X

We detected that you're visiting our site from the UK. Would you like to visit the ChaCha UK website?

Cold & Flu

Cold & Flu

Colds and flu infect millions of people each year. Though both are very common, the flu can be much deadlier. In fact, in a normal year over 40,000 people die of the flu. In recent years, mass pandemics of the flu had increased awareness of flu and its symptoms.

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha.com for Cold & Flu

In the Last:
Month

  1. How long will getting high off of dayquil cold & flu last for?

    It's usually not a very long high, though it varies for every...

  2. Can Coricidin cold & flu get you high?

    No, Coricidin HBP Cold/ Flu can not get you high. Side effect...

  3. True or False? athletes who engage in very extreme or intense physical activities, such as marathons, have been shown to be at an increase risk for colds & flu?

    True. There is evidence that it can weaken your immune system

  4. Can you roll on Coricidin HBP Cold & Flu 325 mg?

    Taking Coricidin HBP Cold/Flu may cause dizziness, drowsiness...

  5. Can symptoms for mono start out like cold & flu symptoms?

    Symptoms of mononucleosis can be similar to a cold or flu, in...

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha Mobile for Cold & Flu

In the Last:
Week | Month

  1. What is the difference between cold and flu?

    The flu is caused by an influenza virus, and symptoms vary gr...

  2. What is the difference between the flu and a cold?

    The common cold is centered in the nose. While with the flu, ...

  3. How long are a cold and flu contagious for?

    Flu is contagious from a day before you feel sick until your ...

  4. What are symptoms of the flu and common cold?

    Cold symptoms usually begin with a sore throat, runny nose, a...

  5. Will Coricidin HBP cold and flu do the same as triple c's?

    No, Coricidin HBP Cold & Flu doesn't contain Dextromethorphan...

  1. What is the difference between flu and cold?

    One main difference is with the flu, you are sick all over an...

  2. What is the difference between cold and flu?

    The flu is caused by an influenza virus, and symptoms vary gr...

  3. How do you get rid of the flu and a cold?

    There are no home-cures for the common cold or flu, but you c...

  4. Is the flu or a cold contagious?

    Yes, both colds and flu are contagious. They are passed throu...

  5. What is the difference between the flu and a cold?

    The common cold is centered in the nose. While with the flu, ...

About Cold & Flu

Cold Symptoms
The first symptoms of a cold are often a tickle in the throat, a runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing. Kids with colds might have a sore throat, cough, headache, mild fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and loss of appetite. Nasal discharge may change from watery to thick yellow or green.

Colds are most contagious during the first 2 to 4 days after symptoms appear, and may be contagious for up to 3 weeks. You can catch a cold from person to person contact or by breathing in virus particles spread through the air by sneezing or coughing. Touching the mouth or nose after touching skin or another surface contaminated with a rhinovirus can also spread a cold.

Most cold symptoms usually appear 2 or 3 days after exposure to a source of infection. Most colds clear up within 1 week, but some may last for as long as 2 weeks.

Flu
With the flu, most individuals have symptoms for about one to two weeks and then recover with no problems. However, compared with most other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold the influenza (flu) infection can cause a more severe illness with a mortality rate (death rate) of about 0.1% of people who are infected with the virus.

Flu Symptoms include:
Mild cases of the flu may seem like common colds. But most cases of the flu can be distinguished from colds because the symptoms (cough, muscle aches and pains, sore throat, fatigue, and headache) are more severe than those of the common cold. Flu symptoms also tend to occur suddenly and include high fevers (temperatures of 101 degrees F or more).

Treatment for the flu includes:
Increasing liquid intake, warm showers, and warm compresses, especially in the nasal area, can help to reduce the body aches and reduce nasal congestion. Nasal strips and humidifiers may help reduce congestion, especially while trying to sleep. Some physicians recommend nasal irrigation with saline to further reduces congestion; some recommend nonprescription decongestants. Fever can be treated with over-the counter acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin and others). Cough can be suppressed by cough drops and over-the-counter cough syrup. If an individual's symptoms at home get worse, their doctor should be notified.

Flu Vaccine:
In the United States, the flu season usually occurs from about November until April. While a vaccine is available to prevent the flu, its effectiveness varies according to the degree of match between the viral strains used to prepare the vaccine and those strains actually in circulation in a given year. The flu vaccine is specifically recommended for those who are at high risk for developing serious complications as a result of influenza infection.

These high-risk groups for conventional flu include all people aged 65 years or older and people of any age with chronic diseases of the heart, lung, or kidneys; diabetes; immunosuppression; or severe forms of anemia. Each year, the vaccine is updated to include the most current influenza virus strains that are infecting people worldwide.

The fact that influenza viral genes continually change is one of the reasons that the vaccine must be taken every year. Another reason is that antibody produced by the host in response to the vaccine declines over time, and antibody levels are often low one year after vaccination.
vickiz

Recent Cold & Flu Questions

PREV 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... NEXT
4,779 Answers
Advertisement
›
›
›
›
Cold & Flu