0
How can an HIV positive person protect herself from swine flu and would medications like Tamiflu and Relenza be effective on someone with that condition?
There is an article that addresses your question. A link to the site of the article aidsmeds.com is provided below in the related links section. Here is a relevant quote from the article:
According to WHO and the CDC, people at high risk of serious influenza-related complications-including people living with HIV/AIDS-can take Relenza or Tamiflu as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent the flu. However, PEP is only recommended for HIV-positive people who have a known exposure to the virus-if a household member is diagnosed with influenza A (H1N1) being the main example used by both health agencies.
In addition, it is important that you follow all guidelines for prevention using behavior modification, i.e., washing hands frequently, avoiding sick people, stay out of crowded public places, etc. See the related questions below for more information on what you can do to help protect yourself. Flu vaccinations with one of the injectable inactivated ("dead") vaccines is also recommended.
What else can I help you with?
Is rimantadine used for Swine Flu?
No. There are only two of the four anti-viral medications currently on the market that have proven effective in treating A-H1N1/09 (Swine Flu). If caught early, oseltamivir (Tamiflu/Fluvir) and zanamivir (Relenza) are effective. Tamiflu must be taken within 48 hours of the first symptoms of the flu. The Swine Flu (09) is resistant to the other two drugs, amantadine and rimantadine.For additional information see the related question below "How is Swine Flu treated?"
How does amantadine treat you if you have Swine Flu?
It is an antiviral medication prescribed to treat certain viral diseases. However, it is not one of the antiviral medications recommended for use for the A-H1N1/09 pandemic swine flu virus. The two antiviral medicines that have shown to be effective and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are oseltamivir and zanamivir. This is what the CDC says:At this time, treatment with oseltamivir (trade name Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (trade name Relenza®) is recommended for all people with suspected or confirmed influenza who require hospitalization.
How is influenza cured?
Influenza is typically treated with antiviral medications such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza). These medications can help reduce the severity and duration of symptoms if taken within 48 hours of symptom onset. Rest, hydration, and over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms like fever and cough are also recommended.
Are there superdrugs for the flu?
Relenza is touted to be a super drug for the flu. Other than it, Tamaflu is well known for treating the flu as well. Which drug is used is up to the doctor prescribing it and he has to take into account many factors before deciding which drug will work best.
What is the neurominidase of a virus?
This is an enzyme that helps the virus to break out of the cell and so they can attack other cells and spread. Since this is an enzyme, a drug that is an enzyme inhibitor can be made to block it. The mumps and influenza viruses have this enzyme. Two such drugs that block this enzyme are oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). These two are used for the influenza virus.
How can bird flu be cured?
The mild symptoms are treated like other types of influenza with over-the-counter drugs. Mild symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. More severe cases involve severe pneumonia requiring hospital care.Preliminary studies indicate that it is susceptible to the neuraminidase inhibitor anti-viral medications (Oseltamivir, aka Tamiflu, and Zanamivir,aka Relenza). But the investigation is still in the very early stages in early April 2013.There is no vaccine to prevent the viral infection but the Chinese Government, World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are all working to isolate a candidate virus strain to use to grow and develop a vaccine if one is needed.
What antibotic or medicine is best for a severe case of flu?
Antibiotics vs. Anti-viral medications for Colds and FluBacterial VS. Viral Infection:Antibiotics only work against bacterialinfections. They are a waste of time and money, and can have side effects and potential allergic reactions, so they are not for treatment of a cold or other virus, and should not be used when not absolutely necessary. Unnecessary use of antibiotics is one of the main reasons we have resistant bacteria now that do not respond to treatment with some antibiotics because they have been over-prescribed. Since the cold and flu are caused by viruses, antibiotics do not work for the treatment of those infections.The first step is being properly diagnosed. If your doctor has diagnosed you with influenza (usually based on clinical symptoms rather than laboratory testing, but sometimes determined using a rapid test that detects the influenza virus in your body), then there are several medicines that can be used.There are some anti-viral medications available for use with the flu, but to date there are none available that provide a cure for the common cold.For years, the anti-viral drugs amantadine and rimantidine were the only agents available for treating cases of influenza. Now, however, the drugs oseltamavir (Tamiflu) and zanamavir (Relenza) are most often used. Of interest, in 2009 near the start of the pandemic of H1N1/09, the CDC issued a statement about their concern that one of the subtypes of influenza (Influenza A) may be resistant to Tamiflu. For this reason, they have recommended that cases of Influenza A be treated with Relenza. (Note: the "Swine Flu" A-H1N1/09 is not resistant to either of these anti-viral drugs and both are still being prescribed to treat the "pandemic flu" as of the 2011-2012 flu season. Monitoring continues on an ongoing basis to assure that this is still effective for this particular strain of flu.)The available evidence shows that starting Tamiflu or Relenza within 24 hours of flu symptom onset can decrease the length and severity of symptoms.In some cases, when a person is infected with a virus, if they have a lowered immune response due to underlying conditions, they may also be given an antibiotic as a preventive measure to prophylactically treat or prevent potential secondary bacterial infections that might be acquired due to immune compromised conditions. Additionally, sometimes a secondary opportunistic bacterial infection will occur when a person is very ill from a virus, and in those cases, they will need treatment for the secondary bacterial condition with an antibiotic, in addition perhaps to treatment they are receiving for the viral infection. This is often the case with influenza since secondary bacterial pneumonia can be a complication.The best defense: VaccinesOf course, the best defense against influenza is still the annual flu vaccination, which, in the 2011-2012 flu season continues to contain vaccine for the A-H1N1/09 pandemic flu in addition to two other types of flu vaccine (known as trivalent flu vaccines since they contain 3 kinds each year). It is nearing time for flu vaccinations as fall approaches, be sure to have yours. They are proven safe and effective.
