So you have the flu. Now what?

Antiviral drugs work best when given within two days of getting sick.

A positive flu test result is not necessary for a health care provider to prescribe an antiviral medication. Three such prescription medications are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and recommended this season: oseltamivir, available as Tamiflu or a generic; zanamivir (Relenza); and peramivir (Rapivab).

People considered to be at high risk for complications include hospitalized patients; patients with severe or progressive illnesses; cancer patients, HIV patients and those with compromised immune systems; nursing home or health facility residents; children 5 years old and younger; adults 65 and older; women who are pregnant or within two weeks postpartum; and people with asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and serious disorders.

The flu, unlike the common cold, begins abruptly. Out of the blue, you feel tired, your muscles ache, and your forehead feels hot. There's no need to fight or bravely go to work. Stay home and stay warm, the CDC recommends. In fact, it's best if you remain at home and away from others for at least 24 hours after your fever breaks so you don't infect people who are well.

You can infect others from one day before you get sick to about five to seven days after developing symptoms.

If you suspect or know you have the flu, you should avoid touching or coming into close contact with others to prevent them from becoming sick. In shared households, anyone who has the flu should be in a separate sick room. Sick rooms can be shared with others who are sick, and in households with more than one bathroom, sick people should use one while well people use the other.

It's also important to use your own drinking glass, washcloth and towel when you are sick. Whatever you touch should be disinfected.

Water is your friend when you have the flu. Drink lots of it, along with other clear liquids to prevent fluid loss or dehydration. (Clear fluids include broths, herbal teas and sports drinks.) Some people may be too weak to use a cup, so use a squeeze bottle or straw instead. Some people like sucking on ice chips or frozen ice pops.

Fever is typical of the flu. Your body temperature may rise as high as 101 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Usually, a flu fever will last three to five days. Sometimes you may develop a cough.

If you wish to treat these symptoms, the CDC recommends that you take over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen, including Tylenol or store brands; ibuprofen, including Advil, Motrin or store brands; and, for adults only, aspirin.

Remember to store these medicines where children cannot access them.

If you become very sick, you may need a prescription antiviral drug to help you recover. Antivirals are known to work best when given within 48 hours, but even when taken later than that, these drugs can be helpful to people who become very ill.

Don't bother asking your doctor for an antibiotic. Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics, which fight onlybacterial infections.

These are emergency warning signs telling you that your child needs to see a doctor immediately: trouble breathing or fast breathing; bluish skin color; not drinking enough fluids; not waking up or not interacting; irritability and not wishing to be held; symptoms improve but then return even worse; or fever with a rash.

Adults with these emergency warning signs also need to see a doctor without delay: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen; sudden dizziness; confusion; severe or persistent vomiting.

Experts recommend that everyone 6 months of age and older get a flu shot to prevent sickness, and even though flu season is well underway, it's not too late to get vaccinated.

Most of the illness and hospitalizations this season have been caused by influenza A (H3N2) viruses, the CDC reported last week in an official advisory. In past years, the flu shot has been least effective against A (H3N2) viruses compared with other A or B strain flu viruses. And whenever this strain of flu virus has caused most of the sickness, more hospitalizations and deaths occurred in both young children and in people 65 and older than other age groups.

Brendan Flannery, an epidemiologist in the CDC's flu division, said that "the important thing for people to know is that we think that the flu vaccine will prevent some illness that's caused by the current circulating viruses."

Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University, told CNN previously that "when we measure vaccine effectiveness, that's effectiveness against protecting against disease completely." Schaffner is also a liaison representative of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which develops vaccine recommendations for the CDC.

What's not measured, he said, is what happens if you get the flu. Those who were vaccinated and still get the flu are "less likely to have the complications of pneumonia, having to be hospitalized and dying," he said.

"No matter what the dominant strain is, there are other strains out there that produce influenza, and the vaccine is often very good at protecting against those."

You don't need a prescription to get the vaccine from a pharmacy, and virtually every insurance plan covers it, he added.

"Walk in and roll up your sleeve," Schaffner said.