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
How long can a person be sick with stomach flu?
typically it is between 24-46 hours ( most often starts after 36 hours)
but can be aslong as 72 hours.
How long do body aches last with flu?
All symptoms of the flu are usually gone in 7 to 10 days, except a cough, which might last up to two weeks. If symptoms are extended beyond this time frame, check with your doctor to see if you need an examination.
What are some games to play while sick with the flu?
Watch TV and make up a new script for the episode
Answer questions on Yahoo Answers
Draw portraits of all your friends
Play online dressup games
Randomly play with dolls
Write a book
Write a song
Type in google: 'Fun websites for (your age)-year-olds
Make an account for wee world
Chat with friends on AIM
Complain about being sick (trust me, this CAN be fun)
Play wii
Chill on the couch with the AC on (it feels A LOT better when you are sick and the temp is cool, it clears up your sinuses so you can BREATH. Hot air makes your noes stuffier)
Pray to God about getting better soon
Think about how you are missing school and laugh about how EVERYONE HAS TO SUFFER!!! (ok kinda mean but it makes me feel a little bit better when I do that)
Think of cool fashions and draw them in a notebook
Watch a movie on Youtube
Go to Youtube and watch a singer you never thought you would listen to
Read a book
Look up random things on google
Sleep
Take a warm bath (this clears your sinuses, too!)
TRUST ME. I am sick right now, with a sore throat, stuffy nose, spinning head, and a little bit of puking. Yep, I am miserable. I did all these things, and it made me feel much better and these things took my mind off of everything. I will be better soon, so don't spend YOUR days crying about how sick you are. Enjoy those two to three days off from school, kick back, relax, and have FUN!
If you aren't throwing up can you still have the flu?
Yes. In fact, it is more unusual if you have the flu and you ARE throwing up. You may be thinking of what some people call the "stomach flu", however, this is misnamed since influenza is a respiratory infection and not gastrointestinal. What people call the stomach flu should be called viral gastroenteritis to be correct. Viral gastroenteritis is a common cause of vomiting and diarrhea.
Will people die in 2010 of the swine flu?
There is now a vaccine against the Pandemic Swine Flu that should be released to the US in mid October 2009, (as well as other nations) and will hopefully be in time for the 2009 - 2010 flu season in the Northern Hemisphere.
It is anticipated that the Novel H1N1 strain of flu will return in the fall along with the seasonal flu and since this flu season will continue into 2010, there is a potential to have deaths caused by Novel H1N1 in 2010. Not all people in the world will take the voluntary immunization, not all will have it available to them even if they do want to take it, and some may take it but not achieve full immunity in time to avoid contracting symptoms. So, people could die of it in 2010, and especially if it mutates into a more virulent strain than that which spread in the first wave of outbreak.
The immunization plans by most governments includes distribution on a priority basis to those at the highest risk of severe complications or death from the virus, which will hopefully supply the needed vaccine in time for most people who might have otherwise died of the disease.
How does Swine Flu affect family and community?
It is through direct contact right? so if at home you just sneeze of cough, then you can have the possibility of transferring the virus to your family members. And worse is if in the community... Also, if you do not wash your hands often or every after any contact, you can spread the virus easily. They can stay in doorknobs, railings of the stairs, tables in restaurant and anywhere an infected person go to.
What are the effects of common cold?
"Common cold" is a term used to describe upper respiratory viral infections that cause the symptoms of runny nose, sneezing, scratchy or sore throat, cough, general malaise, headaches, and sometimes fever (in children, but usually not in adults). A cold is typically diagnosed based upon the symptom complex, rather than by laboratory testing or radiology.
These symptoms themselves would be the short term effects of infection by one of the more than 200 viruses than cause the "common cold". Acute viral nasopharyngitis (common cold) is usually caused by the Coronaviruses (about 20%) or the Rhinoviruses (up to 40% of colds). Symptoms typically last for 7 - 10 days. (See more in the related questions section).
There are rarely any long term effects of one of these types of mild upper respiratory viral infections in otherwise healthy adults. There can be secondary viral pneumonia develop or secondary bacterial infections (usually in the airway), including pneumonia, especially in those with suppression of the immune system from other conditions or diseases or from using immuno-suppressant medication.
