What should I do if I am pregnant and think I have the flu?

If a pregnant woman thinks she has flu, she should call her doctor right away.  If needed, he or she will prescribe an antiviral medicine that treats the flu.  The medicine is most helpful if it is started soon (within the first 48 hours) after the pregnant woman becomes sick.

Not everyone with flu in the general population needs to get antiviral medicines.  Flu antiviral medicines should be used mostly to treat people with the flu who have a condition that increases their chances for serious problems from flu, such as pregnant women. These medicines are also used to treat people with flu who have more severe flu illness or who are in the hospital.

Clinical judgment is needed to decide if a person should be treated with antiviral medicines.

Last Updated: 09/25/2009

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