What are the Different Swine Flu Treatments?

Swine flu treatments may include prescription antiviral medications as well as over-the-counter flu medications that contain fever-reducing ingredients, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. If symptoms grow more severe than the typical fever, aches, congestion, and stomach problems, one should immediately seek hospital treatment. Severe symptoms include persistent vomiting, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, is best treated by avoiding it altogether; getting the seasonal flu vaccination and taking precautions around sick individuals are the best methods for preventing illness.

With any case of the swine flu, it's wise to call one's doctor for professional advice about how to treat symptoms. For most healthy individuals, doctors are likely to say that hospital care and prescription swine flu treatments aren't necessary. If symptoms appear mild to moderate, most individuals may be encouraged to simply stay home until their fever breaks and symptoms begin to subside. While symptoms last, one may wish to take over-the-counter flu medication, which can help reduce fever as well as alleviate achiness and congestion.

Swine flu treatments for more severe cases include the use of antiviral medications. Antiviral flu medications combat various strains of the flu, and have proven particularly effective against the H1N1 virus. In particular, oseltamivir and zanamivir are the two most commonly prescribed antiviral swine flu treatments. Today, such treatments are readily available, but during the global H1N1 pandemic of 2009, they were in short supply due to overwhelming demand and were often reserved for only the most severe cases.

Even when there's a large supply of antiviral medication, doctors tend only to prescribe them to those who need them most. This is because flu viruses build an immunity to antivirals the more they come into contact with them. As a result, over-prescribing such medications can be counteractive toward treating the flu in the long run.

In severe cases, individuals may have shortness of breath, chest pain, and persistent vomiting, along with other symptoms. These symptoms require immediate medical attention. Swine flu treatments for such cases might include medications and procedures to open up the airways. A severe case of the flu can often lead to other complications as well, such as pneumonia. As such, a hospital visit might also entail the treatment of any related complications.

The best swine flu treatment is to take steps to prevent contracting the flu. The most proven method of doing so is to get a seasonal flu vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine did not protect against H1N1 when the virus first appeared in 2008-2009, but it does now. Today, people can protect themselves against H1N1, and other strains of the flu, by getting a seasonal flu vaccine, either by injection or nasal spray.