Q: My daughter is 12 years and is under treatment for H1N1. She is on fluvir since December and is responding to the medicine. I am 46 years old and suffering from bronchitis. Since yesterday I have a mild sore throat, which I generally get twice or thrice in winters, without any other associated flu symptoms and wanted to know if I can take fluvir? Does my daughter need to take fluvir for more than 5 days as she is also having bronchitis?

A:If your daughter is on treatment for H1N1 and suffering from bronchitis, she may continue fluvir for 7 days instead of 5 days. She may also need an antibiotic to cover for any secondary bacterial infection. Since you would have been in close contact with your daughter and are also a bronchitis patient yourself, you can be presumptively given fluvir (oseltamivir) for your present symptoms. Both need to see a physician to assess the severity of the disease.