Sepsis and Influenza
Is There Treatment for the Flu?
For most people, a bout with influenza may hit you hard, but after a week or two, you begin to recover, although it could take several weeks before you are back to normal. However, for some people the flu can cause serious complications and even death. Complications may range from secondary infections (infections that occur as a result of the flu) to dehydration to sepsis.
If you think you have the flu, it’s always best to check with your doctor or nurse practitioner to see if you should be treated with antiviral medications. If you are not a high risk of developing complications, your doctor may tell you just to manage the flu at home, but to go to the emergency if you seem to get worse or develop new symptoms.
At-home care of the flu means managing the symptoms and preventing dehydration:
- Rest – stay in bed to let your body restore itself and to prevent spreading your infection
- Drink a lot of fluids. It is easy to become dehydrated when you have the flu. These should be water and clear fluids, such as broths.
- Take over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen if you are allowed to. If the sick person is a child or teen, do not give aspirin because of a rare, but fatal complication that can occur, called Reyes syndrome. Over-the-counter cold-and-flu remedies are not recommended for children under the age of six years, as per the FDA.
Anyone who has the flu and develops the following signs, should seek medical help as soon as possible, regardless of age or usual state of health:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
- High fever for more than three days
If you are at high risk for developing complications, your doctor may want you to take antiviral medications, such as Tamiflu. These medications must be taken within the first 72 hours of exposure to the virus for them to be effective. As well, you may still feel ill before they begin to take effect.
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