We have been used to taking paracetamol whenever we have the flu. However, we may have to stop doing that. According to a study, paracetamol doesn't help in curing the flu.
A New Zealand study found that the common non-prescription medication doesn't do anything to relieve flu symptoms or decrease the amount of virus found in patients.
Dr. Irene Braithwaite of the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand and the lead researcher studied 80 people suffering from influenza.
The study which can be found in the Respirology Journal
revealed that 40 people were given with 1 gram of paracetamol four times a day for five days; the other 40 were treated with placebo pill. Braithwaite said that regular paracetamol had no effect on the amount virus found in patients taking the drug. Their temperature and symptoms remain the same.
The study shows that there is insufficient evidence for paracetamol use in influenza infection. It is also believed to be the very first study of its kind in the world. Braithwaite also said that since there are approximately 200,000 New Zealanders getting sick with the flu every year, and she considers the findings of this study is very important.
During the flu season, the general public is advised to stay home, rest, increase their fluid intake and take paracetamol. This is the most common recommendation given to people to avoid making the situation worse. But the researchers believe that taking paracetamol may cause more harm than improvement in the situation.
It was found that the influenza virus can't survive in higher temperature and by using paracetamol, the temperature reduces therefore making it possible for the virus to replicate and stay in the person's body. Fortunately, there are evidence saying that paracetamol is neither harmful nor beneficial. However these findings are still not enough to recommend the use of paracetamol for the treatment of flu.
