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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
If you rub Vicks VapoRub on your feet will it get rid of a cough?
No. However, if you sleep with it on your feet with socks, you will wake up the next morning with a feeling similar to that of a massage.
~{Insomniac Platypus}~
I must say that I suffer from a rare lung disease and have been subjected to every cough remedy under the sun. Typically when I get very ill, the worst part is not the cough itself but the burning I feel in my lungs. This burning makes inhaling anything painful. A few months back I was visiting my parents and explained that I was beginning to get ill again. My father suggested I put vaporub on the soles of my feet. I had never heard of this and thought he was pulling my leg, but I tried it anyway. I must say that after applying it to my feet it almost instantly took away the burn, not to mention if its on my feet I don't have the added pain from inhaling it directly as I would if applied to my chest or throat. I can't explain why it seems to work but it seems to do a better job than any of the prescription medications that doctors have prescribed for my illness over the years. Not to mention its much cheaper too! If you really want to find out if it works, just try it yourself. You'll be amazed!
How many swine flu cases have there been in Germany?
There may be some ongoing cases in limited locations around the world, including in Turkey, however, the specifics and counts of cases are no longer being tracked by CDC, WHO, the US states, and most other countries, now that the pandemic has been declared over. Influenza cases are monitored, but specific H1N1/09 counts (and the lab tests needed to isolate the specific virus to be able to count them correctly) aren't being done. Influenza cases in general are monitored, but statistics are not being kept for H1N1/09 cases separately from other influenza types for reporting any longer in the post pandemic phase.
What do you do if you get a fever from the flu shot?
It depends upon how much you received, your age, your size, your general state of health, and any side effects you may be having.
If you have symptoms of allergy or any atypical effects, get immediate medical care. Otherwise, contact your primary health care professional to confirm that you received too much (some dosage amounts may vary depending on the type or brand of the vaccine) and for treatment if needed.
Can you get sick by talking to someone on the phone when the person is sick?
Yes, I FaceTimed someone with a sinus infection and now I have one too
Dengue fever, also known as breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus carried by mosquitoes.. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash.
Could fighting an infection such as the flu cause a late or missed period?
Best Answer
Yes it can.
Illness, stress, and changes in the hormone level have a direct impact on your period.
There is nothing to worry about. You will get it in another 4 or 5 days time. Have lots of fruits (especially pineapple, papaya, grapes), yogurt and other healthy foods. These foods naturally regularise your period.
Is it necessary to get the Swine Flu shot every year?
That will only be needed if a new mutation of the swine flu occurs that the current swine flu vaccine isn't able to prevent. In the 2009-2010 flu season in the US two shots were need, the regular seasonal flu shot and the H1N1/09 Swine flu shot. But in the current 2010-2011 flu season in the US, the seasonal flu vaccination contains the vaccine for swine flu in addition to the other varieties of flu that are expected to be circulating. So only one shot is needed this year for protection in the flu season.
Infectious agents for tuberculosis?
TB stands for tubercle bacillus(Tuberculosis) it is caused mainly by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
It is a common, often deadly infectious disease.
The causative micro-organism is Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Can you take Tamiflu and prednisolone together?
The answer is yes. They will not have a negative reaction if the doctor prescribed them together
Is Type A flu more dangerous than Type B flu?
Yes, most characterize it that way because:
- Orthomyxoviridae (flu viruses) in the Genera of Influenzavirus Type A have been the pathogens that have caused all of the various flu pandemics since we have known about viruses as infectious agents.
- Type A flu viruses are typically easily spread from person to person, and indirectly in common areas.
- Type A influenza virus strains mutate 2 - 3 times faster, making it more difficult to prevent infections with vaccination, as exact matches to use tare less available after only a few mutations and can be less effective in vaccines.
- With Type A viruses, the severity of the symptoms are typically worse and the duration of the illness can be longer than the Type B infections.
- There are many more opportunities to contract Type A flu than there are for getting Type B flu because there are so many host animals that can get this type of flu...more cases=more spread=more cases=more spread...
