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Suggest Treatment For Flu And Fever When Suffering From Cirrhosis Of Liver

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Posted on Mon, 23 Feb 2015
Question: my husband has 4th stage cirrhosis of liver and has flu. what can he take to treat the flu and reduce fever?
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Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (24 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Influenza can be treated the same way as in healthy individuals

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

"flu" may mean different things to different people. The right meaning of flu for a doctor is influenza which is a viral infection by any of the influenza viruses. If this is what you meant, then treatment in a patient with cirrhosis is no different compared to otherwise healthy individuals.

Tamiflu (oseltamivir) has no contraindication or dosage modification guideline regarding patients with cirrhosis. The dose is 75mg twice daily for 5 days. Please note that the drug should be initiated within 48 hours after the symptoms started.

Fever can be reduced by paracetamol. Although patients with cirrhosis should avoid taking drugs, taking some paracetamol would not inflict any serious damage to his liver unless he takes more than the recommended dosage. In most cases less than 2gr per day are required.

If by "flu" you meant another viral illness then oseltamivir would not be effective against it. Paracetamol can still be used to reduce fever and alleviate symptoms of malaise/fatigue.

If the diagnosis is in doubt then contacting your doctor would be appropriate.

I hope I've helped!
If you'd like further information, please let me know.

Kind Regards!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3809 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Flu And Fever When Suffering From Cirrhosis Of Liver

Brief Answer: Influenza can be treated the same way as in healthy individuals Detailed Answer: Hello, "flu" may mean different things to different people. The right meaning of flu for a doctor is influenza which is a viral infection by any of the influenza viruses. If this is what you meant, then treatment in a patient with cirrhosis is no different compared to otherwise healthy individuals. Tamiflu (oseltamivir) has no contraindication or dosage modification guideline regarding patients with cirrhosis. The dose is 75mg twice daily for 5 days. Please note that the drug should be initiated within 48 hours after the symptoms started. Fever can be reduced by paracetamol. Although patients with cirrhosis should avoid taking drugs, taking some paracetamol would not inflict any serious damage to his liver unless he takes more than the recommended dosage. In most cases less than 2gr per day are required. If by "flu" you meant another viral illness then oseltamivir would not be effective against it. Paracetamol can still be used to reduce fever and alleviate symptoms of malaise/fatigue. If the diagnosis is in doubt then contacting your doctor would be appropriate. I hope I've helped! If you'd like further information, please let me know. Kind Regards!