Flu Symptoms News and Research

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Flu test: Is it needed?

Flu season is fast approaching. When flu symptoms strike, you may wonder if you or your loved ones should get a flu test before beginning treatment.

15 Oct 2019

Types of food to avoid during flu symptoms

When you have the flu, it may seem like nothing can make you feel better (or worse). However, relief may come from an unexpected place. Oddly enough, some foods may make your flu symptoms worse – or better – without you ever realizing it.

20 Sep 2019

Low humidity could be flu virus' best friend

Yale researchers have pinpointed a key reason why people are more likely to get sick and even die from flu during winter months: low humidity.

14 May 2019

Pregnant women and extremely obese people at high risk of flu complications

Pregnant women and the extremely obese are among those at high risk for complications from the flu - including death - and should be tested and begin antiviral treatment promptly if they are sick enough to be hospitalized with flu symptoms, according to updated guidelines released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

19 Dec 2018

New flu drug Xofluza approved - FDA emphasizes importance of flu shots

A new drug that works against flu has been developed and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday (24th October 2018). Until now the only drug available for flu is oseltamivir (Tamiflu) which is to be administered by two pills per day for five days after symptoms appear.

25 Oct 2018

FDA approves new antiviral flu treatment

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) for the treatment of acute uncomplicated influenza (flu) in patients 12 years of age and older who have been symptomatic for no more than 48 hours.

24 Oct 2018

Single dose of influenza drug can shorten duration of illness, study reveals

A single dose of a new influenza drug can significantly shorten the duration of the illness in teens and adults, according to a study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.

6 Sep 2018

Study: Obesity may play role in flu transmission, not just disease severity

Obesity increases a person's risk for severe complications from influenza, including hospitalization and even death.

2 Aug 2018

Aged garlic extract may help obese people fight against inflammation, study shows

Aged garlic extract may help obese people ward off painful inflammation and lower cholesterol levels, a new University of Florida study shows.

18 Jan 2018

Past exposures influence immune response in children with acute respiratory tract infections

Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) are the leading global cause of death in early childhood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

12 Jan 2018

UCLA expert offers tips to reduce risk for catching a cold

As winter cold descends on the nation, people tend to hunker down for warmth, often in places where others are in close proximity. It's a recipe for spreading colds.

9 Jan 2018

Loyola Medicine expert provides guidance on how to keep children safe from flu

Just as children are heading back to school after the winter break, the flu season has arrived. Loyola Medicine pediatrician Bridget Boyd, MD, has some advice for parents on how to help their child fend off the flu and what to do if they do get sick.

9 Jan 2018

Common cold virus can cause deadly pneumonia in transplant patients, study shows

The common cold is a major source of annoyance for most of us, but new research has found that the most prevalent respiratory infection can be far worse than a stuffy nose for one sector of the population — bone marrow transplant patients.

8 Mar 2017

Most Americans believe preventive health benefits of childhood vaccines outweigh risks

Despite debate about the safety of childhood vaccines among some groups in the public, an overwhelming majority of Americans (82%) support requiring children attending public school to be vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), according to a new Pew Research Center survey.

2 Feb 2017

Using common pain relievers during acute respiratory infection linked to increased heart attack risk

Widely used pain relievers may increase the risk of a heart attack when used during a cold or flu-like illness, according to a new study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

2 Feb 2017

Zipnosis to launch virtual care service lines to prevent spread of germs during cold and flu season

Zipnosis is getting the word out about an incredibly effective means of avoiding the spread of germs this cold and flu season: Use virtual care.

2 Nov 2016

Mice study finds new antiviral that can control flu infection

A molecule the body produces naturally in response to virus infection could be a viable flu treatment in the future, suggest researchers at the Francis Crick Institute in London.

20 Sep 2016

NPS MedicineWise urges child care centres to increase awareness around misuse of antibiotics in young children

NPS MedicineWise has written to child care centres across Australia to enlist their support in responding to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. Child care staff are well placed to help with education and increase awareness around the misuse of antibiotics in young children.

7 Jul 2016

NPS MedicineWise urges Australians to stop expecting antibiotics for colds and flu

With new findings launched today showing that antimicrobial use in the community in Australia is higher than in England, Canada, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands—and that the number of antimicrobials being prescribed in Australia continues to grow—NPS MedicineWise is again urging Australians to stop expecting antibiotics for viruses such as colds and flu.

17 Jun 2016

New study suggests re-evaluation of long-held method to predict effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine

The long-held approach to predicting seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness may need to be revisited, new research suggests. Currently, seasonal flu vaccines are designed to induce high levels of protective antibodies against hemagglutinin (HA), a protein found on the surface of the influenza virus that enables the virus to enter a human cell and initiate infection.

20 Apr 2016