0
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
Calm down, its just a flu i highly recommend to put hot sauce in his soup. Its not a joke. Put cloths that have been dipped in alcohol and put it on his forehead and stomach. (cloth should not be damp). Drink a lot of cranberry juice. Have him take some medicine. If this doesnt work wait a few hours and take get him medical help.
How does your body eventually get rid of the viruses that cause a cold or flu?
With an immune response.
When particles of a virus enter our body and are identified by the immune system as foreign "invaders", our bodies use the invaders, which are also called antigens/antibody generators, as a template to create matching antibodies. Antibodies (also called immunoglobulins) are sort of like a lock and key system that, when matched perfectly with the antigens, can "lock" or neutralize the antigens so they can no longer enter or damage our cells. To neutralize each different strain of organism, the antibodies must have the right pattern to match the characteristics of each antigen. A match will allow the antibodies and immune response to make a "lock" to fit those viruses. Our body remembers each new virus pattern that has caused an immune response in the past (either from getting an infection or from vaccinations), so that it can make those matching cells to protect us from that same specific flu strain (or strains that are very similar) in case it ever enters the body again in the future.
Our body has the ability to determine when a virus has invaded and, if it has a match to that strain of virus stored from a prior invasion, the immune response is generated and the immune system quickly makes up a lot of those attack cells (antibodies), that the body made and that worked in the past to destroy/neutralize the invading virus particles. If it is a new invading virus, usually our body can make cells that can match just right in a week to ten days. (It can sometimes do this even more quickly for bacteria and other microbes.)
It is during this time period, when our body is matching and making the attack cells to "kill" the invader, that we feel sick until our body finds the key pattern of cells that will match and lock that specific virus. Our immune system wastes no time in locking up the invading organism, because it knows already what antibodies will work. That is why, once we have had a flu virus like Swine Flu before, we won't get sick from it again. Our body will already know what cells to make and will send them out to destroy the invader even before it can make us feel sick.
Does taking antibiotics 2 days after getting flu shot cancel the vaccination?
No, it would not interfere in the development of immunity from the vaccination. Flu vaccinations are used to protect you from the flu which is caused by a virus. Antibiotics are used to kill bacteria that are already infecting you. Antibiotics do not do anything to viruses and a viral vaccination won't work for bacterial infections either. The germs are different and so the medications are too.
Can babies catch colds and is it dangerous?
Influenza, more commonly known as the flu is lethal to babies unless protected from contact. The reason is that under 1 year of age they will have little or no immune system with which to fight off the attack.
What are some advantages of preventing rather than treating infectious diseases?
SO YOU DONT GET SICK!!!! If "Lucky" enough you can get a terrible disease and it could kill you, like cancer!
What does it mean if you get a flu shot?
It's sharp angled tip enters your body through the skin and subcutaneous tissue so the vaccine can be delivered into your muscle tissue and begin its work. That type of vaccine needs to be in the muscle. Unlike a sewing needle, the needle is a hollow "tube" with a sharp tip, the vaccine is pushed, using the plunger in the syringe, by the person giving you the shot through the needle and out the tip leaving the small amount of vaccine there so you can get an immune response.
Can you take multivitamins when sick with flu or cold?
Yes, they're not only Ok, they're recommended. Your immune system is utilizing every resource it can to fight an infection, so supplying it and the rest of your body with the proper vitamins is an important thing to do.
Can a cold last longer than maximum two weeks?
Colds have no fixed expiry date. People do not always mount a successful immune response, and some types of rhino-viruses are more virulent than others. So yes, colds can last longer than two weeks.
How many people died from influenza during World War 1?
An estimated 43,000 servicemen mobilized for WWI died of influenza (Crosby).
Does eating dairy cause phlegm?
sweets and softdrinks so be careful of eating them, eat them 3 times a week so that you will not have phlegm
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, foods and drinks with a cold, sweet nature contribute to phlegm and mucous-- they do this by weakening the spleen and digestive process, which in turn allows an accumulation of fluids which congest in the form of phlegm.
When did the last strain of bird flu break out?
There was a lot of worry about swine flu in 1976. In fact, the government made a vaccine and had people get vaccinated. However, there were a lot of bad side effects from the vaccine. And fortunately the swine flu never reached epidemic proportions.
Can cold viruses survive in freezing temperatures?
Yes.
A virus must have a host cell (bacteria, plant or animal cell) in which to live and make more viruses. Outside of a host cell, viruses cannot function.
So if you sneeze on a park bench, the virus will most probably die in a few minutes (depending on environmental conditions- some viruses have been known to stay alive on a park bench for up to 2 hrs), but if you sneeze on a persons face and the moist air is inhaled through your nose or mouth, or even a break in the skin, the virus has a direct pathway- from substance to substance- to pass on and thrive.
What types of cells are affected by Swine Flu?
The major cells affected by influenza viruses, including swine flu H1N1/09, are those in the respiratory system mucous tissues.
Can you catch cold from someone on antibotics?
No, if you catch a cold it is because you have been exposed to a common cold virus...being wet and cold is not a factor of catching a cold. You may become ill from exposure to the elements (hypothermia, frostbite, etc.) but you can not catch a cold without being infected by a cold virus.
