How is swine flu treated?

Symptomatic Treatment:

In addition to the future prevention with a vaccine, and treatment with anti-viral medications (see more below), the flu is treated symptomatically with medications to treat the specific signs and symptoms of the individual. Such as anti-emetics for vomiting and medications to treat diarrhea, analgesics for the aches and pains, fever reducers, and other typical medications for the symptoms that are similar to all (flu) viral infections.

Swine flu symptoms include:

• Fever.
• Cough.
• Sore throat.
• Muscle and joint pain.
• Shortness of breath.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Diarrhea.

Treatment is relative to the severity of the symptoms and the symptoms can vary from person to person. In most cases, treatment is the same as it is for the seasonal flu. STAY HOME, REST, LIQUIDS, Motrin or similar for fever and aches, and perhaps an OTC flu or cold medicine for comfort. Eating healthy if the person feels up to it as well. An antibiotic may be prescribed to treat secondary bacterial infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia, but this is usually not needed. Other treatments can include anti viral medications prescribed by your doctor. In severe cases, hospitalization may be required for respiratory support and IV medications.



Do not give aspirin for fever to children or teens, according to the CDC:

"Aspirin or aspirin-containing products should not be administered to any person aged 18 years old and younger with a confirmed or suspected case of influenza virus infection, due to the risk of Reye syndrome."

Avoid dehydration:

When the symptoms include fever with increased perspiration, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, one of the most important treatments would be replenishing lost fluids by drinking plenty of water, or if tolerated, sports drinks. If drinking fluids is not tolerated, contact a health care provider to see if anti-emetics, medicines for the fever or diarrhea, or other forms of replacement of fluids may be necessary. Dehydration is a serious complication of viral disease, especially in the elderly or very young.

Other measures:

Proper diet with supplements such as Vitamin C, hydration, and proper rest help boost the immune system and are also important.
Continue to follow all advice of the CDC and WHO for preventing the spread of the 2009 Swine Flu virus, such as frequent hand washing, and keep aware of the updates and announcements from those organizations and the government entities.

Antiviral Medications to lessen the severity of symptoms and stop virus reproduction to speed recovery:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information says that the swine flu can be treated if caught very early with two of the anti-viral medications oseltamivir (Tamiflu/Fluvir) and zanamivir (Relenza). Tamiflu is for treatment in adults and children aged 1 year and older, and should be taken within 48 hours of the first symptom for maximum effect, however, your health care professional can determine if it is appropriate to start this treatment even after that date, so contact them for advice if you have been exposed or have symptoms.


There are currently 4 types of antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for the treatment of influenza: Amantadine, Rimantadine, Oseltamivir and Zanamivir. While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to these drugs, the most recent swine-flu viruses isolated from humans, are resistant to Amantadine and Rimantadine. None of these drugs prevent us from getting the virus, but can lesson the severity of the symptoms and shorten their duration.
If prescribed within the first 40 hours of symptoms, Tamiflu can also be used to prevent the H1N1/09 virus in some cases. It is approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for this prophylactic use and if being prescribed to other members of a household when one person is known to have the influenza to prevent them from getting it. It is not a substitute for proper preventive hygiene techniques and other recommended ways to avoid getting the swine flu and should be used in combination with these measures.

TAMIFLU UPDATE JULY 31, 2009
Tamiflu Side Effects in Children

According to research from the European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training and colleagues from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in London which was published in Eurosurveillance, the peer-reviewed journal of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, children are having neuropsychiatric side effects from Tamiflu such as nightmares, inability to concentrate, insomnia, and slight confusion.

The article at the NHS web site (link is provided to the full article in the related links section below), states:

". . . more than half of children taking Tamiflu to combat swine flu suffer side effects such as nausea, insomnia and nightmares," said The Daily Telegraph. It also said the study suggests that one in five children who took part reported having a neuropsychiatric side effect."
Resistance to Tamiflu, update July 26, 2009
From the World Health Organization:

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Update on the distribution of vaccines to prevent the H1N1/09 flu virus infection, October 2009:
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved three flu shot vaccines and one nasal mist vaccine for use in the US. They are being distributed within the states by the local state governments and provided to those at highest risk of complications first (e.g., pregnant women and children over 6 months old or those caring for these infants who cannot take the vaccines, etc.) Pregnant women and young children should be proactive in finding where and when they can get their vaccinations, the risk of the flu, especially in these groups is much higher than any perceived risks of getting the vaccination. Contact your health care provider to determine if you fall into any of the first groups to be offered the vaccine and if you should plan to get the vaccination, ask if the shot or the mist is most appropriate for you. They should be able to tell you how and where to get the immunization, but local news should also be announcing that to the public when this process of distribution is begun. (See also the related questions below about which type of vaccine is best for different groups of people.)

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Other flu treatments in experimental trials:

One of the most encouraging developments for all future flu and viral infections, is the "cure" or treatment currently in animal trials, that, unlike current anti-viral medications, approaches the attack on the virus in a new way that can not only disable the specific strain of virus, but also prevent it from future mutations (that can allow it to be resistant to the treatment after it makes those modifications). Current anti-viral medications affect the chemical keys on the viruses' coats to prevent them from attaching to the host cells. The current problem is that the virus can continue to mutate and adjust to chemically change its protein coating and render the anti-viral medication ineffective. The new approach attacks the virus at the stem, instead of at the protein coating. The stem is unable to mutate to a resistant version. The new drug is expected to work on the most deadly of current viral strains. *

The manufacturer of the new anti-viral treatment has announced that they hope to have the human trials completed and the medication in production, if all goes well in the current animal trials.

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Common Cold Vaccine Development--Not yet:

*Unfortunately, at least the first product being developed is not expected to be effective against the rhino-virus (common cold). While it is anticipated by the manufacturer to be effective against our most deadly types of viruses, it is not being targeted to treat the rhino-viruses. We may continue to suffer future sniffles, for a while longer, but this can also be an advantage in keeping our immune systems "tuned" through battle with the more minor viral strains anyway. We are steps closer than ever to the cure for the common cold, though.


See additional information at the sites listed in the related links section below and in the related questions for techniques you can utilize to reduce the prospect of contracting the virus.

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