How did influenza get its name?

Answer 1

It is not clear how the name of the common cold came to be. We know it is called common because it is, but why "cold"? Several explanations have been given. Anthropologists have studied transcultural medicine (Ethnomedicine) and noted that certain disease typological categories (as well as foods categories) are classified as hot and cold diseases (and hot and cold foods for helping the diseases in various cultures). Cold and Hot foods are not deemed as such due to their thermal temperature or spiciness exclusively, but rather according to culturally constituted definitions.

Even though the common cold is caused by several hundred different viruses, such as the rhinoviruses, it is often during cold weather when most people get colds, and hence that might be one reason why it may have originally been called a "cold". Before viruses were known to exist, it was incorrectly thought by many that the cold weather of fall and winter is what caused a cold (see more below).

According to the humoral theory of disease, the various symptoms of the cold, such as phlegm and mucous production, were considered a "cold humor". The humoral theory posits the presence of four humors-Dam (blood), Balgham (phlegm), Safra(yellow bile) and Sauda (black bile)- in the body. Further, the temperaments of people were thought to be expressed by the following typological categories: sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric and melancholic according to the preponderance in them of the respective "humors", i.e., blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. The humors themselves are assigned temperaments: blood is hot and moist, phlegm cold and moist, yellow bile hot and dry, and black bile cold and dry. We have all heard certain folks being referred to as being "hot blooded".

In order to combat "cold humor diseases" the allopathic medicine prescribed was often of the opposite humor, e.g., hotchicken soup for a common Cold, or a cold pack or bath for high fevers. Admittedly, the explanation (or more appropriately "hypothesis") above is highly speculative, but at least a starting point for the discussion.

The related questions below may be of interest in regard to the notion that a cold was caused by the weather or by a person being cold and/or wet. This popular belief/myth has been proven incorrect by scientific study, although many people continue to believe that they will catch a cold if they get chilly even to this day. One question below is related to the myth and the other explains the reality of current information about why colds and flu occur more in the winter if it is not because of the cold weather (hint: it is the humidity--see more below.)
Because it was originally believed to be caused by cold weather.

Answer 2

Influenza is Italian for "influence", and comes from the medieval belief that colds, cough, and fever were caused by the influence of the stars. Prior to the modern era the disease was also known as influenza del freddo, roughly "influence of cold weather". After it was recognized as an infectious disease the name "influenza" came into English unchanged, although since then it's of course been shortened to "flu".

Answer 3

An incurable virus. Can last up to a week. If it continues longer it could be influenza, a more dangerous virus.