidney and liver disorders and chronic lung diseases.
People with a weakened allowed system, for instance, people with cancer, HIV/AIDS, or chronic steroid users.
Household members and caregivers of patients at risk of complications from the flu.
Women who are — or will be — significant during the flu flavor (regardless of trimester).
Healthcare workers who come into shut contact with patients in hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare facilities.
Infants and children ages six months through xviii years who are taking long-term aspirin therapy. This puts these individuals at gamble for experiencing Reye syndrome afterward flu infection.
American Indians/Alaska natives.
People who have close contact with children under 5 years of age — for example, people who live with children, nannies and providers of daycare services.
People who are morbidly obese (body-mass index of 40 or higher).

Can I become the flu from the flu shot or nasal spray?

No, you cannot go the influenza from the influenza shot or nasal spray. However, some people can withal go the flu even though they had the vaccine. In these cases, the influenza symptoms are milder compared with unvaccinated people who get the flu.

What else can I practice to prevent getting colds and the flu?

Wash your hands frequently with lather and h2o or alcoholic paw wipes. Cold and flu viruses are spread by touching your nose or oral cavity after touching an infected person, animate in the air of an infected person'due south sneeze or coughing, or touching objects that have come in contact with the virus and then touching your nose.

Other prevention tips are to eat healthy, practice, get plenty of slumber, drink plenty of liquids (try to drink eight eight-ounce glasses of fluid/mean solar day), and avoid close contact with people who take colds. Besides, get an annual flu vaccine.

Living With

What tin happen if colds or the flu worsen?

Colds or flu that worsen tin atomic number 82 to:

Pneumonia.
Bronchitis.
Sinus infections.
Ear infection.
Worsening of existing health problems such as asthma and congestive center failure.

Complications triggered by the flu can atomic number 82 to hospitalization, life-threatening situations and fifty-fifty expiry.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Call if you experience any of the post-obit:

Symptoms that final or become worse subsequently 10 days.
Shortness of jiff or trouble breathing.
High fever (greater than 102°F) for three or more than days.
Pain or force per unit area in your chest.
Coughing up blood.
Sudden dizziness or feeling faint.
Severe vomiting.
Confusion.
Astringent sinus hurting.
Swollen glands in neck or jaw.

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Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/13756--colds-and-flu-symptoms-treatment-prevention-when-to-call