The flu is a problem that most of us face or have faced one or more times throughout our lives It is a disease that has the potential to be fatal (in fact throughout history it has been numerous times) but that currently in societies like ours usually only represents a nuisance in most cases.
However, treating the flu is more complicated than it seems. In fact, there are no medications that “cure” the flu, and medical treatment is mainly dedicated to reducing the effects and symptoms caused by suffering from it. What flu medications exist and what are they for? In this article we will briefly explore this question.
Before going into what medications are used to alleviate its symptoms, perhaps it would be useful to define what the flu is, which is often confused with the common cold.
The flu is understood as a viral infection of the respiratory tract, usually caused by the influenza virus. Although we generally talk about the flu as something general, the truth is that the influenza virus mutates easily and different strains and subtypes can be found that generate different types of flu. Specifically, there are three main types: A, B (these two are the most common and the so-called seasonal flu) and C, although from time to time new strains may appear, as happened with swine flu or bird flu.
The main symptoms of most flus usually include fever, headache, sore throat, runny nose, muscle pain, altered thermal perception and chills. It frequently causes respiratory disorders, such as difficulty inhaling and coughing. In fact, its most important and dangerous complication is usually pneumonia.
The spread of this disease can occur through different routes, which generally include contact with fluids from a sick person through the nose, mouth, or conjunctiva. For example, it can be transmitted through saliva or even through the air, such as after a sneeze or a kiss.
Main medications used in people with flu
As we have indicated previously, the flu does not yet have a curative treatment, and the body must overcome it on its own. The medical intervention will be based on the fight against the symptoms and discomfort generated by it In this sense, in most cases a series of flu medications can be prescribed, which we will mention below.
1. Antivirals
Zanamivir and oseltamivir (better known as tamiflu) have been considered medications with some effectiveness in preventing the virus from reproducing within the body, being inhibitors of the neuroaminidase enzyme (which allows the release of the virus from infected cells to others). The first of them is used by inhalation, while the second is administered orally.
Although it does not eliminate the infection, in principle it allows its spread to be controlled and can also serve as prophylaxis. They produce some improvement and can shorten the time the virus is in our body, but they are not capable of curing the condition. Nor have they shown a real effect in preventing respiratory complications.
Because the improvement they provide is limited and in some cases they can cause problems and side effects, they are not usually especially recommended or prescribed. In fact, their effectiveness is considered to be low and many people consider them a fraud.
Given that generally the pain generated by the infection in the throat, head and joints is usually one of the most annoying symptoms, One of the main medications prescribed in case of flu are pain relievers Paracetamol stands out as one of the most popular.
3. Antipyretics
Controlling body temperature and fever is also necessary when we are suffering from the flu so the group of medications known as antipyretics have also been used to reduce it.
4. Antihistamines
Improvement of nasal symptoms such as runny nose, although it usually occurs on its own within a few days can be induced from the application of antihistamines.
If we hear this name it may seem strange to us, but the truth is that This is the group of medications that ibuprofen is a part of They serve as both an analgesic and an antipyretic, reducing fever and pain. It also has a certain anti-inflammatory effect.
6. Antitussives
Respiratory conditions are very common during the flu, with cough being one of the most common symptoms. This is why sometimes a cough suppressant can be prescribed to reduce this symptom, although they often have little effect.
Syrups or creams are usually used to apply to the skin so that they release vapors that will be inhaled over time. There are other products for this, one of the most powerful (and reserved for cases in which the cough is very annoying and causes pain) is codeine. On a more natural level, you can use foods like honey
7. Anti-flu
Despite its name, Flu medications do not actually fight the flu viral infection but rather focus on relieving its symptoms As a general rule, it is a combination of an analgesic, antihistamine and antitussive. They are not usually prescribed clinically, but they are still very popular and reduce a large number of symptoms or the discomfort they generate. They tend to be the type of product that we see advertised on television (specifying that they are dedicated to combating symptoms), with widely known and used brands.
Although it is not common, In some cases, the flu can be complicated if, in addition to the virus itself, there is a bacterial infection In these cases it may be necessary to use antibiotics such as amoxicillin. However, the effect occurs only on the bacterial infection, not on the flu itself (which is a viral infection on which antibiotics have no effect).
The vaccine as real prevention
Although the treatments applied for the flu are not curative but merely palliative, the truth is that we have ways to prevent its contagion. Specifically, we are talking about the flu vaccine, which must be applied annually. A deactivated sample of the virus is injected into the body so that the subject’s body generates antibodies that prevent future infections. However It must be taken into account that the flu virus is very mutable, making it easy for new strains to appear
Although a large part of the population does not wear it, it is essential for those for whom contracting the flu can be dangerous. This is the case of the population that has reduced defenses, such as the elderly, children and the chronically ill and/or immunocompromised (for example, people suffering from HIV infection or diabetes).
