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Health Topics > Seasonal Flu > Flu Prevention, Symptoms and Treatment Information

Flu Prevention, Symptoms and Treatment Information

Prevention

The most important thing you can do to protect yourself is to prevent the flu.

To protect yourself and your family from the flu:
  • Get a flu vaccine
  • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water
  • Use tissue when you cough, sneeze or spit and dispose of the tissue in a covered trash bin
  • Keep your hands away from your face
  • Clean shared space more often such as phone receivers, keyboards, steering wheels and office equipment
  • Do not share personal items such as, forks, spoons, toothbrushes and towels
  • Avoid crowds
  • Avoid people who are sick with respiratory illnesses
Download Prevention Tips Flyers
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Symptoms

Symptoms of the flu include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches.
Children may have additional symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms are uncommon in adults.
If you or someone you know are experiencing these symptoms call your health care provider.

Treatment

The flu is caused by a virus so antibiotics like penicillin do not cure the flu. In some cases, your health care provider may choose to use certain drugs that kill viruses (antiviral) to treat the flu.

Specific treatment will be determined by your health care provider but some things you can do to treat symptoms of the flu are:
  • Get plenty of bed rest
  • Drink a lot of liquids
  • Avoid using alcohol and tobacco
  • Take over the counter fever reducers (Never give aspirin to children without first consulting your health care provider.)



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