Cold and Flu: Relief, Remedies and Prevention
Late fall through winter is the time of year when coughs, sniffles, sore throats, and sneezes begin in earnest. And although being indoors may bring respite from the elements, it also brings more contact with the germs that cause colds and the flu. This guide will help you learn the differences between these similar conditions, and advise you on how to avoid catching them, what to do if you get one of them, and how to stay current on the latest research that scientists are conducting on them.
Expand All Guide SectionsWhat Are Colds and the Flu?
Colds and influenza are viruses that are transmitted ... read more »
Preventing Colds and the Flu
For many, flu prevention is as easy as a yearly vaccination. Avoiding the common cold can be more ... read more »
Treating Colds and the Flu
It’s important to have a good idea of which illness you have. Anti-viral medications won’t cure colds, but they can help get rid of the flu, for example. Some medications can ameliorate cold and flu symptoms.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Make sure you involve a doctor when treating a child or teenager for the flu. The sites below warn against giving anyone under age 19 aspirin to treat the cold or flu. Cough and cold medicines can be dangerous for very young children, and a warning about them from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is among the sites below.
- Antibiotics, which treat bacterial infections, don’t work against colds and the flu, because they are viruses.
- Home remedies for colds and the flu, such as a steam bath or tea with lemon and honey, are abundant on the Web. While someone may say her mother swore by a certain remedy, remember that not everyone’s mother is a doctor. Be careful to look at the sources of a remedy when evaluating it. Call your doctor or a nurse line (if your insurance has one) if you have any questions.
Dulcinea's Picks
For cold and flu treatment tips …
Family Doctor.org
, run by the American Academy of Family Physicians, has tips to treat colds and the flu, along with emergency symptoms, and reasons to call your doctor.
Mayo Clinic
has a page called “Cold Remedies: What works, what doesn’t and what can’t hurt.” Chicken soup and other fluids are among the winners. Another site describes runny noses and signs that there may be something more serious going on.
The American Lung Association
has a page dedicated to debunking the myths about colds and flu. “Starve a cold, feed a fever” is one of them, so if you have a cold, go ahead and eat.
The Clarion-Ledger
is a Mississippi newspaper with an Associated Press article about cold remedies throughout the world. If you had enough chicken soup to last you the winter during your last illness, try sopa de ajo, a Cuban soup made with chicken broth, garlic and tomatoes, or kimchi, pickled cabbage that’s popular in Korea. While they aren’t guaranteed to cure the cold, it doesn’t hurt to try them, says a nutrition school professor.
For treating children …
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
has a warning about giving cold and cough medicines to children. This site also includes advice for parents.
For clinical trials …
ClinicalTrials.gov
, a clearinghouse operated by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, provides a list of research clinical trials currently underway to test experimental treatments for the common cold. ClinicalTrials.gov also provides a list of research trials currently underway to test experimental treatments for the flu. To learn more about clinical trials, speak to your doctor, and read the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s guide.
Cold and Flu Research
Researchers continue to study the viruses that cause influenza and colds, and continually make new ... read more »
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