Here are some of the symptoms it helps :

Fever: A fever is really your body’s way of fighting off infection and illness and is not necessarily a bad then. However, if it rises too high, say 102 degrees or higher there can be severe consequences to your vital organs. So, if your fever rises above about 101, I’d suggest taking the Tylenol Cold medicine.

Aches and Pains: Quit often achy joints and muscles accompany the flue or a cold. Tylenol relieves these for me quickly. I also get headaches, usually sinus headaches, and Tylenol helps relieve those as well.

Sinus congestion – Tylenol helps clear this up almost immediately, and when my sinuses are clear and I can breath through my nose, this makes my sore throat heal faster.

There is one thing to be careful of however. Because Tylenol is fast at relieving your symptoms, it may give you a false sense of security and you’ll think it’s fine to go to work or continue with other physically challenging activities. Please think about this, your symptoms may be relieved or even gone, but your body is still ’sick’. Give yourself a day or two to rest. This will also lower the risk of your spreading your cold or flu or picking up a secondary infection yourself.

Tylenol Cold comes in several forms, prices range between $5 and $8.

Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Nighttime Liquid

… Doxylamine Succinate – Runny nose. Does not contain alcohol. Cold Multi-Symptom with Instant Cool Burst Sensation, Nighttime, LiquidTylenol. Cost: $6.00

Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Daytime Caplets, Cool Burst, 24 ea

Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Severe Liquid Daytime, 8 fl oz

Multi-Symptom Severe Liquid Daytime.

Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Liquid Nighttime, 8 fl oz

Multi-Symptom Liquid Nighttime.

Tylenol Cold Caplets Day/Night

Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Nighttime Liquid

… Doxylamine Succinate – Runny nose. Does not contain alcohol. Cold Multi-Symptom with Instant Cool Burst Sensation, Nighttime, LiquidTylenol. $.6.99

As with all medications, but sure to check with your doctor to be certain there will be no interactions with other medications you’re taking or that Tylenol Cold won’t exacerbate other medical conditions you may have.

Recommendations for treating the flu, based on information available from MayoClinic and the Centers for Disease Control, include getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of clear fluids, and eating chicken soup. The nutrients in the soup, and the steam clearing the sinuses, help the body fight off the infection. Fluids are necessary to keep the body hydrated. However, for the most part, the flu, like other viral infections, has to take its course. For those with more severe infections, there are prescription antiviral medications available to aid the body, including Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and zanamivir, but some of the common strains have already developed resistance to Tamiflu.

Most healthcare facilities, including hospitals and community clinics, advise not going to them for diagnosis or treatment as this aids in the spread of the flu. It is advised to use over-the-counter treatments or any at home remedy for cold and flu unless complications arise or the fever spikes.

To prevent infection, it is important to wash your hands often with warm water and mild soap, use sanitizing gels or liquids when in contact with other people, and to boost your immune system with foods or safe herbal remedies containing Vitamin C and Vitamin B complex. There are some older remedies that suggest zinc.

There is also a flu vaccine that is meant to prevent infection with the influenza virus and must be received prior to infection. Each season the flu shot is developed to protect against variations of the major strains expected to be present that year. Unfortunately, it takes several months to develop the vaccine and strains emerging later in the year are not included. This is the case for the 2007-2008 vaccine which does not protect against the common type A strain, resulting in a widespread outbreak of flu. However, the vaccine does offer cross immunity to decrease the severity of the infection.