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Cold and Flu
Questions and answers about the "Common Cold"; symptoms in the upper respiratory tract like sneezing, scratchy throat, and runny nose, but adults don't typically have fevers. Colds are usually caused by the rhinovirus (up to 40% of colds), or Coronaviruses (about 20%), but there are more than 200 viruses that can cause the common cold. Also questions about the seasonal flu, also called "regular flu", caused mostly by Type A and Type B Influenza viruses. Flu starts with similar symptoms as a cold only it hits faster and harder and usually includes fever in adults. Although the "stomach flu" is a common term, it is not a real diagnosis. The proper medical term for stomach flu is gastroenteritis (an intestinal disease, sometimes viral but also bacterial), it is often mistaken for influenza because the flu can sometimes include vomiting and diarrhea.
4,331 Questions
What can cause bright yellow pee with a smell and excessive discharge?
No but I have been having dark yellow pee, and today I've noticed a bright yellow or light green discharge from there as well. For the past few days I have also have had a fever along with chills that were so bad one night that it felt like I was having full body spasms. Accompanying the cold sweats are feelings of dizziness, fatigue, nausea and headaches. It has yet to turn into any type of sinus or stomach flu and am wondering what type of infection it could be. to note, the discharge has no smell to it and there is no itching, burning or tenderness down in that area.
Please help
Why has vaccination been successful against some diseases and not others?
Vaccines work by making your body create antibodies that fight off a specific pathogen (e.g., virus or bacteria). There are more vaccines for viruses today, but there are some for bacterial infections, too. The "Pneumonia Vaccine" is a vaccine against the bacteria Pneumococcus that is the one that most often causes pneumonia in the US.
Each viral vaccine is made to work for a specific virus or viruses, so viral strains that change form (mutate) frequently (like the common cold!) don't yet have a vaccine - or not one that lasts. Influenza viruses change, but more slowly than cold viruses, so we have a new flu vaccine every year. Typically the immunologists who study the flu look at what flu viruses are active in the Eastern parts of the world, like China where many types of flu originate and also look at the Southern Hemisphere during our summer and determine which strains are most likely to be here in the Northern Hemisphere by the time the flu season starts with colder weather in October. They pick the three most likely strains and usually one strain from each type of flu (A, B, and C) and begin production of that mix of virus antigens so they will be ready with the vaccine by fall. Some years they are better than others at predicting which strains will be in our outbreaks, but a good percentage of people are saved from illness or death each year using the seasonal flu vaccinations.
How can you cure a cold store in 1 day?
Take vitamin C, maybe a Tylenol. ADD to this: do a sport you like which makes you sweat A LOT. Then, take a hot shower (avoid cold winds), and finally a good bed rest. Next day you will be awesome (but keep up the vitamin C!).
When should you receive the flu shot?
You sould have your immunity tested before you have the shot. You may be naturally immune as rubella is a very mild disease for children. If you are hoping to get pregnant you should have the shot and not get pregnant for a month afterwards. If you are pregnant, have the shot straight after the birth and don't get pregnant again for a month. Some women have been pregnant and had the shot (by mistake) and their babies have not been affected, but I wouldn't risk it.
What is the fastest way to get a cold or flu in the spring?
Find someone who has a cold and ask them to cough in your face.
If you have both flu and cold symptoms what do you have?
You could have either a cold or the flu or both. Or, you could have allergies. See the related questions for information about the symptoms of cold and flu.
What is the best thing to do if you have Swine Flu and you have children?
If you have swine flu, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have warned that you should not care for infants, you should find a second caregiver for them. Check with your health care provider to determine if anti-viral medications for you or for family members would be an option to prevent or lessen the symptoms. If there are others at high risk sharing the home (see below for high risk list), then avoid exposure to them, consider their staying some place else during the week or so you will be ill.