- The only types of animals that can be infected with Type B influenzavirus are Humans, seals, and ferrets. Type A has significantly more hosts besides humans, including birds, wild water fowl, swine/pigs, turkeys, dogs, cats, ferrets...
Four main virus subtypes - H1N1, H1N2, H3N2 and H3N1 - have been isolated in pigs, though the virus, like all influenza viruses, constantly mutates. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can trade genes to create new versions that mix swine, human and/or avian influenza.The swine H1N1 virus is not the same as the human H1N1 virus, so vaccines for the latter won't protect from the former.
How will you know if you have fever?
Your body is very complex, and to this day there are still some things that the human race is unable to uncover. Ever since the human race existed, we have been getting fevers and thousands of other diseases. Fever symptoms include:
*Nausea
*Dry mouth (optional symptom)
*Vomiting
*Hot sweats (your body temperature burning up)
*Weakness
*Constant fatigue (tired-feeling which goes with the above symptom)
*shaky hands (once again, optional)
*Body temperature risen to above average.
Can you give Tylenol to a person with the flu?
Yes. It is often recommended to help treat the symptoms of the flu and as a fever reducer with the flu. It is better than using aspirin which should not be used for anyone under 18 because of the risk of Reye's Syndrome.
Why did the flu spread so quickly among the troops of ww1?
Mostly because of the close quarters and often poor access to soap and water for frequent hand washing. There aren't exactly unlimited facial tissues in the areas where they work to use to contain coughs and sneezes as well as usual. Troops deployed to war zones may also not have immediate access to get a preventive vaccination in time at the start of the flu season before catching the flu.
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Why do you have flu for three weeks?
Everyone's immune-system is different and the virus could have left your body or the germs could have got killed. Everyone will have flu's, virus's, diseases and bugs for different lenghts of time.
How does the bird flu get in your body?
All viruses follow the same basic steps referred to as the lytic cycle.
First the Flu, or Swine Flu in this case, enters the body through close contact with an infected person (nose, mouth, eyes or breaks in the skin)
LYTIC CYCLE:
* Step 1-A virus attaches to a host cell. * Step 2- The virus breaks through the host cell's membrane (phospholipid bilayer) and releases its genetic instructions into the cell. * Step 3- The injected genetic material starts controlling the host cell's enzymes * Step 4-The 'zombie' enzymes start making parts for more new viruses. * Step 6- The new virus particles assemble into fresh new viruses. * Step 7-The new particles break out of the host cell and infect other cells in the body
Click on the links below for more information from Answers.com and HowStuffWorks.com From the Wikipedia article: Influenza viruses bind through hemagglutinin onto sialic acid sugars on the surfaces of epithelial cells; typically in the nose, throat and lungs of mammals and intestines of birds.
Had swine flu vaccine last march do you need it again?
It is early February 2010, so it is not too late now to get a seasonal flu shot if you have not had one for the 2009 - 2010 flu season. The seasonal flu shot protects against three more types of flu viruses. With the seasonal shot and the swine flu H1N1 vaccinations, you will be protected against the four types of flu that have been prevalent this season.
Why do you feel weak when you have the flu?
When your body is invaded by things like a virus, the immune system sends out white blood cells (also called leukocytes) to find the infection. The white blood cells release a chemical called cytokines, which is what causes the joint pain seen not just in the flu but with many inflammatory/autoimmune conditions like arthritis, lupus,inflammatory bowel disease, etc.
I have copied this answer from user njdocisin on Yahoo answers who clearly knows what she's talking about.
How long has the influenza virus been aroiund?
It depends on the specific strain of "swine flu". The version that pigs get has probably been around for almost as long as there have been pigs. One version of swine flu in humans was identified in the 1930's. Another started in 1976. The pandemic version of H1N1/09 began in March 2009 and still circulates in outbreaks across the world but the pandemic of this strain has been declared over. See the related question below about when swine flu started for more detail.
How can you ease the flu symstoms?
