Treatment
Antiviral drugs are at the epicentre of swine flu treatment. They help to clear the symptoms, prevent complications and provide faster relief for the patients. Tamiflu and Relenza (ZANAMIVIR) are two antiviral drugs that have been recommended by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA.
The recent experience with the Bird flu has helped in developing some of these antiviral drugs and learning how to control this disease.
The H1N1 strain is resistant to Amantadine and Remantadine, therefore there is a huge demand for the drugs such as Relenza that the H1N1 is sensitive to.
Best effect is ensured if the treatment begins within a day or two of the symptoms surfacing.
Palliative care may be required to control the fever and maintain fluid balance. It may be heartening to know that the majority of the affected individuals recover from the flu without treatment or hospitalization.
