Treatment

Most people with flu, including H1N1 flu (swine flu), require only symptom relief. Supportive care such as drinking liquids, taking pain relievers for fever and headache, and resting may be helpful. If you have a chronic respiratory disease, your doctor may prescribe additional medications to help relieve your symptoms.

Antiviral drugs are sometimes prescribed within the first day or two of symptoms. They can reduce the severity of symptoms and possibly the risk of complications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved these four drugs:

• Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)
• Zanamivir (Relenza)
• Peramivir (Rapivab)
• Baloxavir (Xofluza)

But flu viruses can develop resistance to these drugs.

To make development of resistance less likely and maintain supplies of these drugs for those who need them most, doctors reserve antivirals for people at high risk of complications and those who are in close contact with people who have high risk of complications.

People at higher risk of flu complications include people who:

• Are in a hospital, nursing home or other long-term care facility.
• Are younger than 5 years of age, particularly children younger than 2 years.
• Are 65 years old or older.
• Are pregnant or within two weeks of delivery, including women who have had pregnancy loss.
• Are younger than 19 years of age and are receiving long-term aspirin therapy. Using aspirin during a viral illness increases the risk of developing Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, in these individuals.
• Have a body mass index above 40, which is defined as morbid obesity.
• Have certain chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, emphysema, heart disease, diabetes, neuromuscular disease, or kidney, liver or blood disease.
• Are immunosuppressed due to certain medications or HIV.
• Are of American Indian or Alaska Native heritage.