Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, is a viral infection that affects the lungs, nose, and throat. The flu is spread from one person to another through respiratory droplets (expelled by a cough or sneeze), skin-to-skin contact, saliva (kissing or eating/drinking behind someone), or by touching a contaminated surface (doorknob, bathroom faucet, public telephone, etc.)
Symptoms. Common flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue.
Treatment. As the flu is caused by a virus, antibiotics are not needed. Generally, if you catch the flu, you should get plenty of rest, and manage your symptoms with OTC cold/flu medications. Also try to avoid close contact with others to avoid spreading the infection.
OTC treatment focuses on management of symptoms:
- Headache/body ache & fever – available therapies include Tylenol, aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications such as Motrin and Aleve. Tylenol is generally well-tolerated, but should be used with caution if you have any type of liver disease. Aspirin should not be used in children due to the risk of Reye’s Syndrome. NSAIDs should be avoided in patients with hypertension, or those who have a history of GI bleeding or ulcers.
- Nasal congestion (stuffy nose) – decongestants are the medication of choice for congestion. Oxymetazoline is a topical decongestant found in nasal sprays such as Afrin. Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and phenylephrine are available oral decongestants. DEA regulations require that pseudoephrine be stored behind the pharmacy counter, and you must show ID to purchase it.
- Sneezing/runny nose – Antihistamines are the treatment of choice for sneezing and runny nose. Older antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), are usually inexpensive, but commonly cause drowsiness and have to be taken up to 4 times per day. Newer antihistamines such as fexofenadine (Allergra), loratadine (Claritin), and cetirizine (Zyrtec) are generally well-tolerated without causing daytime drowsiness. Additionally they can be taken only once daily.
- Cough – When trying to treat cough, the primary question to ask yourself is if your cough is wet (are you coughing up mucus?) or dry (no mucus). If your cough is wet, guaifenesin (Mucinex) is the treatment of choice. If your cough is dry, dextromethorphan (Delsym) would be preferred. If you are a diabetic, try to choose a sugar-free cough syrup in an effort to avoid increasing your blood glucose.
- Sore throat- Lozenges, which generally contain topical anesthetics such as benzocaine and menthol are a good treatment option for sore throat. Sipping warm liquids such as tea or salt water can also be soothing.
In some instances, your provider may prescribe an antiviral medication such as Tamiflu, Relenza, and Rapivab. These medications can lesson the symptoms, shorten the duration of the infection, and also prevent complications such as pneumonia.
