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 when people come in contact with contaminated surfaces, or air-borne mucus particles containing the germs. For most, having a cold or the flu means feeling lousy for a few days or weeks. But for the very old, the very young, and people with AIDS or other chronic illnesses, the flu can be deadly. Approximately 36,000 people die from the flu each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An additional 200,000 people are hospitalized each year because of complications from the flu.
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- If you or your child becomes ill, pay close attention to the symptoms. The sites in this section have information to help you spot the nuances that distinguish the flu from the common cold. Identifying which virus you have is the first step toward preventing it from becoming more serious.
- The avian influenza, or “bird flu,” which has received intense publicity for its threat to humans, is not the normal type of flu that seems to make its way around in the winter. This virus is found in birds, but has been spread, in a few cases, to people. Scientists are concerned because this particular strain is deadly to humans.
- Sometimes people say they have the “stomach flu,” but they are actually referring to gastroenteritis, according to Medicinenet.com. Gastroenteritis symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, but aren’t caused by influenza.
- Colds and flu can sometimes lead to other complications, such as sinus infections, acute bronchitis and pneumonia. We’ve included a sub-section with sites that describe these in more depth.
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For information about colds …
WebMD
has a guide describing colds called “Common Cold: The Basics.” It covers how people catch colds, what the symptoms are, and when to call your doctor.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) has a page on the cause, diagnosis, and treatment of the common cold. The site is technical and is written for an audience with experience in the medical field.
For information about the flu …
The National Library of Medicine
has an animated online lesson, complete with illustrations, intermittent quiz questions, and narration. Topics covered include description of the flu, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. If you don’t want to take the tutorial, read the text version of the influenza presentation instead.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) has a page on the seasonal flu that includes basic information about the virus. It has links to information for specific groups, such as parents, adults with asthma, and people with HIV/AIDS. The page can also be translated into Spanish and other languages.
For information on colds in babies and children …
Mayo Clinic
has a page that describes common colds in babies, who get them often. This site also tells you what to look for if a cold turns into a more serious illness, since young children can’t tell you what’s wrong.
KidsHealth
has a page that explains what colds are and how to cope with them, along with another site written for teens.
For differences between the cold and flu …
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
has an especially helpful chart that lists common symptoms, such as fevers, cough, sore throat and sneezing, then tells whether they are signs of a cold or the flu.
WebMD
also has a table that compares symptoms, prevention, treatment, and complications of colds and the flu. Use that information to take the site’s five-question quiz that will help you determine whether you should go to work or call in sick when you’re ill. If you’re contagious, staying home may not just be good for you. It can help keep your co-workers healthy, too.
For the different types of flu …
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
describes the different types of flu, from the one going around in schools across the country, to the avian flu that has researchers worried.
For information on cold and flu complications …
WebMD
explains how a cold can give rise to sinusitis, or a sinus infection. This article describes the signs, and how doctors treat the infections.
Family Doctor
is the American Academy of Family Physicians’ education site. This page explains what acute bronchitis is, how it’s diagnosed, and how it’s treated. Did you know that cold viruses are the primary cause of bronchitis?
The American Lung Association
has a page that describes the different types of pneumonia, how to prevent the disease, and what to do if you have symptoms.
Preventing Colds and the Flu
For many, flu prevention is as easy as a yearly vaccination. Avoiding the common cold can be more difficult, but some basic measures like covering your mouth when you cough and frequently washing your hands will help prevent both. Using the sites in this section you’ll learn the facts about staying illness-free this winter.
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- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a list of people who have a high risk of complications if they get the flu. These people are urged to get a flu vaccination each year. Use these sites to determine whether you are in any of those groups. If you aren’t in one of those groups and would like to learn more about the flu shot, speak with your doctor.
- Researchers theorized, in an October 2007 article in the journal PLoS Pathogens, that flu season arrives with winter because the influenza viruses thrive in cold weather. Cold viruses, on the other hand, aren’t as affected by outside temperatures, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. Studies suggest that psychological stress may play a role, though.
- Wash your hands, and wash them well. The CDC says hand washing is “the best way to prevent illness and infection.” WebMD has a three-minute video called “The Dirty Truth About Hand Washing," where you’ll learn, among other things, the proper technique.
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To avoid catching a cold or the flu …
KidsHealth
has a site to help parents learn about the common cold and how to keep their children from catching it.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) dedicates a site to healthy habits for keeping the flu at bay. This page includes a guide for parents, and a guide to preventing the spread of germs at work, school, and home. You can also learn how antiviral treatments help prevent the flu, and read up on the flu vaccine.
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.
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- 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.
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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 discoveries. These sites will help you keep up to date on related research and news.
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- Interested in whether people are coming down with the flu in your area? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention monitor influenza throughout the country and produce weekly reports. The page has a color-coded map of the United States with flu activity.
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For flu research …
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
has a summary of research into influenza.
For cold and flu research news …
Science Daily
is an online magazine with a section full of cold and flu articles, videos, images, and books.
Medical News Today
has articles its staff has written, along with cold- and flu-related press releases.
MSNBC
has news stories and commentary related to the cold and flu.
Who knew?
The Onion
is a parody newspaper that has published its advice on the cold and flu season. This article is for humor only; definitely don’t take its suggestions seriously.
© 2009 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
