Treatment:

If you have mild illness and are not at high risk, take these steps:

• Rest
• Take medicines that relieve symptoms and help you rest
• Drink plenty of liquids
• Avoid aspirin (especially teens and children)
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco
• Avoid antibiotics (unless necessary for another illness)

If the flu is diagnosed within 48 hours of when symptoms begin, especially if you are at high risk for complications, antiviral medications may help shorten the length of symptoms by about one day.

Treatment is usually not necessary for children, but if the illness is diagnosed early and the patient is at risk of developing a severe case, it can be started.

Treatment will only help if started early and only if the illness is actually influenza. It will not help treat a regular cold.

Expectations (prognosis):

Anyone at any age can have serious complications from the flu, but those at highest risk include:

• People over age 50
• Children between 6 months and 2 years
• Women more than 3 months pregnant during the flu season
• Anyone living in a long-term care facility
• Anyone with chronic heart, lung, or kidney conditions, diabetes, or a weakened immune system

In most individuals who are otherwise healthy, the flu goes away within 7 to 10 days.

Complications:

Possible complications, especially for those at high risk, include:

• Pneumonia
• Encephalitis (infection of the brain)
• Bronchitis
• Sinus infections
• Ear infections

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if someone in a high-risk category develops symptoms of the flu, or if your illness seems severe.