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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 is the rattle in your chest when you cough?
You should really go to the doctor it could be neumona I would go get that checked out
Can the flu shot help deter the croup?
Avoiding exposure to others with respiratory infections is the best way to avoid getting croup. Children should be taught to maintain good hygiene practices
Can you tell if you had been exposed to flu after it passes?
You will know if you have the flu by it's icky symptoms including cough and fever. If you are trying to find out if you had the seasonal flu or swine flu the only way to find out is thru lab tests. These need to be done while you are showing symptoms, but Im sure if you insisted and had the money to spend you could have lab tests run to see if you now have antibodies to the swine flu.
Is being outside in the sun bad for you when you have a cold?
The most important treatments for a cold (due to a virus) is plenty of rest, a lot of fluids, and a well balanced diet. As a mother and a doctor, stay home with your child, make a schedule you stick to that includes the following, 9-10 hours of sleep overnight, a breakfast with eggs, fruit, toast and a multivitamin, downtime several times a day where it's ok to lay snuggled up on the couch with a movie, or a nap if possible, as many sugar-free Popsicles as they want (it will feel like Disneyland for them), a lunch with veggies and protein (peanutbutter sandwich with peanut butter in celery or apples dipped in peanut butter and carrots and ranch, etc), a couple active play times of 30-45 minutes is fine, outside during active playtime is fine. It's important to not expose other children to the virus that is affecting your child, so teach your child to wash hands and cover mouth when coughing or sneezing. Only time, nutrition, lots of fluids, and lots of rest will help your body get rid of a virus.
Will bleach kill the H1N1 flu virus?
Yes. According to the CDC:
With household bleach, use a 1 part bleach:10 parts water for non-porous surfaces (tabletops, door knobs), 1 part bleach:100 parts water for porous surfaces.
Lysol or any other disinfectant will work so long as it says something like "Kills Influenza A virus"
How would travel restrictions slow down flu pandemic?
In a flu pandemic, an influenza virus is spreading rapidly and broadly. When termed a pandemic instead of epidemic, the flu has already spread across very large areas of countries and continents and will continue to do so as people cross from an area with infected people to an area not yet infected.
When traveling, you are usually in crowded places touching public facilities and carrying the virus to infect more people. The flu pandemic is spread through direct human to human contact or with coughs and sneezes or by touching things people who have the flu have touched relatively soon after they did.
The virus can be still "alive" on surfaces like chairs in public places or seats in the different modes of transportation for around two hours. If people are traveling with the flu, they are passing it to all the people they come in contact with and the public areas they utilize. They will spread the disease farther and farther.
You can be spreading the flu to people before you even know you have it, (one or two days before you have any symptoms). So sometimes restricting all travel would prevent someone with the flu from going to where the flu has not yet reached and taking it there perhaps even unknowingly.
An example:
If one person in 1000 in a particular country had swine flu and 66,000 people from that country traveled to other countries, then on average 66 of those travelers could be spreading swine flu to the other countries as they travel. If restrictions in non-essential travel meant that only 2000 people would travel, then, on average, only 2 of these people would be spreading the infection, so the rate of infection spread would obviously be significantly slower.
Can a person catch swine flu from dead person cause of the virus?
Swine flu being a virus, it requires living cells to infect and reproduce within. Unless the body is freshly deceased (in which case some cells can still be functioning, despite the body as a whole having ceased so), then it cannot infect the dead.
On the Lighter Side:
No. They can't run fast enough.
Why do some cancer medications sometimes weaken the immune system of cancer patients?
The radiation kills bone marrow, where both red and white blood cells are made. The white blood cells produce most of the immune system, with fewer white blood cells the immune system weakens.
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What statement best explains why a person shivers when he or she is cold?
Shivering is the first signs because your muscles are contracting and expanding to make heat, because the more your muscles move the warmer your body temperature will be.
