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Taking over-the-counter medications for the aches, pains and fever caused by flu may make people feel somewhat better, but it also could make them more contagious ? resulting in increased cases and more deaths among the population, a study suggests.
Researchers at McMaster University say medicines like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can ease some flu symptoms, including bringing down fever.
?People often take ? or give their kids ? fever-reducing drugs so they can go to work or school,? said David Earn, a professor of mathematics who led the study.
?They may think the risk of infecting others is lower because the fever is lower,? said Earn. ?In fact, the opposite may be true: the ill people may give off more virus because fever has been reduced.?
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Researchers at McMaster University say medicines like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can ease some flu symptoms, including bringing down fever.
?People often take ? or give their kids ? fever-reducing drugs so they can go to work or school,? said David Earn, a professor of mathematics who led the study.
?They may think the risk of infecting others is lower because the fever is lower,? said Earn. ?In fact, the opposite may be true: the ill people may give off more virus because fever has been reduced.?
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