Patients with shingles may be prescribed an antiviral medication and possibly steroids to help shorten the duration of the illness and lessen the severity of the symptoms.

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The reason on an absolute dollar basis that Medicare admin cost may be higher is because they use more services (medical services due to age and case mix severity of illness) and since a per cent of every dollar spend goes to admin service the absolute cost is higher.

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But he subsequently acknowledged that when factoring in their travel, the severity of the illness can intensify.

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Participants completed a daily diary for the duration of their illness and rated the the severity of their symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, and blocked or runny nose.

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Although high-volume units treated the sickest infants and had highest crude death rates, when the statistics were adjusted for factors such as the severity of the illness, patient volume and staffing provision, unit size did not influence death or brain damage rates.

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The antiviral medications Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) can reduce the severity of symptoms and the length of illness, but the drug has to be taken within 48 hours of the first appearance of symptoms -- you know, the "I will not get sick" phase -- to be most effective.

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