Antiviral medication

Antiviral medications attack the influenza virus and stop it from spreading further inside your body.

This can significantly shorten the duration of influenza illness and reduce the severity of influenza symptoms, so you can get back on your feet faster and resume your normal daily activities. However, in order to be effective, antiviral medication should be started within 48 hours of the first symptoms such as fever, aches and pains.

For further information on antiviral medications, click here.

People use a range of products to manage the symptoms of influenza, like high fevers or coughs. These products do not treat the influenza infection itself, which will continue to run its course unless it's treated with an antiviral medicine.