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Show Flu Season Still Raging The U.S. Ls experiencing a particularly severe outbreak of inftuenza A this winter. According Ac-cording to the Center for Disease Di-sease Control, this is still the beginning of the flu season in moit parts of the country, and outbreaks may worsen In the weeks ahead. So be wary of flu through March. Early immunization when recommended by the Public Health Service is the best way to prevent influenza A. But what if you miss early immunization immu-nization or art someone for -hom the vaccine is not rec-commended? rec-commended? The answer may be a prescription drug amantadine aman-tadine hydrochloride (brand name SYMMETREL ) capsules. cap-sules. It can ward off influenza during the time, normally 2-3 weeks, your body needs to develop de-velop protective antibodies after af-ter vaccination, or for a longer period if you haven't been vaccinated. vac-cinated. Amantadine HC1 Is the only drug available to prevent pre-vent and treat influenza Type A. Tt is effective against influenza in-fluenza Type A only. If you fail to get protection and influenza A hits, you will know it right away. Unlike colds which may come on gradually, grad-ually, flu may strike with full force. It's an upper respiratory r!L-.ea.-.e that can cause fever, chills, a runny or congested nor,e. coughing, sore throat, mir-cle aches and pains, headaches, head-aches, weakness and fatigue. Traditional flu treatment in- Inf luenza Outbreaks This Winter 1 7 H ,: T ' L - l ' : ; ' --; P" " ' i No cases Rj-ona' rtt'ejKs or yx -icltc c-ies Etademc eludes bed rest to conserve energy, en-ergy, drinking plenty of fluids to compensate for body fluid lost through sweating, and aspirin to help reduce fever and achinef-s. Amantadine HC1 should not. be used by people who are known to be hypersensitive to it. Nervous system symptoms such as insomnia, light hr-ad-edness, and diliiculty concentrating concen-trating have been observed in up to 7 of people taking the drug for influenza A. Amantadine HC1 also can shorten the period of illness and ease the symptoms of flu. The National Institute of Health's Consensus Develop- ment Panel has recommended it for prevention and treatment treat-ment of Influenza A for high risk patient';, such as those with pulmonary, cardiac, metabolic, met-abolic, neuromuscular or im-muno-deflciency dLseasc, and nursing home and hospital patients. pa-tients. These and elderly peo- . pie run a greater risk of fatal complications, such as pneumonia, pneu-monia, when flu hits. Treatment Treat-ment with amantadine HC1 Is also recommended for those individuals whose Jobs are essential es-sential to the community. If anyone in your household has Influenza A, you may wLsh to ask your doctor about amantadine amanta-dine HO. p |
