Health Tip: Antiviral Can Help Manage Flu

(HealthDay News) -- If you have the flu, an antiviral medication can help minimize the duration and severity of the illness.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers this additional information:

• Taking an antiviral can help reduce the duration of flu and other viral illnesses by about one or two days.
• Taking antiviral medication soon after showing flu symptoms is important for people who are chronically ill or hospitalized.
• Antiviral medication can help reduce the risk of developing serious complications of the flu, such as pneumonia.