“What is the best treatment for the flu?”

There is no formal treatment for the flu except a couple prescription medications that need to be started within the first 1-2 days. I would recommend avoiding all over-the-counter medications as they are harmful and essentially have zero benefit. Flu is a self-limited condition and the most important measures are rest, heavy fluid intake, sinus irrigation (neti pot or neil med squirt bottle), and avoidance of pro-inflammatory foods (processed foods, gluten, dairy, and sugar). Some immune support measures can help though the research is variable but this would include excess zinc, vitamin c, mushroom extract and vitamin D). Also not that is someone is improving from the flu and then gets abruptly worse they should be re-evaluated as there could be a secondary bacterial infection that requires additional therapy, often prescriptions.

How do you know this is the flu? This most likely is the common cold. It has to take its course, which is usually 7-10 days. If there is superimposition of bacteria with fever and purulent secretions, you will probably need antibiotics.

Does he have a fever? What does his throat look like? Does he have swollen glands? There are other illnesses that can imitate the flu; I strongly suggest having somebody who can do a physical exam take a look at him.

As the symptoms of the flu can be non-specific(fever, myalgias, sore throat, malaise, anorexia, headache, etc) be sure it really is the "flu"-!!-ie, which can be proven by having your doctor perform a simple blood test.

Influenza is due to Type A and Type B viruses that change their antigenicity frequently(which is why we have to get vaccinated yearly to try to prevent the type of flu that is current.) Again, these can be diagnosed with simple blood tests.

Unfortunately, After a week of illness(assuming it really is influenza), there is probably no effective treatment to kill the virus and shorten the duration of illness(but if caught in the first couple of days, there ARE treatments, like Tamiflu, that is effective against a certain type of flu and can reduce the length of illness )

So, if a patient is not seen until after a week of illness, we usually have to resort to using measures to reduce SYMPTOMS, ie--rest, Fluids, ibuprofen or Tylenol to prevent dehydration and reduce fever, sore throat, and the aches and pains that are commonly associated with the flu.

Also, remember that there are many infections that can present like the flu. Thus it is important to see your MD and be examined and tested(and other infections can be looked for and hopefully ruled out--ie, bacterial pneumonia, strep pharyngitis, mono, meningitis, etc.

Additionally, if there has been recent TRAVEL to "3rd world countries(Africa, S America, etc), diseases like malaria, hepatitis, TB, etc can be acquired abroad, and then can become symptomatic when back in the USA.

Further, it is well known that certain very serious BACTERIAL superinfections can come on after a week or more of the flu, including Staph pneumonia and pneumococcal pneumonia, both of which can be life threatening(especially in the very young and very old)

Again, all of these conditions can be looked for and ruled out by having your doctor perform a complete history and physical along with certain blood tests and maybe a chest x-ray(if there is higher fever, chills, cough, productive sputum, chest pain, physical exam signs, etc)

Finally, assuming influenza is diagnosed properly and no complications or serious organ dysfunction has intervened, then rest, plenty of fluids, anti-inflammatory drugs(and maybe other helpful symptomatic medicines) will reduce symptoms until your son's own immune system can fight off the flu within the next week or so.

Did you see your doctor, to get tested to make sure what flu strain he has? Are there co-existing problems? Flu treatment is usually with a pharmaceutical such as Tamiflu.

Multiple preventative remedies exist, not treatment, including nutritionals such as vitamin D3 and vitamin C, gut and GI detoxifiers and probiotics, immune enhancers, omega three fatty acids, homeopathics, and sleep and plenty of hydration/water/teas. My favorite name brands have not been included.

Hey

If your son is not getting any better. I would recommend taking your son to the ER to have him checked

Thanks