What to Do When the Flu Bugs You |
|||
If you get the flu, the best way to take care of yourself is to rest in bed and drink lots of liquids like water and other noncaffeinated drinks. Stay home from school until you feel better and your temperature has returned to normal. You probably don't need to contact your doctor unless you're not getting better, you develop complications (like trouble breathing) or you have a medical condition (for example, diabetes, heart problems, asthma, or other lung problems). Most teens can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help with fever and aches. Avoid aspirin or any products that contain aspirin because they put kids and teens at greater risk of developing Reye syndrome, a very serious illness that sometimes follows infection with the flu virus and can lead to liver failure. Antibiotics don't help people with the flu get better because they don't work on viruses. Sometimes doctors can prescribe an antiviral medicine to reduce the length of time someone is ill from the flu. These medicines are effective only against some types of flu virus and must be taken within 48 hours of the appearance of flu symptoms to be effective. Because of potential side effects, doctors usually only use this medicine for people who are very ill or who are at risk for serious complications, especially elderly patients. |
|||
| |||
 |
|
 |
|
