Quick Guide To Treating H1n1 Flu To Reduce Symptoms And Complications

The recommended fludrug treatment of H1N1 2009 andflu infections are oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (Relenza®). These medicines can be used to treat H1N1 in all age groups and are taken orally and metabolised by the stomach. However, these drugs must be taken within 48 hours of the first symptoms. It is imperative that people with symptoms related to H1N1 2009; see their doctors immediately to confirm a diagnosis of H1N1 and institute antiviral treatments. For those who have been hospitalized or have existing medical conditions the use of these two drugs is still thought to be of benefit. They are not vaccines. Vaccinations are used to prevent disease by injecting similar biological material to boost an immune response.

The H1N1 2009 strain is sensitive to the drug oseltamivir and resistant to amantadine. These two drugs act to make the illness milder and prevent serious complications of influenza infection. This is not a cure. These drugs may be protective for up to 6 weeks after use. Thus reinfection to repeated exposure to H1N1 is possible after 6 weeks of taking the antiviral drug.

Flu treatment requires that the drugs be taken twice daily for 5 days in adults. For adolescents and children the drug is given once per day for 10 consecutive days. The dosage is adjusted based on age and kidney function. The main side effects of taking these drugs are nausea and vomiting. These side effects can be reduced by taking the antivirals with food. Good hydration is primary importance as with all cases of infection particularly if vomiting and diarrhea are present. Electrolyte solutions such as broth, clear soups, Gatorade ® are good hydrating fluids. Families in infection prone areas would be wise to have these on hand and to start hydration immediately when the first symptom(s) appear.

The Antiviral Flu Treatment Is Strongly Recommended For:

• Patients who are hospitalized with confirmed, probable or suspected H1N1 infections are to be treated.
• Symptomatic patients who are at higher risk of seasonal flu complications are to be treated.
• Post exposure antiviral chemoprophylaxis with oseltamivir or zanamivir should be considered for those close contact cases of (confirmed, probable or suspected) and healthcare personnel, public health workers or those who have had recognized, unprotected, close- contact exposure to an infected person (confirmed, probable or suspected) during that person’s infectious period.

These drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir block the H1N1 virus from being released from infected respiratory lining cells. They are proven effective remedies. Therefore the virus after replicating is limited to the few cells it first infected. After reproducing in these first infected cells in the upper airways, it cannot be released from these cells and remains contained to these cells, thus preventing spread within the upper and lower airways of the body.

Most western countries have now amassed stockpiles of these drugs or their respective ingredients for mass production in advance of a possible H1N1 pandemic.

The H1N5 strain or avian flu is resistant to oseltamivir. There is a constant fear that as the swine flu H1N1 2009 spreads, it may develop resistance to oseltamivir as well. Other anti-influenza antiviral drugs such as adamantanes, amantadine and rimantadine are ineffective against H1N1 2009. Most flu viruses are already resistant to these antiviral drugs.

Given the potential for H1N1 to develop resistance to antiviral drugs, there is a determined effort amongst scientist to develop new antiviral drugs for flu treatment.

This makes the use of preventive methods outlined in the K.I.S.S. Method of Prevention more important. These methods work despite flu virus resistance to antiviral drugs.