Stay at home and take rest if you are infected. Take antiviral drugs, namely Tamiflu (oseltamivir) if you are diagnosed with the symptoms. It will prevent virus attack in full swing. Age is a major factor in the spread and severity of attack of the virus. Aged people are more prone to the virus attack. People with respiratory illness fall prey very easily.

It has been well recognized that Tamiflu is the best remedy available as of now to treat infected people. But unlimited use of this medicine may result in the virus developing resistance. So, the medicine may be rendered ineffective in future for treatment. It is evident that patients administered with Tamiflu recover 1.5 times faster than patients who were not given it.

But of late vaccines have been developed to prevent the infection of the virus. Get to know from your physician about it.

The disease spreads rapidly by physical contact and proximity to the infected person. So it is a big challenge to prevent transmission. It mostly spreads through cough and sneezing. Sanitation is very important in controlling the spread of the disease. Wash your hands with alcoholic sanitizers. In public places, wear a mask. These are some of the measures to control the spread and contain the disease.

However, there are also other illnesses that share these same symptoms so generalizations don’t always mean that you have the flu. Flu can also have serious side effects that can land you in the hospital and may even be fatal.

In fact, there are a lot of myths about influenza that I’d like to clear up for you so you can be aware of what the importance of preventing and treating flu is all about. Let’s look at a few of them:

Myths About Influenza

Flu Vaccines Give You The Flu: This is absolutely untrue. A flu vaccine is made from a killed virus meaning its active, disease producing component is not present in the vaccine. This idea likely came from the fact that, in the past, there were some side effects associated with a flu vaccine that may have felt like flu symptoms.

Some people may have been sensitive to the preservative, thimerosal, used in vaccines that prevents contamination by bacteria or fungi. Today, however, according to the CDC, in the 2010-2011 flu season, there are 74 million doses of thimerosal-free vaccine available. If you feel you may be sensitive to thimerosal, and/or just want to avoid it, make sure you specifically request a thimerosal-free vaccine. Flu vaccines are only good for one season. A new one is needed every year.

Antibiotics Kill The Flu: Many of my patients are surprised and disappointed when they come in asking for antibiotics for their flu symptoms and I tell them that antibiotics do not work on the flu. Influenza is caused by a virus which antibiotics have no effect on. Antibiotics only work on bacterial and some fungal infections. However, some people do get bacterial infections of the lungs and sometimes the sinuses with their flu.

Nothing Treats The Flu: While it’s true that nothing cures the flu, there are several prescription drugs as well as alternative supplements that can help lesson flu symptoms a great deal. Prescription drugs include Tamiflu, a pill, and Relenza, an inhaled medicine. Alternative helpers include “Os”, short for oscillococcinum, and Echinacea, which need to be taken at the very first symptoms of the flu within the first 24-36 hours. Elderberry (Sambucol) extract has also shown research promise in reducing flu symptoms by 56%. Andrographis (Indian Echinacea) taken within the first 24-48 hours stimulates the immune system to fight viruses. Homeopathics of ferrum phos, dulcamarra, nux vomica,gelsemium, arsenicum, bryona, Rhus tox and belladonna can give significant relief to flu symptoms.

In fact, homeopathic flu remedies were credited with 100% survival rates in patients who took them during the flu epidemic of 1918. See a practitioner skilled in the use of homeopaths as exact matches of remedy to symptoms must be done to obtain the best effect.

Flu Only Really Affects The Elderly: It is true that the elderly may be more susceptible to getting the flu and/or being more seriously affected by it because of lowered immunity and complications, like pneumonia, that can set in. However, people of all ages can and do get the flu and need to take the same precautions to prevent it. Children under 6 months are at highest risk for the illness because they are too young to get the vaccine. If you are around an infant this age, you should get vaccinated and keep the baby away from anyone who is ill.

Facts About The Flu

Hand Washing Best Prevention: If people washed their hands more, especially after being in public restrooms, grocery and retail stores, anywhere that other people are touching surfaces, objects, many cases of colds and flu could be prevented. Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you and/or make use of the wipes that most stores provide to wipe down cart handles.

Nasal Washes/Irrigants: Keep a little bottle of aloe/saline nasal spray with you. After being out in public, squirt some into both nostrils, hold for a moment and then blow out into a tissue. This rinses out any inhaled viruses, bacteria, mold spores before they enter your lungs.

Boost Your Immune System: The best illness prevention strategy is to keep your immune system healthy and functioning at optimal level. This means eating nutritious food (add some raw, chopped garlic to your daily vegetables), getting enough rest (at least 7 hours a night), exercise (at least 30 minutes a day, 4-5 times a week) and supplementing with immune-system boosting vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C at least 1,000 mg a day, Vitamin D3 1-2,000 mg a day, Resveratrol 100-200 mg a day, Zinc 25 mg a day, Quercetin 100 mg a day, Beta Carotene 5,000 units a day. Replace only what’s missing and/or not adequate levels in your multivitamin.

Getting the flu is no picnic. It can make you feel terrible and can have serious complications. The best way to deal with influenza is to prevent it! Knowing the facts about influenza will help. In addition, get a yearly flu vaccine, keep your immune system healthy and remember to wash your hands whenever out in public places.