Children can get other secondary, and sometimes long term, infections related to the cold and are also prone to relapses of symptoms after initial improvement. A common secondary infection associated with colds is Otitis Media (ear infection) where the congestion and swelling of the tissues caused by the cold virus can block proper drainage of secretions that may contribute to the development of the bacterial ear infection.
Similarly, in some cases of other viral infections in infants and toddlers, it is thought that a simple cold virus may initiate or trigger a secondary viral infection of the bronchioles (the small air passages in the lungs). This condition can be very serious in the younger children who are susceptible (usually at 3 to 6 months of age, but can occur up to age 2 years) due to their immature immune systems. Bronchiolitis, is what this infection (usually viral) is called. This can cause serious respiratory distress and low blood oxygen levels which can damage vital organs if not closely monitored, controlled and maintained with supplemental oxygen. The organ damage would not be a directresult of the common cold, but is a potential long term effect in extreme conditions.
A global influenza pandemic that killed perhaps 25 million in 1918-20, mostly in India. The means of isolating and identifying sub-microscopic viruses were not available at the time, but it is believed to have been a strain of avian (bird) flu. It is sometomes called the Spanish Flu because King Alfonso XIII was an early high-profile sufferer, though he survived. The first known cases were among US troops in Kansas, but the illness may already have been present amid the insanitary conditions of Europe's front lines.
When will there be an H1N1 vaccine?
For H1N1/09, Novel Swine Flu: they began developing the vaccine in the US as soon as the virus was isolated and the epidemics were spreading in April and May 2009. The vaccines were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 15, 2009.
Other H1N1 vaccines: these have been developed in the past. One that is well known is the 1976 vaccine that was associated with an increase in Guillain-Barre Syndrome after the administration of the vaccine. It was made an entirely different way than these flu vaccines are made today.
There are also some H1N1 vaccines developed for use by pig farmers for the prevention of the type of H1N1 that is a disease of pigs that people only rarely get when they are in regular close contact with the pigs.
What you have to do when baby get high fever?
with a temperature that high you should probably seek medical attention.
It depends how old your baby is - make sure they are getting plenty of fluids (water as well as milk) and keep them cool. Give them an infant paracetamol but check they are old enough to have such medicine and don't be tempted to give them more than the recommended dose.
What is the difference between a cold and the flu?
They are caused by different viruses and have slightly different symptoms.
See related question below for the symptoms of the A-H1N1/09 "Swine Flu".
The symptoms of the cold and flu can be hard to differentiate, sometimes not even possible without a specific laboratory test to determine which virus is causing your symptoms. See the related link below for more information on this from US Flu website, Flu.gov.
The primary differences are:
- The flu usually causes a high fever and a cold doesn't cause a fever except in rare circumstance.
- General aches and pains with the flu are usually present and can be severe, with a cold they are mild.
- You may feel very fatigued from the flu and this is unusual with a cold.
- Headaches are much more common with the flu.
- The usual cold symptoms of stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, and sore throat are only sometimes seen with the flu.
- A severe cough comes with the flu but is not as severe with a cold.
Colds typically begin with a sore throat. Sometimes a mild fever, cough, and/or a stuffy nose are present. It is important to note the difference between a cold and an allergy because of the different treatments associated with each. Cold symptoms can usually be controlled through the use of a decongestant and anti-inflammatory medicine (e.g. Ibuprofen). Fever is not as common in colds as in the flu. Those with colds almost always have fevers under 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
There are a few basic kinds of flu viruses but hundreds of cold viruses. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations, whereas this is possible with an infection with a flu virus.
FLU
LIKELY (>50% chance of these symptoms)
- fever 102 deg. F (39 deg. C) or higher (can reach up to 107 deg. F (42 deg. C) in extreme cases)
- dry hacking cough
- severe runny nose
- stuffiness
- chills (happen during fevers when body adjusts thermostat to raise it's set point)
- headache
POSSIBLE (30-50% chance)
- sore throat
RARE (< 30% chance)
- diarrhea
- vomiting
COLD
LIKELY (>50% chance)
- runny nose
- stuffiness
- coughing frequently
POSSIBLE (30-50% chance)
- fever 99 deg. F to 101 deg. F (37.2 deg C to 38.3 deg C.)