Symptoms of H1N1/09 (Pandemic swine flu):
Having a single one of these symptoms does not mean you have pandemic swine flu, but, you don't need to have all of these symptoms to suspect infection, either. The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza. Watch for some combination of the following symptoms:
- Fever of 101°F (41°C) or higher
- Coughing
- Headache
- Sneezing
- Body Aches
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Chest pain
- Abdominal pain
- Shortness of breath
- Malaise
- Runny Nose
- Sore throat
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Rigors (chills or shivers)
Caution: If you suspect that you might have a flu infection, consult a physician as soon as possible. Don't wait!
It is important for people who have chronic health conditions, women who are pregnant, and people with other high risk factors to pay special attention to warning signs. Influenza can make the symptoms, of other chronic medical conditions, worse
For Children: who may need urgent medical attention, symptoms include:
- fast breathing or trouble breathing;
- blueish or gray skin color;
- not drinking enough fluids;
- severe, persistent vomiting;
- not waking up or not interacting;
- being so irritable that the child doesn't want to be held;
- flu-like symptoms, after improving, return later with greater intensity.
These are warning signs that physicians think about all the time with respiratory infections and are good things for parents to have in mind at all times but especially with the Novel H1N1 strain.
For Adults: who may need urgent medical attention, symptoms include:
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath;
- pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen;
- sudden dizziness, confusion;
- persistent or severe vomiting that doesn't go away;
- and flu-like symptoms that improve, but then come back again with a fever or worsening of cough.
Other underlying medical conditions* can create the potential for more severe illness, and it is for that reason that people who have these underlying conditions, or the family members who care for such people, need to remain vigilant about these warning signs emerging. For a list of the those at most risk of the swine flu and of complications due to it, see below.
It's often best to contact a health care provider for advice before going to an office or care center and waiting for an appointment. That's also a better strategy than going to an emergency room, but these warning signs can help people differentiate a cough or cold or respiratory symptoms without warning signs, from the type of signs that might lead you to want to get help from a medical provider urgently.
To prevent catching swine flu, colds or other strains of flu and viruses:
If you live with or care for someone known to have the swine flu virus, you should assume that you, too, can spread the disease. Wear a surgical face mask (model N95) while contacting and tending to someone with a virus, especially children, in case they cough or sneeze when you are close to them. Wash hands always before you touch your face, nose, eyes and mouth and before (as well as after) you touch other people's faces, mucous tissue. You should also wash your hands after you cough or sneeze and always use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose. Immediately throw the tissue away after one use. Wash your hands after touching used tissues. Cough into your elbow if you do not have a tissue. Don't use your bare hand unless you wash hands immediately after and before you touch anything or anyone.
To prevent spreading swine flu, colds or other strains of flu and viruses:
Even if you do not yet have symptoms, you can have the virus and spread it before you know you have it for one or two days after catching the flu. When you know you have been exposed, or when you know the risk is high for catching it, wash hands very frequently.
Stay home from work or errands when sick, and keep your kids home if they or others in your family have any symptoms. The schools will recommend if it is safe for your children to attend school if there are other children from the school infected. Be prepared with day care alternatives if the schools announce a closure. Flu virus can live for approximately two hours on hard surfaces, perhaps longer on moist or soft materials. Use disinfectants recommended for control of viruses on surfaces that are commonly touched, such as telephones, door knobs, light switches, TV remote controllers, chair arms, public pens and pencils (take your own), and grocery cart handles, as well as the lavatory knobs, handles, and surfaces.
Remember:
- Wash hands very frequently and be alert to what you touch with them.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing and or coughing.
- Stay away from large groups of people and around 6.
- Don't touch your eyes nose or mouth without washing hands first.
- Stay home when sick so other people don't get it.
For additional information on preventing exposure to and distribution of the flu viruses, see the related questions below.
*Underlying Medical Conditions or Other Factors That Create Higher Risk:
- 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 infections;
- pregnant women;
- adults and children who have pulmonary disorders (including asthma, for example) or who have cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (such as diabetes);
- adults and children who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications like steroids and post-transplant drugs, or caused by HIV/AIDS), and;
- residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities.
