Influenza Treatment Questions and Answers

If you have influenza, the fastest way to cure it is to get plenty of rest and to drink lots of fluids, including water, fruit juices, broth-based soups, and herbal teas. Another good idea that can help you overcome influenza quickly is to go to a primary or urgent care clinic like ours at Immediate Care of Oklahoma! Our board-certified physicians can provide you with influenza treatment, as well as medical advice and recommendations on what you can do at home to overcome your influenza fast.

You should especially see a doctor for influenza treatment if you are 65 years or older, have a chronic medical condition, such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, have a compromised immune system, are pregnant or two weeks postpartum, or are experiencing the following symptoms:

• Concentrated pain in a particular area, such as your chest, ear, or sinuses
• Cough that will not go away
• Fever that suddenly worsens after a temporary improvement
• Symptoms that do not improve within two weeks’ time
• Thick mucus

Since there is a new strain of influenza every year, there is no official cure for the flu. Since vaccines and cures work by creating a memory of the virus they are fighting, the changing nature of influenza means that the memory that your immune system records of the influenza virus is incomplete. That said, the closest available cure is an annual flu shot. In order to adapt to evolving strains of influenza, flu shots are typically quadrivalent, which means that they protect against four different influenza viruses. These viruses include two influenza A viruses, namely, H1N1 and H3N2, and two influenza B viruses, which are delineated as Victoria and Yamagata.

Since influenza is not a bacterial infection, it is not treatable with antibiotics. Antibiotics are ineffective in treating viral infections and can actually lead to further harm by developing antibiotic resistance in your immune system. Mild cases of influenza are often successfully treated with over-the-counter (OTC) medication, including fever reducers, pain relievers, and decongestants. Examples of such OTC medication include acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin). For more severe cases of influenza, your doctor might prescribe prescription-strength antiviral medicines. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved four different antiviral medications for the flu, including Rapivab (peramivir), Relenza (zanamivir), Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate), and Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil).

The annual flu shot is the best defense available against influenza each year! If you are looking for a great clinic to receive a flu shot safely, we are proud to provide that service at Immediate Care of Oklahoma. We have different locations throughout Oklahoma, including two clinics in Oklahoma City, two in Norman, one in Yukon, and another in Edmond, OK.

We welcome you to come to Immediate Care of Oklahoma at the clinic nearest you for influenza treatment and immunizations! In order to see one of our board-certified physicians, you do not need to make a prior appointment, as we happily accept walk-in appointments at each of our clinics.