Usually, you can manage flu symptoms yourself at home and there's no need to see a GP. Most people feel better within a week.
You should consider seeing your GP if you're at a higher risk of becoming more seriously ill. This includes people who:
are 65 or over
are pregnant
have a lung, heart, kidney, liver or neurological disease
have a weakened immune system
have diabetes
In these cases, your GP may suggest taking antiviral medication.
You should consider seeing your GP if you're at a higher risk of becoming more seriously ill. This includes people who:
are 65 or over
are pregnant
have a lung, heart, kidney, liver or neurological disease
have a weakened immune system
have diabetes
In these cases, your GP may suggest taking antiviral medication.
Managing your symptoms at home
If you're otherwise healthy, you can look after yourself at home by resting, keeping warm and drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
If you feel unwell and have a fever, you can take paracetamol or anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen to lower your temperature and relieve aches. Children under 16 shouldn't be given aspirin.
Stay off work or school until you're feeling better. For most people, this will take about a week. See your GP if your symptoms get worse or last longer than a week.
Antiviral medication
In 2009, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended that doctors shoulder consider treating people in the at-risk groups mentioned above with the antiviral medications oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) to reduce the risk of complications of flu.
Antivirals work by stopping the flu virus from multiplying in the body. They won't cure flu, but they may help slightly reduce the length of the illness and relieve some of the symptoms.
Recent research has suggested that Tamiflu and Relenza may not be effective at reducing the risk of flu complications and could cause side effects, so not all doctors agree they should be used.
But there is evidence that antivirals can reduce the risk of death in patients hospitalised with flu. In the light of this evidence, Public Health England says it is important that doctors treating severely unwell patients continue to prescribe these drugs where appropriate.
In 2009, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended that doctors shoulder consider treating people in the at-risk groups mentioned above with the antiviral medications oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) to reduce the risk of complications of flu.
Antivirals work by stopping the flu virus from multiplying in the body. They won't cure flu, but they may help slightly reduce the length of the illness and relieve some of the symptoms.
Recent research has suggested that Tamiflu and Relenza may not be effective at reducing the risk of flu complications and could cause side effects, so not all doctors agree they should be used.
But there is evidence that antivirals can reduce the risk of death in patients hospitalised with flu. In the light of this evidence, Public Health England says it is important that doctors treating severely unwell patients continue to prescribe these drugs where appropriate.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics aren't prescribed for flu as they have no effect on viruses, although they may be prescribed if you develop a complication of flu, such as a bacterial chest infection.
Antibiotics aren't prescribed for flu as they have no effect on viruses, although they may be prescribed if you develop a complication of flu, such as a bacterial chest infection.
tags: Flu - Treatment, Treatment, Flu, Antibiotics, Antiviral medication, Managing your symptoms at home, Usually, you can manage flu symptoms yourself at home and there's no need to see a GP. Most people feel better within a week.
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