Home Treatment
of Cold and Flu
- Drink plenty of fluids, at least 6-8 glasses each day, to help
relieve cough and congestion, and to help prevent dehydration
due to water loss from fever.
- Avoid excessively dry air; breathe steam from a shower or use
a cool-mist or warm-mist humidifier.
- If you smoke, stop! (Or if you cannot quit, at least cut back
while you are sick.)
- For fever greater than 101°, headache or body aches, take
Tylenol® or Advil®. Use a thermometer for accurate temperature
taking. Do not guess! If your fever is less than 101° and
you feel OK, you do not need to treat it
- Children under 18 should not take aspirin for flu because of
an association with Reye’s syndrome, a very serious illness.
Children should instead take Tylenol® or Advil®.
- If you choose to take over-the-counter medications for a cold
or flu, remember that these medications are generally to help
relieve your symptoms, not to cure the infection. Follow the instructions
on the labels, and only use those medicines that correspond to
your particular symptoms. If you have questions about what to
use, feel free to call me or simply ask your pharmacist
Over-the-Counter Medications
for the Treatment of Colds and Flu
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