- chills
- sore throat
RARE (<30% chance)
- gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting
The 'flu - an abbreviation for "influenza" - is a viral infection of the respiratory passages causing fever, severe aching, and catarrh, and often occurring in epidemics.
A cold, on the other hand, a common viral infection in which the mucous membrane of the nose and throat becomes inflamed.
Influenza (the flu) is usually a more severe illness than the common cold, which is caused by other respiratory viruses. The 'flu typically showcases symptoms including headaches, chills and cough followed rapidly by a fever, appetite loss, muscle aches and tiredness. Cold symptoms are limited to the upper respiratory tract with runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, and throat irritation.
What are reasons people should worry about bird flu?
People involved in epidemiology have continued to be concerned about the Avian Flu because it has such a high mortality rate. In humans, the mortality rate is as high as 50%. Luckily, it is not spread from human to human. It has also been a concern during the H1N1/09 Pandemic Swine Flu because of the potential for extremely high death rates if the Avian Flu would mutate with the Swine Flu to make it able to be passed easily from human to human like the pandemic flu does. This was of special concern since some of the genetic material in this novel swine flu is derived from Avian Flu viruses.
Which antibiotics can be taken with Tamiflu?
You shouldnt take antibiotics for a flu infection.
Antibiotics only work against infections caused by bacteria, fungi and some parasites. They don't work against any infections caused by viruses. Viruses cause colds, the flu and most coughs and sore throats.
Yes. It has spread quickly and widely to become the first pandemic covering the entire globe since the Spanish Flu in 1918. It is a milder disease in people so far, but it is very easily spread from human to human.
Can a human get Swine Flu from a pig?
Yes. There are guidelines released that give specifics on protecting farm workers, pig breeders, pig competitors at breed shows, etc. on preventing the spread from pigs to people and from people to pigs. See below.
both good and sevvice
Is a fever of 100.8 a high fever for an adult?
No, but it's only 0.2 F. degrees away from what would be considered a high fever. Oral temps between 99.5 F. and 100.0 F. are MILD fevers, and 100.1 F. to 100.9 F. are MODERATE fevers. 101.0 F.and over is a high fever, and 104.0 F. or more needs immediate medical attention. However, you can still have a fever at as low as 99.0 F. taken orally (this is called a "low grade fever").
What does it mean if you have a cough for three months?
As it is known that our bodies or shall i say our immune system has the ability to fight infections ,it fights them in a way we wouldn't understand but coughing is on of the ways our body gets rid of bacteria or viruses.So basically the main reason we cough is because our body is trying to get rid of the viruse which is capable of causing flu.
Can a heater cause flu or fever?
Very, very unlikely. Flu is caused by a virus, and it's quite hard to get viruses to grow outside something living.
A fever isn't a disease, it's your body reacting to an attack of some kind, usually an infection. May be viral, may be bacterial, may be fungal...
Bacterias and fungi can grow in an environment, and cause disease. But a heater is a long shot. There are plenty of more probable sources of infection around.
Does eating sweets make a cough worse?
When you find that sweets seem to make you cough - you're probably right. The sugars cause a constriction in the windpipe catching saliva along its regular path towards the stomach. When that moisture is near the bronchi, respiratory nerves react by coughing. A stiff shot of whisky without ice will relax and literally wash away the sweet. There are also many drugs that do the same - but intended for other applications. Anything that relaxes the windpipe will stop the coughing once the sweets are cleared.
For protection against catching and being sick with the flu. See the related question below about how vaccinations work.
Can you put onion in a dish to absorb the flu virus?
There is no evidence that onions can stop the flu.
Second answer:
The 'flu is caused by a virus, and it's just as happy to sit on an onion and wait for you as it is to sit on your kitchen counter.
Is the common cold an active or inactive virus?
Cold sores are caused by a virus HSV-type 1.
Yes oral herpes is a viral infection.
