Influenza

Treatment Overview

In most healthy people, influenza (flu) will go away in 5 to 7 days. The worst symptoms usually last 3 to 4 days. Home treatment to ease symptoms and prevent complications is usually all that is needed.

Antiviral medications can be taken to:

• Reduce the severity and duration of symptoms caused by infection with influenza A or B virus.
• Shorten the length of the illness.
• Control outbreaks of the flu in nursing homes.
• Reduce the spread of the virus to people at high risk for severe complications of the flu (high-risk groups).
• Reduce complications from the flu.

People at high risk of complications are encouraged to contact a doctor within 48 hours of their first symptoms to find out whether they need medication to shorten the illness. They also should call a doctor to receive medication if they have been exposed to the flu. For more information, see:

Should I take antiviral medicine for the flu?

If medications are not used, contact your doctor if symptoms of a complication develop.

What To Think About

Yearly immunization with the inactivated influenza vaccine (flu shot) prevents flu infection and its complications in most people.

The yearly vaccination rate is typically low for people younger than 65 who are at high risk of developing the flu. All people in high-risk groups and those who could transmit the virus to them because of regular contact are strongly encouraged to get the flu shot.¹

Programs for flu shots vary from province to province. Some provinces only cover high-risk groups, while others cover all residents. Flu shots are usually given during the months of October and November.

To help you decide if the flu shot is right for you, see:

Should I get a flu shot?

Although antiviral medicines sometimes prevent the flu, they do not work in the same way as a yearly immunization and should not replace a flu shot.

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Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated: September 22, 2006
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
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