It should also be noted that a lot of people assume that they have the flu when a fever or sore throat is present but they have strep throat which is caused by bacteria, not a virus and requires antibiotics.

Scared to Vaccinate Your Child?

If you are a parent, you probably are experiencing a lot of fear, doubt and confusion over whether you should have your child vaccinated or not. After the huge scare that Australia has seen over flu shots in children, it is understandable why parents are skeptical.

A vaccine from Fluvax caused high fever and seizures in at least 100 Australian children at the beginning of the flu season for 2010. However, experts suggest that if those same children actually caught the flu without immunization there is a good chance that they could have been even worse off. So despite these negative reactions, parents are still encouraged to have their children vaccinated.

Allergic Reactions

It is very important to be aware that Flu Shot Symptoms do have the potential to be fatal in anyone who has egg allergies. Manufacturers of the flu vaccine grow the flu virus in eggs in their laboratories before it is destroyed. Therefore, immunization is not recommended in individuals with egg allergies and anyone who feels that they may be experiencing an allergic reaction should seek medical attention immediately.

If you need to contact with a person who is affected by swine flu, there are high chances that you may get infected as well. There is no guarantee that you may get infected after getting exposed to a person who has already been infected, but the chances of this happening increase considerably. Try your best to protect yourself from such exposures.

While millions of people have already been affected and more are getting affected as each day passes; some companies are trying to make a quick buck out of the whole situation by selling fake drugs, which hardly cure anything. They make false claims and offer huge discounts to cheat people. Most importantly, people are led to believe that only prescription medicines can help them get rid of this disease and the importance of dietary nutrients and amino acids in diet are unimportant for fast and efficient recovery. Stay away from such scams as they do more harm than good. Always consult a doctor before you take a medication.

People who are suffering from asthma, chronic lung conditions, kidney problems, liver problems and metabolic disorders are more susceptible to this disease. Pregnant women and children are also vulnerable to this viral condition. It has been noted that most people who have been affected by swine flu are obese and have underlying respiratory problems.

If you have to contact with a person who is affected by swine flu, there are high chances that you may get infected as well. There is no guarantee that you may get infected after getting exposed to a person who has already been infected, but the chances of this happening increase considerably. Try your best to protect yourself from such exposures.

While millions of people have already been affected and more are getting affected as each day passes; some unethical companies are trying to make a quick buck out of the whole situation by selling fake drugs, which hardly cure anything.

They make false claims and offer huge discounts to cheat people. Most importantly, people are led to believe that only prescription medicines can help them get rid of this disease and the importance of dietary nutrients and amino acids in diet are unimportant for fast and efficient recovery. Stay away from such scams as they do more harm than good. Always consult a doctor before you take a medication.

Oseltamivir is an antiviral drug, which slows down the spread of influenza in the body. It works by detaching the flu virus from its host cell, and its effects can be seen within 12 to 24 hours. It is marketed under the trade name Tamiflu. It has saved millions of lives by helping people overcome this illness.

If you wish to have a speedy recovery, you should try to stay at home as much as possible and drink a lot of water and juices to keep your body hydrated. Ensure that you take plenty of rest so that your body recovers well from stress and exhaustion and avoid smoking or consumption of alcohol. Always consult your doctor before you start taking this medication. Expert help is always better. Most experts prescribe Tamiflu only in the most serious cases.

Eat Nutritiously include: high-quality protein, such as fish, lean meats, and beans, needed to help you build white blood cells (the body’s defenders against viruses); brightly colored fruits and veggies, which provide immune-boosting antioxidants; and omega-3 fatty acids (good sources include fatty fish, walnuts, and flaxseed) to keep the immune system balanced.

Exercise can keep you from getting sick by stimulating the immune cells that target cold infections.You can walk or do other moderate activity for 30 minutes most days.

Lower humidity and temperatures help the flu virus spread. Humidity, on the other hand, kills the virus, so keep the air at home warm and moist. Use a humidifier to maintain around 50 percent humidity and set room temperatures to at least 69 degrees F.

According to a study published in 2009 in the Archives of Internal Medicine those who slept at least 8 or more hours of sleep a night were three times less likely to catch a cold then those who slept less. That’s because even minor sleep deprivation suppresses immune function.

Wash your hands can kills flu and cold viruses that can be picked up from heavily touched surfaces such as door knobs, telephones, money, etc.

Flu symptoms may commence two to three days after the exposure to the flu virus. The flu virus comes on rapidly and attacks the upper respiratory system.

Typical flu symptoms are high grade fever, chills, pain in the muscles, sore throat, head pain, dry cough, exhaustion, etc. These flu symptoms generally last for three to four days, but cough and weakness may continue for one to two weeks even after the fever has subsided.
In younger children, apart from the typical flu symptoms, they may experience other respiratory tract infections like bronchitis, croup, or pneumonia. Few other symptoms which are commonly observed in children are pain in abdomen, vomiting, and diarrhea. Vomiting is more significant as compared to diarrhea. Fever is generally high and irritability may be marked.
In infants, the signs and symptoms of flu are not marked and hence it may often go unrecognized. Influenza is less common in infants who are younger than 6 months, but in case the infant experiences the flu then the flu symptoms are weakness, poor eating, and poor circulation.

