Should people with HIV/AIDS receive influenza antiviral medications for treatment of influenza?
It’s very important that antiviral drugs be used early to treat flu in people who are very sick with flu (for example people who are in the hospital) and people who are sick with flu and who have a greater chance of getting serious flu complications, such as people with HIV/AIDS. Studies have shown that flu antiviral drugs work best for treatment if they are started within 2 days of getting sick. There may still be benefit in treating people with antiviral drugs even after two days have gone by, especially if the sick person has a greater change of serious flu complications (see box) or if the person has certain symptoms (such as shortness of breath, chest pain/pressure, dizziness, or confusion) or is in the hospital because of the flu.
Related Questions
- Is it safe to give influenza antiviral medications to people who have immune deficiencies, such as HIV or advanced HIV disease?
- When should people with HIV/AIDS receive antiviral medications for chemoprophylaxis (prevention of influenza)?
- What are the treatment benefits of influenza antiviral drugs for people with H1N1 or other flu illness?
