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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 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.
What was the effect of the influenza virus that developed in the us in 1918-?
the virus spred around the world and killed millions of people
Can the cold weather cause your ear to ache?
Congestion from a cold can cause the eustachian tubes to swell shut. They are connected to the throat, and allow the pressure to equalize between your inner ear and the atmosphere. If this cannot occur, it can cause earaches. In addition, there can be an infection in the tubes or inner ear that can cause pain.
If it does not clear up in a day or so, or if it gets worse, your doctor can treat it. In the meantime, gargling and drinking warm liquids, and perhaps warm compresses on the ear, may help. Aspirin (or acetaminophen for children) may help relieve the pain.
Can you develop Flu like symptoms after a flu shot?
I got a flu shot early this afternoon, and tonight my head aches, my joints ache, and I'm feeling chilled. I don't believe I actually have the flu, it is a dead virus in the injection but, like you, I'm trying to find out if flu-like symptoms can occur. I found this site: http:/heartspring.net/flu_shot_side_effects.html that says yeah, you can get mild symptoms, or worse if there's an allergy.
Was there a flu outbreak after World War 1?
The Spanish Flu outbreak in 1918 was a pandemic that killed an estimated 20 million (with some estimates ranging up to 100 million) people in about 1 year. Approx. 5% of the world's population was killed.
What does it mean when you see blood while blowing your nose?
that your having a nose bleed.
if you get one:
hold a Kleenex up to your nose, while pinching the uppermost portion of you nose , and holding you head down.
If you are not bleeding a lot, it can be from cold air, dry heat in the house. I live in British Columbia where we can have rain and damp, then have freezing weather and the next day it's warm. Even the furnace being on in the house is drying. Look at your skin and if it looks dry, you bet your nose is dry. Even air conditioning can do it to you. You can use a little KY Jelly or vasoline inside your noise to keep it moist. As long as you are not bleeding profusely then there is nothing to worry about. If you've been blowing your nose often you've probably just given yourself a nosebleed by rupturing the blood vessels at the back of your nose. It's no big deal. It heals on its own. There are nose drops specially suited for this condition. Also saline nose spray can help. Try drinking more water and blowing your nose less. Everytime you blow your nose, you can be breaking up your clots. Give your nose time to heal, about a week. == ==
What is the name of the worst flu?
There are many deadly influenza viruses, but one of worst ones (currently infecting birds mostly), is the H5N1 avian flu virus. It can be transmitted from birds to humans which causes an uncontrollable immune reaction in the infected individual. The lungs of the victims rapidly become inflamed and filled with blood and other fluids and they eventually die from the build up of fluids in the lungs. Approximately 50% of humans who are infected by the H5N1 virus die of the disease.
See the related links section below for links to sites and browse the category of questions and answers* here at WikiAnswers for more information about the Avian "bird" flu.
* To browse the category, click on the category name under the question above to go to the top Q&As in the Bird Flu Category.
Has anyone died from bird flu?
Yes. To date (14-11-08) there have been 245 human deaths due to Bird flu (H5N1)
Will Lysol kill germs in the air?
Yes!
In addition, several chemical germicides, including chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, detergents (soap), iodophors (iodine-based antiseptics), and alcohols are effective against human influenza viruses if used in proper concentration for a sufficient length of time. For example, wipes or gels with alcohol in them can be used to clean hands. The gels should be rubbed into hands until they are dry.
Influenza virus is destroyed by heat of 167-212°F [75-100°C].
If you mean where did it originate, nobody knows. It's caused by a fast-mutating virus and was probably infecting people and animals a long time before it became virulent enough to cause alarm.
Each new year's "flu" starts with millions of Chinese pigs, which incubate it. The pigs pass the virus to ducks (Chinese eat both pork and poultry) Tame ducks pass it to wild ducks and they spread it around the world. People also incubate and infect, so it wouldn't extinquish the flu to kill all the pigs and ducks, even if that could be done.
