Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) – Influenza medication
Tamiflu is an antiviral drug that has been approved in more than 80 countries. It is manufactured by Roche and is used for the treatment and prevention of influenza. This medication is also approved for the treatment of bird flu.
About Tamiflu (Oseltamivir)
The active ingredient in Tamiflu is oseltamivir. It is used for treating adults and adolescents suffering from influenza. Tamiflu helps patients whose flu symptoms are not more than two days (48 hours) old. Tamiflu is also used to reduce the chance of getting influenza in people because of infection.
Tamiflu for influenza treatment
Tamiflu reduces the duration of influenza by approximately one to one and a half days and reduces the risk of developing flu-related complications, such as chest infections, pneumonia and others that require antibiotics.
Tamiflu is indicated for the treatment of viral infections especially influenza virus. Tamiflu can treat influenza A and influenza B. It can decrease influenza symptoms such as weakness, headache, cough, fever, and sore throat in just the first day of intake. Tamiflu can also help in the prevention of influenza and protects you even if you have been in touch with an infected person. World Health Organization has also recommended Tamiflu as the treatment to be taken in case of bird flu pandemic as it has been found to be effective in treating the new threat of bird flu.
Working of Tamiflu
Tamiflu works by binding to the neuraminidase on the surface of the virus particles and stops it from spreading further. When neuraminidase blocks the virus in this way, newly formed viral particles are not released from the infected cells. This prevents the flu virus from spreading and contaminating other cells. Tamiflu helps confine infection to a smaller area. This makes the symptoms of the infection less severe and makes it is easier for the immune system to kill the virus.
Dosage of Tamiflu
For influenza and bird flu treatment, the dosage of Tamiflu is:
75mg of Tamiflu for adults to be taken twice a day for up to five days
30-75mg of Tamiflu for children to be taken twice a day for up to five days
A paediatrician must determine the dose for infants
For prevention of influenza and bird flu, the dosage of Tamiflu is:
75mg Tamiflu tablets for adults once daily for at least 10 days
30mg Tamiflu tablets for children once daily
A paediatrician should determine dosage for infants
Side effects of Tamiflu (Oseltamivir)
Tamiflu is a well tolerated medicine. The most common side effects of Tamiflu are nausea and vomiting. Other side effects of Tamiflu are diarrhoea, abdominal pain, dizziness, headache, and insomnia. If you experience any side effects of Tamiflu or they become specifically persistent and bothersome, inform your doctor immediately.
Precautions for Tamiflu
Before you take Tamiflu, tell your doctor if you have any of the following medical conditions:
Heart problem
Kidney problem
Other viral infections besides Influenza A or Influenza B
Lung problem
Liver problem
Other serious medical problems that need constant medical attention
It is best to tell your doctor about all your current medical conditions and the drugs you are taking to avoid any drug complications.
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If you undergo any influenza signs and symptoms, make certain that you report these to a proper professional. This is an eminent notification that should be obeyed by everyone especially you as it could be avian influenza. Why is it so eminent to do? Of course, by reporting the influenza signs and symptoms earlier, you will be able to stay away from one potential curable illness.
Avian influenza virus is commonly spread through infected birds. This killer illness can be carried by chickens or ducks. It is eminent to know that influenza signs and symptoms are commonly attracted through very little forms. Nevertheless, be careful of this illness since it can cause infectious as well as a rapidly fatal illness.
Avian or H5N1 influenza is commonly deadly influenza that commonly known in Asia. Additionally, it’s also known to be a highly pathogenic virus that invades humans and can cause fatalities.
Avian Influenza Signs and Symptoms in Birds
Generally, the birds spread the infection through a number of ways before humans get infected with this virus. Humans can get infected through their nasal secretions, saliva, as well as feces. The birds become susceptible to the strain of virus when they come in contact with infected excretions such as on surfaces and in food.
Influenza signs and symptoms are typically experienced by the bird include a decrease in egg production and lethargy or decrease in their normal activity. In addition, an infected person will also experience swelling of the head, breathing problems and difficulties, loose bowel movement, muscle paralysis and eventually death.
Avian Influenza Signs and Symptoms in Humans
Avian influenza signs and symptoms in humans come into view alike to the ones experienced with any other flu. Cough, lethargy, sore throat, headache, muscle aches and conjunctivitis are among the most commonly reported influenza signs and symptoms.
Moreover, the bird flu even can develop to more harmful by causing an infected person at risk to pneumonia and other breathing problems. Before the condition gets worse, it’s essential to get the proper influenza symptoms treatment. Fatality among infected humans can be expected if the treatment isn’t addressed at an early time.
Each person will be able to avoid the deadly virus if they are knowledgeable about the avian influenza signs and symptoms. In addition, in order to avoid the occurrence of infection, a person should have a healthy immune system. Keep in mind that a person will be vulnerable to illness if their immune resistance is compromised.
Still being curious about influenza signs and symptoms? Just explore more on the links here and you will get much more about it as well as any thing related.