Being on an antibiotic would make no difference since it would be for treating a bacterial infection. The common cold is caused by viruses and are not affected by antibiotics. Antibiotics do not prevent viral infections, but are sometimes used that way in a prophylactic measure against bacteria. However, going in public (wet or dry and cold or hot) with with a fever (indicating you are still fighting an active bacterial infection) is not a good idea for infection control.
You often hear it said that being cold can "weaken" your immune system, but that is not correct unless you are talking about the medical condition of hypothermia. Hypothermia is believed to weaken the immune systems of some people. However, feeling cold from being outside with short exposures to the cold weather with or without being wet or with or without a jacket does not produce hypothermia. Hypothermia is a medical diagnosis made by measuring the core body temperature which doesn't change in the cold without long term continued unprotected exposure to extremely low temperatures or without being fully immersed in very cold water.
When received the flu shot a nerve was hit how do you alleviate the pain?
Our arms always become sore after receiving a flu shot. This will take three or four days to subside, if not call your doctor.
Can Swine Flu mix with another virus?
Yes. In fact the way the H1N1 pandemic swine flu was formed by the mixing of a human flu virus, a bird flu virus and a swine flu virus in a pig. When two similar viruses that are infecting the same cell exchange genetic material this is known as reassortment. They go on to form a new virus.
Do you get a fever when you get dehydrated?
you do because it makes you hot so sweat is the body's way of cooling you down
It's the same germs but some survive because of 2 reasons: One, your hand is very good at retaining the bacteria that you eliminate. So if you touch the lid or part of the Hand sanitizer it'll give you bacteria. Another reason is that your hand will always have some bacteria on it, no matter how many times you try and clean your hand.
Can you have a flu shot if you are allergic to erythromycin?
In most cases, yes. However there is a small amount of residual Gentamycin in one of the nasal spray vaccines. The contents vary by manufacturer and product. The one approved for use in the US that contains Gentamycin has these ingredients:
MedImmuneThe ingredients in the Nasal Spray vaccine according to the manufacturer, MedImmune, LLC, the Maryland US based Subsidiary of London's AstraZeneca:Each 0.2 mL dose contains 106.5-7.5 FFU of the live attenuated influenza virus reassortant of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus:
["attenuated" means weakened to be non-infective]
A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)v. Each 0.2 mL dose also contains 0.188 mg/dose monosodium glutamate, 2.00 mg/dose hydrolyzed porcine gelatin, 2.42 mg/dose arginine, 13.68 mg/dose sucrose, 2.26 mg/dose dibasic potassium phosphate, 0.96 mg/dose monobasic potassium phosphate, and <0.015 mcg/mL gentamicin sulfate. The vaccine contains no preservatives.
You may need to consult your physician before you get this type of vaccine to determine if the amount of Gentamycin could cause an allergic reaction in your case.
See the related question below about ingredients in the flu vaccines (the seasonal flu vaccines are made the same way as the H1N1/09 vaccines were made, so the ingredients are the same except for the specific virus particles that vary from vaccine to vaccine.)
Why is it harder to produce a vaccine for viruses that mutate?
We create a drug which specifies to kill a certain part of the virus, however the virus changes its forms. So, the drug ends up killing the virus's competitors, which allows it to thrive more. This makes the drug useless.
Can you be exposed to H1N1 and not develop symptoms?
yes you can, H1N1 is just like the chicken pox, you can either get it really heavy or just a little cold or flu and most likely you wont get it again because you will be immune
Does hot tea help fight a cold?
There are no harmfiul; effects of ginger. Ginger is classified as a herb which have been widely used as traditional medicine or spice in many cultures throughout the world. Ginger is often referred to as a root, but it is actually an underground stem (called rhizome).
Ginger is known to have more than twelve types of anti-oxidants, making it useful for treatment of many disorders. Like other spices, it has aphrodisiac properties and is used widely for medicinal purposes. This herb contains essential oils, protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin C, choline, folic acid, inositol, manganese, panthotenic acid, silicon, and a small amount of vitamin B3.
The medicinal uses of ginger is almost endless. If you can stomach the spiciness, it does wonders in treating many disorders.
Cold
Cough
Digestive disorder
Fatigue
Impotency (yes really)
Inflammations
Menstruation disorders
Morning sickness
Pain killer
For a cold, Cut up a small piece of ginger and boil it with a small cup of pure drinking water. Add some green tea leaves if you wish. Strain and drink when hot. Effective if you also have fever resulting from the cold. You may also drink this concoction if you feel a cold coming.
For a strong chesty cough, drink ginger juice with raw honey three to four times a day for a bad throat. It is soothing and helps clear up phlegm.
Warning! Do not give ginger juice to young children, or honey to infants!
Fresh ginger juice is very potent as it contains high levels of active enzymes and substances. Only a teaspoonful is needed to feel its efficacy in treating disorders.
More does not mean better. Ginger does contain moderate amounts of oxalate. Individuals with a history of oxalate-containing kidney stones should avoid over-consuming ginger or its juice.
Why can't you get a flu shot when you have a cold?
For the best results, it is recommended that you not be ill when taking the flu shot. Take care of the cold, recover, and then get the shot. If you are noticeably ill, they may not give it to you.
There is a disease the symptoms are that your always cold it is called, hypothyroidism.