There are few complications of flu that occur in children. They are sinus infection, infection of the ear, or pneumonia.

In case you observe the above flu symptoms in your children, to confirm the diagnosis of flu, the diagnostic test for flu which is known as direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) should be performed. Secretions from the back of the nasopharynx, or the space at the back of the nose are to be obtained for this diagnostic test.

In cases where the diagnosis that your child suffers with flu occurs, you must ensure that the child consumes excessive amount of liquids and gets adequate rest. Aspirin should never be given to teenagers who suffer with flu-like symptoms, especially fever, without the advice of a physician. Administrating aspirin to children and teenagers with flu can lead to a rare but grave illness known as Reye syndrome. To relieve the flu symptoms children can be administered medicines which do not contain aspirin, as recommended by the physician. In cases where the flu symptoms of your child improves but then the child relapses back with fever and a worse cough, you need to consult your physician.

Although your respiratory tract is targeted by both viruses, there are a few ways to tell the difference between the two. The cold usually offers you a warning sign that you may or may not pay attention to. There is a good chance that you will start feeling a bit run down one to two days prior. You could feel yourself a little more tired than usual and nearly everyone experiences a scratch or sore throat.

Then, within a couple days, your nose starts running and you begin sneezing and you probably experience chest congestion but that is usually the end of it. After this, your symptoms begin to ease up and leave you with a cough for a bit longer but overall, symptoms are fairly mild compared to the flu.

Flu Symptoms

The presence of a fever is about the biggest difference between the cold and the flu. Colds rarely provide adults with a fever however, it is not uncommon for children to get them which makes diagnosis tricky for a parent. A high fever isn’t the only sign of the flu though, a sore throat similar to the cold is almost always present except it usually comes on pretty sudden. Additional symptoms include muscle aches, congestion, cough and headache.

When you have the flu, you generally don’t know until it hits you hard. There aren’t 24 to 48 hours of warning signs like you have with a cold so you can start preparing your body be eating and drinking things that will boost your immune system.

You aren’t always required to go see a doctor at the first sign of a sniffle or a fever.

Because so many things can cause it, you should contact your doctor.  You will be given instructions about what to look for, what to do and when to come in for a check up.  The elderly and young children may need to be seen right away to avoid secondary problems such as dehydration.

Now, as to how to get over it.  In most cases, time is the only answer.  You may need supportive care, but most things you have to swallow will probably not stay in long enough to do any good.  This is especially true if nausea and vomiting are part of the equation.

You should ask your doctor in advance what to have on hand in case you or someone in your family develop this condition.  Most pediatricians recommend that parents keep oral rehydration fluids available at all times.  These are readily available without a prescription.

In the title of this article, the question was asked “can garlic kill the stomach flu.”  In a word, no.  It would also be unwise to take garlic if you have any sort of gastrointestinal inflammation or inflammation, as it could make the situation worse.  Garlic may have some antiviral functions, but the irritation it causes after ingestion will be a hundred times worse.

Oatmeal is one.  If there is no nausea or vomiting, try eating a bowl of plain oatmeal without milk or cream.  Do so slowly, as your body isn’t going to want a lot of stuff hitting the stomach quickly.

Licorice is another possibility, but care has to be taken with it.  If you are diabetic, use DGL tablets, as there is a large quantity of sugar in this root.  Also, if you have high blood pressure, don’t use it at all.  This remedy should not be given to young children.

Sports’ drinks could be vital to preventing dehydration.  These were designed to give athletes an edge during sporting events and could help you keep your electrolytes balanced.  They usually contain a lot of sugar, so ask the doctor before beginning to use them.

It is a good idea to talk to your doctor or your child’s pediatrician at the first sign of this condition.  Make sure the doctor knows of any pre-existing medical conditions as well as any medications/supplements you are on.  This can help you avoid any side effects or drug/herb interactions.

First suggestion is for you to build up your immune system. Now guys you need to be sure to get enough minerals and vitamins especially at this time of year. Please maintain a healthy source of energy and nutrition for your optimal health.

Of course if you are in the risk group a flu shot is essential. It usually takes about two weeks after the flu shot before you derive the protection you seek from this vaccination. Remember this shot is not one hundred per cent effective; you need to further protect yourself and those that you love.

You must know the difference between your cold and your flu. Colds last about ten to fourteen days and then you get better. Your flu, without proper care can develop into such things as pneumonia or bronchitis. This flu can cause you or your loved ones permanent health damage.

Number one prevention is to wash your hands frequently. Use warm water and wash for a good ten seconds. When there is no water you should use antibacterial alcohol based foam, which comes in a small personal container and which makes it easy for you to keep one with you at all times.

Lack of sleep may lower your immune system. Finally just stay away from people who are sick. Avoid close contact and when you sneeze or cough use a tissue or sneeze or cough into your sleeve. With a little preparation you may avoid the flu or a cold this winter. And as always you must live well to be well.