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Avian flu, which was identified more than 100 years ago in Italy, is an infectious disease of birds, and is caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. An outbreak of avian influenza has occurred in number of Asian countries in their domestic and wild bird populations.
Avian flu is a contagious disease and all birds are very susceptible to influenza viruses. These viruses are of different subtypes and subtype H5N1 is the one, which has emerged as a threat to bird’s population and has affected the human’s health as well.
In fact, there is no report of transmission of this disease among humans but those people is likely to be infected who have touched or handled the infected birds directly and do not take preventive measure at the time of outbreak of this disease.
Shigeru Omi, Western Pacific Regional Director of World Health Organization, recently said that “We believe that the world is now in the gravest possible danger of a pandemic” and urged international co-ordination to fight the virus.
Another official of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, Samuel Jutzi said that “there is an increasing risk of avian influenza spread that no poultry-keeping country can afford to ignore it”
Generally, avian influenza gets transmitted to the domesticated birds if direct contact is made with the infected fowl or poultry, or through their saliva, nasal secretion or feces, and sharing of same water or feed that have been contaminated with the virus.
When humans are infected by this virus, the visible symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases, and other severe and life-threatening complications. But the severity of the infection will depend mostly on the immunity power of an infected person.
Until now, there is no specific drug available for the treatment of H5N1 infection in humans but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. have suggested that the anti-viral medication oseltamivir phosphate, with the brand name Tamiflu, may be effective in treating avian influenza.
Apart from Tamiflu anti-viral medicines likeamantadine, and relenza has shown its power in preventing the spread of virus inside the body. Both drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of type A influenza illness. Amantadine can prevent 61% of H5N1 cases and 25% of influenza-like illness and relenza, which is available in the form of inhaler and is effective if used within two days of the onset of the influenza symptom.
Avian flu is spreading worldwide because of lack of effective diagnostic tools, and the surveillance system of the infected country. There is an urgent need to educate general public including health officials about the healthy way of tackling such outbreaks. Workers involved in culling process must be given proper clothing and equipment to prevent further spread of the disease.
Moreover, the need of an hour is to minimize the infection rate among poultry and keeping humans free of avian influenza. For this, constant studies are needed to make the available anti-viral medicine more targeted towards the upcoming viruses.
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Influenza, commonly known as the “flu” is a serious infection of the respiratory tract caused by the influenza virus. Though, most of the symptoms of influenza are similar to that of the common cold, the influenza infection often causes a more severe illness. If not treated in time, the symptoms of influenza may turn serious and may even prove to be fatal. Influenza is a contagious disease that is caused by a virus in your body. The flu virus can spread from an infected person to a healthy person through cough, sneezing or by touching the objects contaminated with tiny droplets from coughing or sneezing. Most influenza outbreaks happen in late fall and winter; people are easily affected because of weakened immune system during this period. Elderly people who are 65 years and older, young children and people with lung or heart diseases, certain chronic health problems or weakened immune systems are at greater risk of developing complications. If you suspect influenza, you should immediately contact your doctor.
Symptoms of influenza
The symptoms of influenza are similar to that of the common cold. Many times therefore, flu remains undiagnosed for several days. However, flu requires special attention as it may prove to be life threatening if not treated in time. Some of the commonly reported symptoms of influenza include:
• Fever of 100°F (37.8°C) to 104°F (40°C)
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Body aches and muscle pain, commonly in the back, arms or legs
• Severe headache
• Sneezing
• Dry cough
• A runny or stuffed nose
• Weakness
• Fatigue, a general feeling of sickness (malaise)
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting (particularly in children)
The symptoms of influenza can begin within 1 to 4 days (2 days on an average) of being first exposed to the virus. The effects of influenza usually subside after 2 or 3 days however, fever may last up to 5 days while cough may persist for 10 days or longer. A general feeling of weakness may also last for several days or weeks.
Influenza treatment
Home treatments are the best way to influenza treatment. Some of the most recommended home treatments include:
• Take as much rest and sleep as possible. Sleeping and resting helps your body’s natural immune system to fight the influenza virus
• Take lots of fluids to replace those lost from fever and to keep your body hydrated
• Avoid smoking and breathing other people’s smoke as tobacco products affect your body’s ability to recover
• Do not consume alcohol or alcoholic beverages
• Keep yourself away from other people as much as possible. This is because influenza is an infectious airborne disease that can be spread through droplets of saliva or sweat
• Inform you doctor as soon as the symptoms of influenza are noticed
• Your doctor may suggest the use of antiviral medicines like Tamiflu (oseltamivir).
Tamiflu works effectively against both the influenza A and B viruses. The medicine prevents the spread of the virus and thereby helps to reduce the intensity and duration of influenza symptoms. For best results, Tamiflu treatment should be started within 2 days of the onset of influenza symptoms. You can also take Tamiflu to prevent influenza from occurring in case you have been exposed to the virus. As Tamiflu is a prescription drug, it should be taken only after consulting a doctor.
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