- people who are morbidly obese (see related question: Is obesity a risk factor for morbidity and mortality with Novel H1N1 - Swine Flu?)
Information for those in the UK, from NHS:
A doctor faced with a symptomatic patient cannot yet predict with certainty the course of their illness and whether or not they will be in the small proportion who may become more seriously ill. This is why antiviral medication is still being given to all those with swine flu in the UK, subject to their doctor's discretion. A doctor faced with a symptomatic patient cannot yet predict with certainty the course of their illness and whether or not they will be in the small proportion who may become more seriously ill. This is why antiviral medication is still being given to all those with swine flu in the UK, subject to their doctor's discretion.
More information taken from the NHS website:
It is important that as swine flu spreads, you know the symptoms of the disease so you can recognise it in yourself and others at an early stage.
Please read the information about the swine flu on the NHS website and consider your symptoms carefully before using the National Pandemic Flu Service mentioned below.
During the pandemic in 2009, most swine flu cases were mild, with symptoms similar to those of seasonal flu. Only a small number of people had more serious symptoms.
If you or members of your family end up with a fever (high temperature over 38°C/100.4°F) along with two or more of the following symptoms, you may have swine flu:
- unusual tiredness,
- headache,
- runny nose,
- sore throat,
- shortness of breath or cough,
- loss of appetite,
- aching muscles,
- diarrhoea or vomiting.
Checking For Symptoms:
It makes sense to always have a working thermometer at home, as fever is one of the main signs of this and many other infectious diseases.
The NHS website provides a National Pandemic Flu Service#. If you are concerned you may have swine flu, stay at home and check your symptoms using the online guides at the pandemic flu service.
Call your GP directly if:
- you have a serious existing illness that weakens your immune system, such as cancer,
- you are pregnant,
- you have a sick child under one year old,
- your condition suddenly gets much worse, or
- your condition is still getting worse after seven days (five days for a child).
# Note: the National Pandemic Flu Service is a new online service that will assess your symptoms and, if needed, provide an authorisation number that can be used to collect antiviral medication from a local collection point. For those who do not have internet access, the same service can be accessed by telephone on:
- Telephone: 0800 151 3100
- Minicom: 0800 151 3200
For more information available on the National Pandemic Flu Service site go to Flu Service: Q&A.
High-risk groups:
For most people, swine flu is a mild illness. Some people get better by staying in bed, drinking plenty of water and taking over-the-counter flu medication.
However, some groups of people are more at risk of serious illness if they catch swine flu, and will need to start taking antiviral medication as soon as it is confirmed that they have the flu.
It is already known that you are particularly at risk if you have:
- chronic (long-term) lung disease,
- chronic heart disease,
- chronic kidney disease,
- chronic liver disease,
- chronic neurological disease (neurological disorders include motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease),
- immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or treatment)and/or
- diabetes mellitus.
Also at risk are:
- patients who have had drug treatment for asthma within the past three years,
- pregnant women,
- people aged 65 and older, and
- young children under five years old.
It is vital that people in these higher-risk groups who catch swine flu get antivirals and start taking them as soon as possible, preferrably within 48 hrs of first signs.
When do you have to give a horse flu and tetanus jabs?
Once a year is fine. Horses that travel to large horse shows may need a booster just to be safe. Or if he is injured with an open wound an additional tetanus wouldn't hurt.
Is common cold a symptom of dengue?
No, the common cold is not a symptom of dengue. Typical symptoms of dengue include a fever, headache, muscle and joint pain and a pain behind the eyes.
How did the virus H1N1 mutate from Swine Flu?
H1N1 started in Mexcico after children have been around pigs or as it's called 'swine'. The "Swine Flu" might seem like a serious issue but if you get a vacination I'm sure you will be okay. Just visit the doctor and ask for the H1N1 shot and there you go; you got the shots.
What initially causes the flu?
