Getting to know the common cold
The common cold and infl uenza
are two contagious viruses that
many people may be all too
aware of. Although colds and fl u can be
contracted any time of the year, winter
tends to be a prime time for cold and fl u
outbreaks, as more time spent indoors
in close proximity to others provides an
easy way for viruses to pass from one
person to another.
Despite how common these illnesses
can be, there seems to be no shortage
of misinformation concerning prevention
and treatment of the viruses. Those
who think they know all about a cold or
the fl u can still benefi t from a refresher
course, which may even debunk some
prevailing myths about both ailments.
COLD
Colds are relatively minor infections
of the throat and nose that are caused
by more than 200 different viruses. Rhinovirus
is the most common cause,
which accounts for between 10 and
40 percent of infections, advises the
American Lung Association. Adults
get an average of two to four colds per
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COURIER L 30 IFE, NOVEMBER 8-14, 2019
year, while children suffer six to eight
colds annually. In fact, in the United
States, colds account for more visits
to the doctor than any other condition,
says the ALA.
The Cleveland Clinic states colds are
contracted from inhalation of microscopic
particles in the air or from contact
with contaminated surfaces. Symptoms
can include runny nose, sneezing
and nasal congestion, often with sore
throat, mild cough, mild aches/ fatigue,
and fever in youngsters.
INFLUENZA
The fl u is a contagious respiratory
illness that is caused by the infl uenza
virus. It infects the throat, nose and
sometimes the lungs, advises the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.
Like colds, the fl u also can be spread
through tiny droplets made when infected
individuals cough, sneeze or
talk, or by touching infected surfaces.
One common misconception about
the fl u is that it can be contracted from
the fl u vaccine. This is not true. Harvard
Medical School says the fl u shot is made
from an inactivated virus that can’t transmit
infection. People who get sick after
receiving a fl u vaccination were going to
get sick anyway, as it takes a week or
two to get protection from the vaccine.
Many people assume that because they
became sick after getting the vaccine,
the fl u shot caused their illness.
Even though the fl u and colds share
some symptoms, such as runny nose,
sneezing, hoarsewness, and cough,
the fl u is not just a bad cold. While very
few people have landed in the hospital
with a cold, the fl u can be so severe as
to require hospitalization.
Steering clear of people who are
sick, frequently washing hands, sterilizing
common surfaces, and getting
the fl u shot are ways to prevent illness.
Antibiotics are not effective against the
cold and fl u, and antiviral medication
can lessen the effects and shorten the
duration of fl u but may not be able to
prevent it.
HEALTH BASICS
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