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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
How do kids get rid of coughs?
Based on the additional information you provided (see discussion), here are some suggestions:
- First, immediately contact the prescribing physician of the antibiotics and ask why your child has a repeated chronic cough, congestion, etc. that recurs so frequently despite the current treatment plans. There are some things the doctor can ask or find on further exam and labs and then reconsider, for example: Are antiviral medicines needed or different antibiotics needed? Should a culture be done to find out the organism to target, and if bacteria, to treat with a longer course of the best antibiotic for that bug? Are you properly giving the entire prescription of medicines each time or could you be discontinuing it when symptoms improve but before all doses are given in each course of treatment? Does the child have severe allergies or asthma or another complication that could be a contributing factor that also needs treatment? And etc.
- If the dark color and appetite changes continue or worsen, go to the emergency room or an urgent care center, those can be signs, especially in children, that immediate care is needed.
- Be sure that dehydration is not a factor and encourage fluids even if foods are rejected. Check the temp for fever and report if over 102F or if it lasts for more than a few days or does not go away after a few days of the antibiotic treatment. If rash and fever are both present, seek urgent care.
- If that does not help, then consider seeking a second opinion from a different doctor. If you are seeing a family practice physician, you may need to see a pediatrician. You may also consider exam by a specialist [ask your doctor or find one yourself by asking friends, finding a pediatric pulmonologist, allergist, infectious disease specialist, or an ENT (ear, nose and throat doctor) through physician-finding or referral services at a hospital or pediatric hospital or clinic, or even in the phone book.]
- Contact your insurance company customer service department (the phone number should be on your insurance card) and ask about referral services through them and/or ask if they have case managers (usually nurses), best would be pediatric case managers on staff who could help advise you on what else could be done to avoid the chronic problems. They may be able to connect you to directly to other RN's who give advice in these situations on a call line. Some insurance companies even have physicians available who can give suggestions for a next step to a solution (it is also in the insurance company's best interest to help find the best treatment to avoid future health care service needs and to avoid expensive emergency room visits or hospitalization.) They can often be one of your best advocates in this type of situation.
Did Swine Flu come to Florida?
The swine flu IS in Miami just as it is in probably almost every state. The swine flu was transmitted from Mexico and has brought into the states most likely because some of the people came here hoping they would be safe. The people who were infected most likely didn't know because the symptons probably didn't kick in.
So the swine flu is in Miami and can get more serious soon.
How Swine Flu attack human beings?
The so-called "swine flu", more correctly called an H1N1 Flu, causes influenza in humans.
The H1N1 flu seems to severely affect more people between the ages of 4 and 30, and fewer of the over-60 group, than does the seasonal flu. It also seems to come less often with a fever, and perhaps to last a bit longer.
But basically it is influenza.
Can a 13-year-old child take the swine flu vaccine?
yes but kids under 8years of age are not allowed to get it
Why does the Swine Flu spread so fast around the world?
It is believed to be because this is an entirely new virus that people have never been exposed to before at any time in history. It is unusual in that it has the genetic components from swine, birds, and humans. Most viruses have been around since before recorded history in forms that were similar enough to each other, even though there have been many mutations, that our bodies, either through our inherited immunizations, or from everyday exposure to less virulent versions of the viruses, were able to prevent them from causing much disease except in immunocompromised individuals or the weak and infirm. We are more vulnerable to having the virus get a foothold and infect us when our immune systems have not been primed to recognize the virus in time to stop it before incubation allows it to shed and infect others.
Because it could infect so many people so quickly, it had lots of hosts to create more and more of it and carry it from place to place and to person to person and that allowed it to spread very quickly. Luckily, so far, it is mild in the symptoms it causes.
What is the name of Hong Kong flu?
It was a strain of H3N2 influenza that caused an epidemic in 1968-1969 and began in Hong Kong (hence the name). It is commonly confused with Bird Flu (aka Avian Influenza-H5N1) because of similar symptoms of conjunctivitis and the ability to spread via birds.