I have had this too, me and my partner had unprotected sex 2 weeks today, iv been getting bad cramps and noticed some pinky bood when i wiped after i peed about 4/5 days ago. my nipples feel slighty sore and sensitive. i was due on yesterday but didnt come on. my vagina is producing a whitey thickish discarge (it did yesterday)
when would be the best time to take a test and do you think i am pregnant =D
thank you!!!!!
Why does New Zealand have the Swine Flu?
This particular strain of influenza is especially easily transmitted from human to human. All it would have required was that one person who had the flu entered the country and it began spreading from there. Since international travel is so common now, there was little that could be done to prevent the world wide spread into a pandemic.
Why are Swine Flu shots bad for you?
because if you do get the swine flu vactionation it will higher the chances of dying because you did get the vactionation than if you didnt get it because all it really does to you is is make you throw up and half of the people that did die from the swine flu most likely already had a different sickness or were very old and weak so people think that they always need to get vactionated for something but people don't notice that its much worse for them to get a vactionation than it is for them to stay home and get some rest because God knows what he is doing and God will decide if its time for you to die so don't worry about getting a vactionation. hope that will help:)
Why should you cover your mouth while sneezing?
Sneezes are travelling germ clouds. The invisible droplets will carry a lot farther than one can see and contain harmful bacteria
No their horrible
Since the above poster was emphatic in their answer they must have tried it. However, steam does help relieve head colds. You can go to a pharmacy and buy a vaporizer and also ask the pharmacist for preferably a oil base to open up sinus' so you can put this on the lip of the vaporizer. The steam comes to a boil (automatic shut off should the water boil away) and passes over the lip with the oil in it. Put it in your bedroom at night with windows and doors closed. The old fashion way is putting Vicks or other chest rubs into an old pot on the stove with a hand towel over your head to trap the vapors that come up from the pot. Another good way is having a relatively hot shower and letting the steam penetrate your sinus'.
Should you get a flu shot when you have bell's palsy?
It won't hurt; the flu vaccine is non-virulent and won't lower your immune system while it makes antibodies to the influenza virus. It will still be able to fight off the Bell's Palsy virus (herpes).
The same as any other virus strain of influenza, avoid direct person to person contact with an infected person, wash hands frequently, and avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, or mouth with your unwashed hands. See the related questions below for more information on avoiding viruses.
How are the Swine Flu and the black Death different?
The black death caused armpit swelllings, buboes, fever and death. Swine flu is basically just another form of the flu.
If you are in close contact with someone with Swine Flu will you get it?
Yes, it is a highly contagious infectious disease so it is possible. See the related questions below for information about the symptoms to watch for to see if you have the flu. After a certain length of time you can probably relax if you have not yet shown any symptoms. Here is information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about the incubation period of Novel H1N1:
"The estimated incubation period is unknown and could range from 1-7 days, and more likely 1-4 days.
"The typical incubation period for influenza is 1-4 days (average: 2 days). Adults shed influenza virus from the day before symptoms begin through 5-10 days after illness onset. However, the amount of virus shed, and presumably infectivity, decreases rapidly by 3-5 days after onset in an experimental human infection model. Young children also might shed virus several days before illness onset, and children can be infectious for 10 or more days after onset of symptoms. Severely immunocompromised persons can shed virus for weeks or months.
"Uncomplicated influenza illness typically resolves after 3-7 days for the majority of persons, although cough and malaise can persist for >2 weeks. However, influenza virus infections can cause primary influenza viral pneumonia; exacerbate underlying medical conditions (e.g., pulmonary or cardiac disease); lead to secondary bacterial pneumonia, sinusitis, or otitis media; or contribute to coinfections with other viral or bacterial pathogens."
Can herpes can get more colds and flu?
"Cold sores", also known as "fever blisters", are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Symptoms include, (but not limited to) cheek/gum mucosa inflammation, headache, nausea, dizziness, fever, sore throat, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes). So to sum this all up yes you can get sick from a cold sore.
