Season Flu Vaccine Information

Got the flu blues? Medications may not be for you.

Recommendations for the treatment of flu symptoms:

• Manage cough/congestion/ sore throat
  • Use cough drops
  • Take over-the-counter cough medicines in children over 6 years
• Control fever
  • Place damp wash cloth on forehead
  • Take over-the-counter fever reducers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen if recommended by your doctor
  • Avoid aspirin in children
• Relieve aches and pains
  • Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
• Get plenty of rest
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Stay home from school or work
• Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about which over-the counter medicines are right for you

Caring for a friend or family member with the flu

• Continue good hand washing
• Sanitize common surfaces often
  • Counters
  • Door handles
  • Toilet seats
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue
• Most people will not need to take preventative medications when caring for someone with the flu
  • The CDC has specific recommendations
  • Talk with your doctor to see what is best for you

Will antibiotics help make me feel better?

• No, antibiotics are used to treat bacteria and the flu is caused by a virus
• A virus is a germ that is not killed by or treated with antibiotics
• Not all types of infections can be treated with antibiotics.  Examples of illnesses that should not be treated with antibiotics include:
  • Cold
  • Flu
  • Chest cold
  • Sore throat (except Strep throat)
  • Bronchitis
  • Runny nose

Very few patients will need prescription medications to treat the flu

• The US Government Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has specific recommendations for who should receive prescription medications for the flu
  • Your doctor is following these recommendations
• With incorrect prescription medicine use, resistance can occur
  • Resistance is the ability of a virus to resist the effects of a medicine used to treat that virus
  • If these medicines are not given in the right way, resistance can develop which puts you, your family, and the community in danger