There are many ways to ease symptoms of a bad cold. * Take a paracetamol tablet * Take Lemsip * Decongestants e.g. Vicks. * Rest and take it easy, do not over exert yourself. A cold or the flu can make you feel very tired, weak and lethargic. * After using tissues ALWAYS dispose of them and ALWAYS wash your hands EVERY time afterwards. * If it's really bad, stay in bed. * Also take time off sick from work. You don't want your cold/flu germs spread to anybody else do you? * Drink PLENTY of fluids, especially water. * Stay away from people/don't come too close to people till you no longer have symptoms and you are no longer contagious. * Eat lightly/eat only light foods if your appetite is not up to scratch/ don't feel like eating a proper meal. * If symptoms persist/get worse despite these measures above/phlegm is greenish yellow/you see blood in your phlegm/you cough up blood, go and see your doctor. It can mean something more serious such as * Chest/respiratory infection * Bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchi or larger lung tubes) * Pleurisy (inflammation of the lung lining or the pleura) * Pneumonia (inflammation of one or both lungs) * Croup * Epiglottitis (inflammation of the epiglottis, mainly in children) in serious cases can cause the epiglottis to swell and even shut up altogether. This is an EMERGENCY which can require intubation or a tracheotomy. * Lung cancer.
Type B Influenza facts and comparison with Type A influenza viruses:
- Type B Influenzavirus is an infectious virus in the the Genera of Orthomyxoviridae (flu viruses). It is an RNA virus.
- Orthomyxoviridae in the Genera of Influenzavirus Type A have been the pathogens that have caused all of the various flu pandemics since we have known about viruses as infectious agents.
- Type B flu viruses are typically much less easily spread among people than the Type A viruses.
- Type A influenza virus strains mutate 2 - 3 times faster, making it more difficult to prevent infections of Type A with vaccination, as exact matches to use them are less available after only a few mutations which makes them less effective in vaccines.
- With Type B viruses, the severity of the symptoms are typically not as bad as in Type A, and the duration of the illness can be shorter than the Type A infections.
- There are many more opportunities to contract Type A flu than there are for getting Type B flu, because there are so many host animals that can get Type A flu...more cases = more spread = more cases = more spread...
- The only known types of animals that can be infected with Type B influenzavirus are humans, seals, and ferrets. Type A has significantly more hosts besides humans, including birds, especially wild water fowl and poultry, swine/pigs, turkeys, dogs, cats, ferrets, and a few others.
When should you drink fluids when you have the stomach flu?
You should constantly be drinking fluids when you have the stomach flu. Drinks like soda and carbonated water, help ease the upset stomach, while drinks like milk and other dairy, should be avoided
Is it safe to travel to the Philippines while the swine flu is going around?
Hi We have a house in Vallarta and are due to travel from Scotland at the end of May. I contacted one of my friends there to ask about the situation yesterday (April 28) and his answer is below (in Spanish). Basically there are no recorded cases in Vallarta or even in the state of Jalisco and although some preventative measures have been introduced, life continues as normal. The problem is mainly confined to Distrito Federal (Mexico City) and San Luis Potosi. There is a belief that as the temprature rises the virus will not be able to survive. Hope this answers your question. Answer below Esta epidemia surgió muy repentinamente y por lo pronto está localizada solamente en la ciudad de México, área metropolitana y también en San Luis Potosí. Son los únicos
lugares en los cuales se ha registrado
En Vallarta han cerrado los bares y discotecas, en el estado de Jalisco no
se ha reportado ningún caso y para prevenir, esta mañana suspendieron las
clases de todas las escuelas por 10 días. Espero que para el mes de junio ya esté superada la crisis. Es un virus
estacional y dicen que cuando empiece a hacer más calor no puede proliferar.
Are you immune to influenza A if you take Tamiflu?
Tamiflu is an antiviral medicine and is mostly used to help you get better once you have already caught the flu. It shortens the duration of the symptoms and makes them less severe when taken within 48 hours of your first symptoms. So, the criteria for when you can consider yourself no longer contagious is the same with or without Tamiflu. But the length of time can vary from individual to individual. According to the CDC, you can consider yourself no longer contagious after 24 straight hours from your last fever (when not taking fever reducers). That will likely be sooner for someone taking tamiflu than it is for someone who is not.