Influenza is caused by a virus infecting the body. The family of RNA viruses that causes influenza in humans is named Orthomyxoviridae.
Flu most often spreads when someone with the flu touches items or people with their unwashed hands. It also is frequently spread through uncovered coughs or sneezes. This allows the respiratory droplets that are projected from the cough/sneeze to contaminate people, things, or surfaces in an approximate area of a 6 foot diameter surrounding the infected person. Always covering your coughs and sneezes helps to contain the spread of the droplets and disease.
Because people with the flu are contagious a day or two before even symptoms appear, they may not be aware of the infection while spreading it. Most healthy adults can fight off influenza in three to seven days, during which time they are capable of transmitting the virus to others. Children can be contagious for up to 10 days or even more. The rule of thumb from the CDC is that you are considered contagious until you go a full 24 hours without a fever (when not taking fever reducing medicines).
You can get the flu particles on your hands and introduced into your body when you touch an item or surface like a telephone, pen or pencil, keyboard, desktop, table or doorknob that has been contaminated. If you then touch your own face, nose, eyes, or mouth, or those of another person, you can move the virus to mucous tissue where it can enter the body to cause infection.
Breathing the air near a person sneezing or coughing may also transmit the virus to you in respiratory droplets you breathe in. The heavier than air droplets usually fall to the ground or surfaces within a six foot diameter, so maintaining that distance from anyone with known influenza or those whose health status you do not know is one way to help avoid catching the virus or their other "germs". Avoid direct physical contact with them like hugging and kissing as well and don't share drinking or eating utensils. See also the related questions below for more information.
What epidemic occurred in 1919?
In 1914, the influenza epidemic that ended with the Pandemic of 1918 first started in Europe with episodes of purulent bronchitis. By the end of the Pandemic in 1919, approximately 50 million people died from either the purulent bronchitis or the actual influenza.
What is a normal length of time to have the Flu?
10-14 days depending on the virus itself, in some cases 2-3 weeks are required for the bug to go away.
How does the flu effect homeostasis in the human body?
The flu creates a negative feedback within the human body. When you have the flu, your body temperature will rise in an attempt to kill the virus. However, while your body continues to heat up, you will sweat to ensure your body doesn't overheat. Once the virus is gone, your body will resume taking care of itself.
How long will the mercury from a flu shot stay in your body?
The minuscule amount of mercury from the thimerosal preservative used in some doses of influenza vaccine (single dose vials of the vaccines for the 2009 A-H1N1/09 have no thimerosal in them), may leave traces present in your body for a week or two.
However, to put this in perspective, the amount of mercury from that compound in the flu vaccine when used, is approximately 24.5 mcg of mercury per dose of vaccine. This is well below what a single serving of fish in the diet might contain.
Fish that contain lower amounts of mercury include catfish. It has been determined that for the amount of mercury in catfish to pose any potential danger, these hypothetical health risks from the mercury in catfish would only begin at a weekly intake of 342.8 ounces (21.4 pounds) of the fish. This should put into perspective the insignificance of the mercury from a flu shot. Scientific studies have proven no connection between thimerosal and untoward health consequences from vaccine use.
What is the best thing for sinus congestion?
A humidifier would easily clear up the sinus infection. I also recommend Vicks Vapo Rub (which i own no copyright to). I use that whenever i have a sinus infection. It clears me up very quickly. Drink lots of fluids, and a little unorthodox, but putting icy-hot under your nose and on your chest will also help.
Will the N95 masks protect from swine flu?
Surgical masks help stop droplets from spreading, but "respirators", like those rated N95, are designed to filter sub-microscopic particles like flu viruses. If used correctly, respirators can reduce flu risk, the CDC says, however the N95 masks must be medically fitted to the face of the wearer to assure proper filtering of the particles. See the related questions below for more information.
Can you get sick from falling into freezing water?
You can get sick from exposure to the cold, including cold water, that causes hypothermia or frostbite, etc. but this would take extremely cold water and a long exposure. Just being cold does not cause a cold.