What is the name for the anti-viral medicine for swine flu?
The CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza), both anti-viral medications for the treatment and/or prevention of infection by swine influenza viruses. These Antiviral drugs work by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. The best way to avoid the symptoms of the flu is to get vaccinated so you can't catch it in the first place. But if you do get the flu, then ask your doctor about these two of the anti-viral medications. They have proven safe and effective to speed the recovery and lessen the severity of symptoms. They have been underutilized in general by ordering physicians and could make you feel much better much faster.,
How do you use antiviral Swine Flu medicine?
As your doctor has prescribed it. The doses will vary depending on the patient. It is best taken within 40 - 48 hours of exposure and first symptoms. It is used to shorten the duration of the flu and reduce the severity of the symptoms. It is only for treatment of adults and children over one year old.More information about Tamiflu and other anti-viral medications for the flu:The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information says that A-H1N1/09 virus (the swine flu) can be treated if caught very early with two of the currently available anti-viral medications oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).Tamiflu is for treatment in adults and children aged 1 year and older, and must be taken within 48 hours of the first symptom.There are currently 4 types of antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for the treatment of influenza: Amantadine, Rimantadine, Oseltamivir and Zanamivir. While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to these drugs, the most recent swine-flu viruses isolated from humans, are resistant to Amantadine and Rimantadine. None of these drugs prevent us from getting the virus like a vaccine would, but can lesson the severity of the symptoms and dramatically shorten their duration when given at the right timing in relation to exposure.
Do you use antiviral drugs for respiratory virus infections?
Most antiviral drugs must be started within 40 - 48 hours of the first signs of the flu for most efficacy. These drugs reduce the severity and duration of the symptoms, but do not actually "cure" the flu, that job must be done by your immune system.There are two types of of antiviral agents, the first one is the adamantanes, such as amantadine (Symmetrel®) and rimantadine (Flumadine®). Adamantanes are useful only for influenza type A infections. The second type of antiviral agents are the neuraminidase inhibitors, such as zanamivir (Relenza®) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu®, 1999).Approximately 80% of the circulating strains of flu viruses typical in a flu season are influenza type A virus H1N1. These types can be treated with adamantanes and zanamivir, but are resistant and cannot be treated with oseltamavir. Sometimes many of the circulating strains can be resistant to antivirals, but usually one type will work. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information each year about the expected strains of flu coming in the next season and which antiviral drugs will be best to treat them.Influenza type A virus H3N2 strains can be treated with oseltamavir and zanamivir, but are resistant to adamantanes.As for influenza type B strains, they can be treated with oseltamavir, zanamivir; but are resistant, and cannot be treated with adamantanes.In addition, for unvaccinated patients the recommended drug for influenza B exposure is oseltamivir, and the recommended drug for influenza A exposure or unknown subtype are zanamivir OR oseltamivir + rimantadine.
If the immune system is stronger are you protected against swine flu even if you have been in contact?
Generally speaking, you will be better equipped to fight off a viral infection if you have a strong immune system, but the only thing that will give you full protection is to have immunity developed from having had the same type of flu before, or from taking a vaccination against that specific flu strain.An added aid for your body to use to help protect you from swine flu, would be use of the anti-viral medications that are being prescribed to help fight the influenza viruses, such as Tamiflu and Relenza.(See information in the related questions below about how your body fights swine flu and about A-H1N1/09 Vaccines and other treatments for the Novel H1N1 Swine Flu.)
Does the new vaccine for swine flu prevent swine flu or help stop it?
Vaccines prevent those who have received them from getting sick from the flu that was in the vaccine. Vaccines aren't helpful if you already have or have had the same flu, but they don't hurt then either. Unless you are absolutely sure from laboratory testing that you have or had this A-H1N1/09 pandemic flu, you should go ahead and take the vaccination just in case the type you caught was caused by a different type of virus.To help stop or shorten the time you are sick with the flu after you already have it, the antiviral medicines like Relenza and Tamiflu do that job.
