Flu Advice

If you trust Google more than your doctor then maybe it's time to switch doctors

Is Tamiflu Halal ?

GENERAL FLU ADVICE:

Don't shake hands or hug
Wear a mask for congregation prayers if you are sick.
Wear mask if your house ventilation is inadequate.
Flu usually starts with fever, shivering, body ache, headache.
Your doctor can swab your nose & your throat if you are in the high risk group.
This will then guide whether you can justify taking Tamiflu 1 tablet 2x/day (best started within 48 hours)
Tamiflu is currently dispensed without tests results known, to those with high risks for complications from the swine flu.
For those with psychiatric medical problems, best to avoid Tamiflu. Try Relenza instead
An old medication call Amantadine at 100mg 2x/day for adults also helps - only for Influenza A . But high degree of viral resistance in children. Not for swine flu,
You still can get a flu shot ( covers both A & B ) if you are at high risk of getting the flu or can't afford to be sick. ( There is now a vaccine for the swine flu; provided free by the Australian Government.)
The flu shot take 2 weeks to kick in.
While waiting, you can have the option of taking Tamiflu 1x /day during an outbreak ( if you delayed the shot ) or Amantadine 200mg daily; then stopped after 2 weeks.
Some people take the option of only taking Tamiflu ( without the flu shot) 1x/day during the outbreak - an expensive option considering a 5 days course cost anywhere between $60 - $75.
Or taking Amantadine 200mg daily; cheaper but has some side effects like dizziness or difficulty concentration.
Panadol or Nurofen helps with fever & aches; children should NOT take Aspirin
Keep well hydrated and rest; soup gives both fluid & nutrition.
Over the counter decongestants & cough mixtures may help.
If symptoms worsens or last longer than a week - contact your doctor.
Remember people do die of complications from seasonal flu. They are not high profile at the moment like swine flu, but a couple of years ago several children & even healthy adults died in Australia from the seasonal flu.
More on swine flu

When you sneeze.

Did your sneeze cause your " brother's " illness (or even death)?

It could - if you sneeze into your hands and then salam him with all the germs still on your hands. Or if you then touch the door handle and leave your germs on it for the next person.

So should we sneeze and cough into the crook of our arm (front part of elbow), not on our hands?

We've all been told to cover our mouths when we sneeze or cough. This may prevents the spray of germs into the air around us. But, the next thing we touch or give to another person carries them on.

By using the crook of the arm, we limit the spread by air and physical contact, inshaallah .

Off course, If you have a tissue handy, sneeze into it , and then get rid of it (in the dustbin).

If you do use your hand, wash it, or maybe explain to your " brother " why you are saying salam without extending your hands .

Don't forget :

What do we say when we sneeze? We say al-hamdulillah - ( all ) praise be to Allah

What do we say when we hear someone sneeze? We say Yarhamukullah - may Allah's mercy be upon you.

What if you sneeze during praying ?

A: He can let himself hear his say the hamdalah , “Alhamdulillah” (Praise be to Allah).Praising Allah while performing the salaat because of sneezing does not invalidate one’s prayer. However, a praying person must not say “yarhamuka Allah” (may Allah have mercy on you) to another person if he sneezes beside him as this will invalidate the former’s prayer according to the ijma' fuqaha. Imam An-Nawawi in his book (Al-Adhkaar /427)