What to Do for Influenza That Does not Recover?

Our Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Specialist stated that serum and antibiotics would not be effective in the treatment of influenza and warned:

“Elements such as selenium, iron, and zinc maintain the body's resistance. In addition to these, drinking a glass of echinacea tea every day is effective in regulating the immune system.

“Influenza Case Should Be Treated Within A Week "

Stating that more than one case of cold and flu can be seen in the autumn and winter months, Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Specialist expressed, “It is quite normal for the diseases to last for a long time in this period. Many viruses cause the common cold. After a while, the disease can be seen again and again with a different virus. The flu is different from the common cold. In normal people, it resolves within a week at the latest from the time it starts. Flu heals within a week at the latest from the moment it starts in normal people. People with various underlying risk factors are the groups that need attention and monitoring. The disease may progress and turn into pneumonia in these people. When pneumonia develops in such people, they may be faced with a life-threatening condition. People who develop an upper respiratory tract infection usually have a cough for a long time. So people think that they are not getting it because the cough persists.”

“Serum Therapy Is Not An Effective Method”

Underlining that intravenous serum administration would not be an effective treatment method in upper respiratory tract infections, especially in conditions where there is no fluid loss, our specialist continued as follows:

“The serum gives the patient a little relief at that moment. However, there is no scientifically proven effectiveness of these serums in treatment. There is no efficacy of intravenous fluid administration in upper respiratory tract infections. If the picture is very severe in such cases, suggesting resting at home and taking fluids orally, not intravenously, is a more realistic way of treatment. Elements such as selenium, iron, and zinc are effective in maintaining the body's resistance and protecting against upper respiratory tract infections. Instead of using them after the disease starts, it is better to take them either with foods rich in them or as a supplement in the autumn and winter months. In addition to these, echinacea tea is effective in increasing body resistance. Consuming this tea once a day instead of regular tea in autumn and winter is recommended in terms of regulating the immune system.”

“Antibiotics Have No Place in Flu Treatment "

Underlining that antibiotics will only treat infectious diseases caused by bacteria, our specialist explained the place of antibiotic use in the treatment of flu:

 “Antibiotics have no place in the treatment of the flu. However, if the infection has progressed to the lungs after the 3rd or 5th day, especially in people in the risk group, this is pneumonia caused by bacteria with a 90% probability. Then antibiotics can be used under the supervision of a doctor. Otherwise, antibiotics either have no place in the flu or can be harmful to the body. Because antibiotics will also cause the good bacteria in our body to disappear and reduce our body's resistance.”

“Hands Should Be Washed For At Least 40 Seconds"

Emphasizing that all people in society, especially school-age children, should pay attention to hand hygiene and cleanliness in order to avoid the disease less, our expert said, “Washing our hands after shaking hands with a person or touching any item will protect us from viral upper respiratory tract infections to a certain extent. Avoiding coughing and sneezing people is one of the effective prevention methods. Hands should be washed for at least 40-60 seconds for an effective hand cleaning.”

Explaining that people in a risk group who have not yet caught the flu, can get vaccinated even in January, Yeditepe University Hospital Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Specialist said, “The protection of the flu vaccine varies between 30 and 60 percent all over the world. Even if it does not protect from catching the flu, we attach importance to the vaccine in order to prevent the transformation into major serious conditions.”