Although the strain called Hong Kong flu has not been seen recently, there are other strains of H3N2 that do still circulate today. One is known as Fujian Flu and others are called "Perth-like" influenza. The 2011-2012 seasonal flu vaccine for the US and Northern Hemisphere contains one of the H3N2 Perth-like strains.
How many Americans died due to Spanish Flu in 1918-1919?
The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 is the most devastating epidemic in recorded world history, as it killed more people than World War II as well as all four years of the Black Plague, killing somewhere between 20 and 40 million people. Of these people, an estimated 28% were Americans.
What is the correct temperature to store seasonal flu vaccine?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have published the following guidelines (a link to the CDC website with this information is provided in the related links section):
TIV [Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine] should be stored at 35°F--46°F (2°C--8°C) and should not be frozen. TIV that has been frozen should be discarded.
LAIV [Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine] should be stored at 35°F--46°F (2°C--8°C) on receipt and can remain at that temperature until the expiration date is reached.
Vaccines prepared for a previous influenza season should not be administered to provide protection for any subsequent season.
How many times should you take H1N1 flu shot?
There are different kinds of H1N1 viruses, you can catch the exact same kind only once in your lifetime. The Type A, H1N1/09 influenza virus that caused the pandemic is different than other H1N1 viruses. So you could get infected by more than one type of H1N1 in your lifetime, but not the exact same Type A, H1N1/09.
Usually your body recognizes a very similar type of flu as the same and can prepare defenses for it quickly because of the prior immune response to the other one, but if different enough you will have to start over with a new immune response that allows time for the virus to make you feel ill before you can begin to "kill" the new type.
The answer is that you can catch the same one only once, but you can still catch all the other H1N1 viruses (one time each) after that.
What not to eat if having gastric flu?
Simple. Just AVOID food containing dairy products, i.e. milk, yoghurt, eggs etc. Dairy products feed the flu bug residing in your stomach.
You would do well taking something simple like porridge and oats.
TAKE warm fluids as well as 100 plus. 100 plus is good to replenish fluids (lost through vomiting or diarrhea) and electrolytes.
Tip: You could leave the cap of the 100 plus unscrewed so that it would not be so gassy, since you are probably feeling bloated which would make you queasy and unable to hold your food down.
Can the flu cause neck pain and dizziness?
From personal experience, when sick with a cold or flu, I'm most of the time laying down. When I first stand up I mayexperience dizziness. And then it calms down, but other times it doesn't- generally I would not want to stand up for too long when sick.
I would say dizziness lasts as long as you are in the build up or peak of your flu, once you start feeling better it should go away.
How do memory cells keep a person from getting sick?
THE CELLS OF THE BRAIN ie ' NEURONS ' release chemicals (called endorphins) when positively stimulated by a memory that is good which boost the bodies immune system ie the t cells in the lymphatic system - thus insuring greater protection from contagions ie bacterial/ viral infections and diseases.
Can you get a flu shot if you have bronchitis?
Usually, unless you have a fever, you can get a flu vaccination. If the bronchitis is not causing fever, then it is probably okay for you to get the vaccination, just discuss it with the clinician prior to getting the vaccination.
If the bronchitis has been severe or long term and you are still taking antibiotics for it, check with the doctor who prescribed the antibiotics to be sure you do not need to wait until after you have finished your antibiotics.
How do you get rid of a bad cough and mucus?
