Sonam Kapoor swine flu update-- Anil Kapoor says she's doing better

Recently Sonam Kapoor tested positive for swine flu, during the shooting of her next movie Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo. The actress was flown back to Mumbai from Rajkot and admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital for treatment.

Post her admission to the hospital, there have been a number of statements stating that the leading lady is responding well to treatment and is recovering under the care of her doctors.

In an effort to allay the fears of her fans, her father, Anil Kapoor said, 'Sonam wasn't well at all a few nights ago, but yesterday morning, she was lot better. I have been with her the whole day. She is getting better. I hope that in a week's time or so, she would be back to good health,' in a statement to DNA. You may also like to read more about swine flu.

With the ailment spreading across the country really quickly and the death toll rising, it is no wonder that there is a lot of fear surrounding the disease. But fear-mongering is not the answer, instead being aware about the facts of the disease is. So to help you stay up to date on the facts, here is what you should know about the treatment for swine flu.

Antiviral therapy

This is one of the first ways your doctor will choose to treat you. Antiviral medication blocks the multiplication and spread of the influenza virus -- type A and B.

In this regard, the most common medicine used is:

Tamiflu: This medication has been effective in treating swine flu patients for the past few years and helped them recover from the viral attack. Till date there are no reported cases of resistance to the drug, which seems to be like a boon. However, the drug needs to be prescribed within 48 hours of experiencing the symptoms of swine flu, else its effect dies off with lapse in time, says Dr Prakash Jiandani, director of critical care unit, Wockhardt hospital, South Mumbai.Here is all that you need to know about swine flu causes, risk factors and prevention.

The dosage: The medication comes in two forms oral suspension and capsule. For people suffering from the flu, a dosage of 75 ml is advised to be taken twice a day for a five-day antiviral course. Depending on the severity, the dosage is doubled to 150 ml for some patients. Although Tamiflu should not be taken as a precautionary measure, but for people who fall under the high risk category, like those suffering from high BP, diabetes or the elderly, one dose of tamiflu for 10 days is generally prescribed, says Dr Jiandani. It is advised to finish the full course of the medication even if you feel better or your symptoms are suppressed after taking few initial doses of the medication. This medication is found in most retail chemist and costs Rs 450 for a pack of 20 tablets. Here are 10 facts about swine flu you need to know.

You may also like to read more about the medicines for swine flu.

Image source: Getty Images

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