Over-the-Counter Flu Prevention

Flu is an infection of the respiratory tract that can be caused by a number of viruses, namely influenza. The virus enters the body from air through the mouth or nose. An estimated 5 percent to 20 percent of people in the United States are afflicted with the flu annually. The condition can be very serious for the elderly, newborn babies or individuals with specific chronic illnesses. Certain preventative measures can be taken against the flu, though there is no cure that is known to work for all the influenza viruses.

Flu Prevention

• The best preventative measures against flu are to take the annual flu vaccination, and to keep away from the people who are sick, since the flu is highly contagious. Take the vaccine, an intra-muscular injection, about two months before the flu season is to start. It is particularly recommended for individuals in high-risk groups such as those with heart disease, respiratory disease, diabetes and kidney complications. Flu vaccines can only help to lower the chances of a severe illness and are not effective in lowering the frequency of the infection. There are no over-the-counter medicines that can prevent flu, but once the virus has attacked, medications such as Tylenol, aspirin and ibuprofen can diminish some discomfort with their fever-reducing and analgesic qualities. Other over-the-counter drugs can reduce other flu-related discomforts, such as coughing, sore throat, running nose, and sinus pressure and pain. However, these drugs can only make life a little easier while the virus runs its course, since they can do nothing to counteract the effects of the actual infection.