Coughs can be very persistent. Coughs can happen to anyone for multiple reasons. It may be a symptom of a throat infection caused by a bacterial infection or it may be an allergic reaction to the environment or some specific food Honey is well accepted way of providing cough relief. One way to us it effectively is to combine it with the curative properties of the onion. To get rid of an irritating cough, pour 2 teaspoons of honey on a freshly cut slice of onion. Cover it and let is lie for four to five hours. Then take one teaspoon of this honey after removing the onion piece. You will find immediate relief. Repeat the second teaspoon after three to four hours. A persistent allergic cough is very irritating. It dies not seem to go away easily and keeps the patient irritated all day long. If you can't find a cause, try this cure. Take a guava (fruit) and bake it in an oven. Eat this baked guava once a day for three to four days and you will find substantial relief. I hope you found this information useful! to learn more, go to: http://www.janicehealth.com/cough.htm Coughs can be very persistent. Coughs can happen to anyone for multiple reasons. It may be a symptom of a throat infection caused by a bacterial infection or it may be an allergic reaction to the environment or some specific food Honey is well accepted way of providing cough relief. One way to us it effectively is to combine it with the curative properties of the onion. To get rid of an irritating cough, pour 2 teaspoons of honey on a freshly cut slice of onion. Cover it and let is lie for four to five hours. Then take one teaspoon of this honey after removing the onion piece. You will find immediate relief. Repeat the second teaspoon after three to four hours. A persistent allergic cough is very irritating. It dies not seem to go away easily and keeps the patient irritated all day long. If you can't find a cause, try this cure. Take a guava (fruit) and bake it in an oven. Eat this baked guava once a day for three to four days and you will find substantial relief. I hope you found this information useful! to learn more, go to: http://www.janicehealth.com/cough.htm
H1N1 cases total how many in the world?
25126,this is the latest!!!!!! of h1n1 cases . there are 88086in the world according to Weekly Reader issue1 volume88
A Type A influenza virus causes Avian "bird" Flu. The specific virus strains of bird flu that infect humans are called Avian influenza, A-H5N1 virus and Avian influenza, A-H7N9 (newly identified in humans near Easter Sunday 2013 in China). Viruses can change or mutate over time. The strain of avian bird flu that caused the scare in Europe was H5N1. There are many different types (subtypes) of this virus, but the one that has been in the news the most is H5N1 because it infects not only birds but can also infect humans, killing them in 50 to 60% of the cases. It is not easily transmitted from person to person, so it has not spread in humans like other types of influenza have so far.
Additional information:
Although they can be considered organisms, they are not living organisms, for that reason not all scientists classify a virus as a "microbe". Most of them do for lack of a better way to talk about them instead of "germ" or other less specific nomenclature. As stated above, unlike the other organisms called microbes, they are not living organisms. They are specialized groups of "cells" that perform functions working in an organized way, but they latch on to and break into a living host's cells and use the life, energy, and nutrients from the host in an almost parasitic way. The genetic material that they have stored inside themselves combines with that of the host's cells to cause the host cells to stop reproducing more cells like itself for the host. Instead, the virus instructs them to start making duplicate viruses like the one that invaded the host.
H5N1 is an extremely virulent influenza virus that can infect birds, occasionally pigs, rarely infections in other animals, and very rarely humans. Fortunately, it does not spread very easily, and only extremely rare human to human transmissions have been known to occur. No instance of the virus spreading beyond a first generation of close human contacts has been reported. It does, however, have a very high mortality rate in animals and in humans (60% death rate in humans).
What should you do if your two year old has been exposed to Swine Flu?
Contact your Pediatrician to find out if taking Tamiflu (antiviral medicine) as a preventive measure would be appropriate. Tell them when and how she was exposed to the virus. Tamiflu can be given to children over one year old.
Contact your doctor to ask if you and other members of the household should also take precautionary antiviral medicine, especially if you have any family at high risk of complications from A-H1N1/09 "Swine Flu" [see related questions below]. Or if you should wait until/if she develops symptoms.
Monitor her closely for symptoms [see related question below], checking temperature regularly. Give plenty of fluids. Do not give aspirin as a fever reducer, use Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or other non-aspirin fever reducer.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "in children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
* Fast breathing or trouble breathing
* Bluish skin color
* Not drinking enough fluids
* Not waking up or not interacting
* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
* Fever with a rash "
Take all precautions and inform all family members how to avoid catching the flu [see related question]. When you must be in close contact, especially if she is coughing and sneezing frequently, consider wearing an approved face mask (N95).
