R.The flu is always a bad enemy – and it is especially evil this year. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)There have been at least 12 million influenza injuries since a decrease in the United States, which led to 160,000 hospitals and 600 deaths.
Dr. Mahish Bulavarabo, Medical Director of Emergency Medicine in New York-Pespicherrien, Westscetter, often witnessed influenza this year, a strain that causes a more serious disease than influenza B “if you suffer from influenza-like symptoms, and you like,” this looks worse than before, “You are not wrong,” he says. “It is very harsh this year.”
Fortunately, there are ways to relieve at least from influenza misery (besides, of course, get Annual influenza snapshot Before you get sick). Doctors often prescribe tamiflu, an antiviral that can treat both influenza A and B. Here are what to know how to do it – and whether it is appropriate for you.
How does Tamiflu work?
Most people suffer from influenza symptoms for three to seven days. Tamiflo can shorten this About 24 hours By preventing the virus from repetition in your body. “It mainly prevents the virus from doubling or eliminating more than it was already,” says Bolvaraboo. (Antibiotics, which treat bacterial infections, do not act against viral infection such as influenza.)
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Tamiflu begins working after the first dose, and within a day or two, it will be in your body enough to make a noticeable difference. But timing is very important – you need to start eating it within 48 hours of symptoms. “I told patients to consider this a way to reduce their symptoms by hope on a day,” says Polavarapu. Tamiflu (was sold under the OSELTAMIVIR name) that can be described as a liquid or in liquid form, and most people take 75 and add MG twice a day for five days.
Who may benefit from taking Tamiflu?
You are more likely to benefit from Tamiflu if you have Risk factors This prepares you to a serious influenza infection. This includes 65 or larger, less than 2, pregnant, immune, or a chronic condition such as diabetes, heart disease or asthma. Research indicates In two days of developing symptoms, starting the risk of death can reduce the risk of death from a serious state of influenza; It also reduces the admission rates of the intensive care unit among adults in the hospital.
Tamiflu is also available for people outside these upper risk groups. It can be taken by anyone else at least two weeks and was suffering from influenza symptoms for no more than two days.
Is it really worth it to feel better sooner?
“The influenza makes you feel that you are very satisfied, and so a day less than a better day than a more day,” says Dr. Helen Zhou, a professor of medicine, allergies and infectious diseases at Washington University. “But this is not like the dramatic teams, so I understand the reason for people’s reservations about it.”
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Whether it’s right for you, you come to your priorities. “You have to weigh your positives and negatives,” she says. “You have to go to pick up the medicine” – an uncomfortable task when you are sick – “and you can make people sing.” However, there is another benefit, you often take into account: Tamiflu can be a way to help maintain the safety of your family members.
Does Tamiflu make you less infectious?
You can still spread influenza to others while you are in Tamiflu, Zhu says. Scientists are not completely sure of the amount of infection that makes you. but, Research indicates The antiviral helps prevent family uprisings. in One studyIt reduced secondary infections among people who lived in the same house by 50 % if those who were not satisfied after they started Tamiflo within 24 hours. “You can use it to stop the transmission,” says Chu. “If someone in your home has influenza, that person can take treatment, but you can also take it to prevent yourself from getting infection.”
Can you take Tamiflu to prevent influenza from getting?
If you are not exposed to the flu and you are simply desperate to avoid catching it, it is not logical to take Tamiflu. Your doctor will not prescribe this reason – it is not like a vitamin that may take in the hope of promoting immunity health. “It is not a preventive action,” says Bulagarabo. However, if you are exposed to influenza – especially by someone in your home – doctors will consider describing a preventive dose to reduce your chance of infection.
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However, keep in mind that Tamiflu is not a guaranteed way to stay in good health, so you still need to exercise other healthy behaviors when influenza in your home: washing your hands frequently, wearing a facial mask, cleaning high -touches such as doors handle and light keys. For family members with influenza, do not come out unless you need: Disease Control Center Recommend Stay at home until your symptoms improve and you did not get a fever for at least 24 hours.
How do I know if you need Tamiflu?
Thanks to the rise Tests at homeIt is now easy to confirm if you have influenza without even leaving your home. “The way the influenza works, unlike some other viruses, is that it really hit you like a truck,” says Zhu. “You are fine, then suddenly you just need disruption.” If you overcome the desire to climb to the bed, and your entire body hurts me, it is time to test, you say. If it turns out that you actually have influenza, call your doctor and ask about Tamiflu. “The more you start it, the better,” she added.
When is it too late to take Tamiflo?
The gold standard is to start Tamiflu within two days of symptoms. If you are sick for a longer period, your doctor may not prescribe you to you. But there are some exceptions. If you are so immune or sick you are in the hospital with influenza, “then we start at any time,” says Zhu. “Most people call the virus very quickly, but people who suppressed immune systems receive it for a long longer, so you can start Tamiflu later.”
Can children take Tamiflo?
Yes – but with a slightly smaller dose of teenagers and adults. Children between the ages of two and 12 years Take a dose twice a day based on its weight. The Center for Disease Control also notesTamiflu began to reduce the occurrence of ear infections in children with influenza, and may also reduce more serious complications such as pneumonia and hospitalization.
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Does Tamiflu have any side effects?
Polavarapu says, Tamiflu is “a safe drug”, with a busy record that extends more than two decades. He was Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration In 1999, the public version, Oseltamifer Phosphate, was approved in 2016.
However, like most medications, there is a risk of side effects. You may feel nauseous and even vomiting if you take tamiflu. Diarrhea is also possible, although it is less common. “What I say mainly is that the drug itself can make you feel that you are a kind of nausea,” said Polavarapu. Sometimes, if the patient does not tolerate well, it prescribes an anti -pressure drug besides it. Ideally, he says, the treatment of a group of symptoms will not cause another group, but it is intelligent to realize the type of side effects.
“Medicines like antivirals are not always the solution,” he says. “It is an answer in a specific period of time,” and for certain people, but they are not a magic and influenza bullet-and if it is suitable for you depends on your unique circumstances.