When others are in the home, including children, with someone with the swine flu, they advise that as much as possible the ill person should avoid contact with the others; stay in a separate room in the house away from the common areas; use a designated separate bathroom from the others; keep hands away from face, nose, mouth and eyes; and wear a face mask when anyone needs to be within 6 feet, especially children. Wash hands frequently, or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer (60% alcohol) especially after using tissues or touching face or eyes, nose, or mouth; and after handling laundry or doing cleaning in affected areas. Throw used tissues in the trash immediately after using, and do the same with used face masks. Teach the rest of the family the importance of the precautions.
If at all possible, get help in the home with the children and with chores. You should try to get as much rest as possible for the fastest recovery, stay hydrated, control fever and use cough medicines or other over-the-counter if needed. Consider yourself contagious for 7 days after the beginning of symptoms or until 24 hours after symptoms are gone, whichever is longest. List of those at high risk according to the CDC: "Groups of people at higher risk for severe illness from novel influenza A (H1N1) infection are thought to be the same as those people at higher risk for severe illness from seasonal influenza. These groups include: * Children younger than 5 years old * Persons aged 65 years or older * Children and adolescents (younger than 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection * Pregnant women * Adults and children who have asthma, chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders such as diabetes; * Adults and children who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV) * Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities."
Is it normal to have coffee ground like stools when you have the stomach flu?
No, this can be a serious problem with your GI tract and must be taken care of immediatly. Call your doctor today!
What would cause pain in the armpit after H1N1 shot?
It may be unrelated to the vaccination, but may also represent your body's normal immune response since the lymph glands can be swollen and sore from infections and the body's response to infections or to vaccines simulating infections to induce an immune response. If this lasts more than a few days, contact your health care professional to determine if this is something else or if there is anything to be done about it.
Can anti sickness medicines kill flu viruses and cold?
Yes. They kill flu viruses, sickness and cold so they can protecting you from getting sick.
What do you get if you mix rabies with the flu virus?
Most likely crack spackle of the oj da wonka juice
Can having the flu turn your stools black?
ive had flu for a week and my stools were black for 3 days now so Im saying yes
When does flu season end in Virginia?
Like most of the Northern Hemisphere, flu season in Virginia starts in late October or early November and continues until May, with peaks in January thru March.
How many pregnant women have died from swine flu in the usa?
As of October 1, 2009, 28 have died. There have been a reported approximately 100 who have shown up at intensive care units for care.
"Doctors around the country have never seen this kind of thing before," CDC respiratory disease chief Anne Schuchat, MD, said today at a news conference. "What we are seeing is quite striking."
Source: CDC.
In the UK, only 2 have died. This is out of the 20,000 or so who are diagnosed every week in that country.
Can you inhale Lysol to get rid of a cold?
No you will die and then the cold will die with you. Don't do it!
Is the Mexican myth about getting sick from sweating in cold weather true?
yes, the Mexican myth about getting sick by sweating in cold weather is true!
What kinds of eggs are flu vaccines made from?
The viruses that are put into flu vaccines must first be grown in a lab to produce enough to make a vaccine. The virus is grown in eggs during that culturing process. Most commonly they are grown in chicken eggs. The vaccines are not made from the eggs, but rather from the virus particles that are grown in the eggs along with the medium for administration, etc. See related questions below for more information.
What is the name of the mosquito that spreads Swine Flu?
Swine flu is not spread by mosquitoes. See the related questions below for more information about how swine flu is spread.
How do you get rid of dizziness from the flu?
First drink plenty of water. The symptoms of influenza (including running noses) can deplete your body of some of the water it needs.
Second, stay in bed resting . . . rest is one of the great healers of many diseases, including the flu. When you feel better, get up and move around.
Consider taking a nasal decongestant to ensure that your ears don't have excessive pressure on them.
What are the symptoms of the ILOVEYOU virus?
The ILOVEYOU virus is a computer worm that once clicked on in an email, will send a copy to other recipients that are connected in the email system. This virus infected millions of computers in 2000.