If she develops symptoms, high risk family members may need to go somewhere else while she is ill to avoid exposure. They should not provide her care and should try to stay in areas where she is not frequenting.
Use a disinfectant that includes influenza viruses on its label of pathogens on which it is effective. Follow label directions and use this disinfectant regularly around the house on things she touches and things the rest of the family frequently touch, such as table tops, door knobs, chairs, toys, etc. Teach them proper hand washing, and monitor that everyone is abiding by the guidelines with proper hygiene.
Protect yourself and other members of the family, if you must be in close contact such as during bathing, snuggling, or feeding, where she may cough or sneeze on you, you might want to wear a surgical mask (N95). Wash her hands often as well as yours and other members of the family.
Be familiar with all the potential symptoms, if she does develop symptoms, watch for signs of conditions that require immediate or emergency attention [see related questions below]. Monitor her temperature regularly. Do not give aspirin for fever, use another fever reducer, such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol). Provide plenty of liquids.
If you have a tight chest and cough is likely that you have H1N1 or is it a just a common cold?
well it can be like any other cough when u have a fever you may cough but you can tell your Doctor to run some test they will swab your mouth and run test it happen to me to but they told me i didn't had h1n1(thank goodness)
How many confirmed cases of Swine Flu have there been in McHenry County Illinois?
There are no statistics from either the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) or from the McHenry County health statistics web page about the number of cases specific to that county. The IDPH site does have a map that shows McHenry County among the counties that have had have cases of swine flu confirmed, and it is shown among the counties that did not have associated deaths.
The total cumulative count of confirmed cases in Illinois is 405 as of August 28, 2009 with 17 deaths state wide.
Can you get a chill on the kidneys through being cold?
Type your answer here... pain in the lower back, weak legs (can be shaky) feeling nauseous, joint pain feeling like you are harboring a cold, general fatigue, best thing for it is ginseng tea or for a more biomedical pharmacological approach-antibiotics
Best recommended cough drop for children?
Common cold followed by dry cough in children are usually the mild and random cases, caused by bacterial or viral infection. If your child is under 4 years donot give OTC medicines before consulting your paediatrician. In most cases nurofen pain relievers are good for them. You will also find many other cough suppressants like dextromethorphan, decongestants like pseudoephedrine.
What age should not get a flu vaccine?
Flu vaccination with a "dead"/inactivated vaccine is contraindicated in children younger than six months old due to their immature immune systems. People caring for these infants should receive an injection with the "dead" virus to vaccinate them and prevent their exposing the baby to the virus if they are infected.
The nasal mist vaccines that contain attenuated (weakened) live viruses are contraindicated in children under 2 years old.
See the related question below about others who should not receive a flu vaccination.
There is no cure for the common cold, so people are left to suffer with a cold until it goes away. Even though there may not be a cure for the cause of the common cold, there are still measures you can take to make your cold go away faster. A cold can drain your energy and make doing anything difficult. If you invest some time into getting rid of a cold, then you can reduce your symptoms and get on with your day
How do you get the flu when you already got a flu shot?
There are many different types of flu and the seasonal flu shot only prevents three of the most likely to be circulating flu viruses. So if you happened to get exposed to a type of flu that wasn't in the vaccination, then you could get sick from it.
Another reason might be that you caught the flu before you got the flu shot and so there was not time for the shot to work before you got sick.
Another reason might be that you got the shot and then were exposed to the flu before your immune system could give you immunity from the vaccination. It takes around two weeks after getting the vaccination for an adult to have full immunity from it. For children under 10, a series of two vaccinations are needed given approximately a month apart, then it takes another few weeks before the body has developed the full immunity, so exposure during any of those time frames before full immunity can cause illness in those children.
