Colds And Flu

The flu is caused by several different types of virus and there are more than 200 known common cold viruses, it is because of this that it is easy to catch a cold and why symptoms can vary so much. Learn how to prevent catching a cold or flu this winter season, and if you do happen to catch one learn how to control and ease the symptoms.

The flu is caused by several different types of virus. These viruses appear every winter and normally last until spring. The flu is spread through virus particles that are coughed or sneezed into the air. If the virus takes a hold, symptoms develop within 48 hours. The fever usually subsides after three or four days, but the fatigue and cough can last for a week or more. You can also get the flu by touching a surface like a table that has been contaminated by someone touching it who has the flu. If you've touched a contaminated surface, the virus can pass from your hand to your nose or mouth.

The Common Cold

There are more than 200 known cold viruses, it is because of this that it is easy to catch a cold and why symptoms can vary so much. Like flu viruses, cold viruses can be spread through the air or by touching a contaminated surface. A cold often has some flu-like symptoms, such as a sore throat or cough. The flu though has significant fever, muscle aches, headaches and chills associated with it.

You are at greatest risk of getting infected in highly populated areas, such as in crowded living conditions and in schools.

Research suggests that psychological stress, allergic disorders affecting the nasal passages or pharynx (throat), and menstrual cycles may have a role in increasing a persons susceptibility to colds and flu’s.

Changes in humidity also affects the prevalence of colds. The most common cold-causing viruses survive better when humidity is low, which occurs in the colder months of the year. Cold weather also may make the nasal passages lining drier and more vulnerable to viral infection.

SYMPTOMS
Viruses cause infection by overcoming the body's complex defence system. The body's first line of defence is mucus, produced by the membranes in the nose and throat. Mucus traps the material such as pollen, dust, bacteria and viruses that we inhale. If a virus penetrates the mucus it then enters a cell and initiates a sequence of events to manufacture new viruses which, in turn, attack surrounding cells.

Virus infected cells in the nose send out signals that encourage specialized white blood cells to the site of the infection. These chemicals lead to the symptoms of the common cold as they cause swelling and inflammation of the nasal membranes, leakage of proteins and fluid from capillaries and lymph vessels, and the increased production of mucus.

If you get infected by the flu virus, you will usually feel symptoms one to four days later. You can spread the flu to others before your symptoms start and for another three to four days after your symptoms appear. The symptoms start very quickly and are

• Headache
• Chills
• Dry cough
• Body aches
• Fever
• Stuffy nose
• Sore throat

Symptoms of the common cold usually begin two to three days after infection and usually include nasal discharge, difficulty in breathing through the nose, swelling of the sinus membranes, sneezing, sore throat, cough, and headache. Fever is usually slight. Cold symptoms can last from two to 14 days, most people usually recover in a week.

Colds occasionally can lead to secondary bacterial infections of the middle ear or sinuses, requiring treatment with antibiotics. High fever, significantly swollen glands, severe facial pain in the sinuses, and a cough that produces mucus, may indicate a complication or more serious illness requiring a doctor's attention.

PREVENTION
Keeping your immune system in top shape should be your number one priority this winter season. But should the stresses of winter get the best of you, there are ways to fight back.

• Washing your hands regularly will minimise your chances of catching these viruses.
• Eat a balanced diet of fruit and vegetables.
• Alcohol in moderation.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Keep fit
• Have enough rest.
• No smoking. Even breathing in other peoples smoke makes your health worse. Smokers do not get more colds and flu, but when they do get it the symptoms are worse, and lasts longer
• Control stress.

Supplements can improve your health, and make your body more able to fight off infections. This means that even though you are exposed to the same number of viruses, your body is better able to fight back, and you get less infections. Supplements that can be used are:-

• Vitamin C
• Echinacea: anti-bacterial and boosts immunity
• Antioxidants
• Garlic: anti-bacterial. Use fresh garlic if possible either crushed or sliced. The allicin is released when the cloves are crushed; cooking loses much of their medicinal quality.
• Ginger root - fresh chopped ginger root simmered in clear broth helps to clear mucus. Manuka Honey- a special anti-bacterial honey. Creates hydrogen peroxide molecules once ingested to kill bacteria.
• Zinc Lozenges- Often formulated along with vitamin C, these can shorten the length of time of a cold or flu

The main way to keep from getting the flu is to get a yearly flu vaccine. You must get the vaccine every year because it changes. A vaccine is made every year because the strains of flu viruses change from year to year.

Your immune system takes time to respond to the flu vaccine. Therefore, you should get vaccinated six to eight weeks before flu season begins to prevent getting infected or reduce the severity of flu if you do get it. The vaccine itself cannot cause the flu, but you could become exposed to the virus by someone else and get infected soon after you are vaccinated.

The flu vaccine can cause side effects. The most common side effect in children and adults is soreness at the site of the vaccination. Other side effects, especially in children who previously have not been exposed to the flu virus, include fever, tiredness, and sore muscles. These side effects may begin 6 to 12 hours after vaccination and may last for up to two days.

TREATMENT AND SYMPTOM RELIEF

The following can also be performed to relieve symptoms including using

• Cold compresses: Can help reduce a fever.
• Warm Salt-water gargle: Soothes a sore throat.
• Throat lozenges: Soothing action provides temporary relief of throat pain and they may reduce your impulse to cough
• Steam inhalation: A vaporizer or humidifier increases the moisture in the air to sooth dry, irritated nasal passages
• Rest
• Drink plenty of water

There are many common nonprescription symptom relievers for colds the flu’s. Most of these remedies are available in combinations, and contain at least one or more of the following.

• Antihistamines: These medications offer temporary relief of many cold and flu seasonal allergy symptoms , including runny nose, watery eyes, itching. Although generally safe, antihistamines often cause drowsiness. Read the warning labels completely if you are taking other medicines. eg: diphenhydramine and Chlorpheniramine.
• Decongestants: Decongestants reduce mucus membrane swelling and clear nasal ongestion. You must not use any preparation containing a decongestant if you have high blood pressure. eg: Pseudoephedrine.
• Pain relievers: Over-the-counter pain relievers can effectively reduce most of the aches, pains, and fever associated with colds and the flu’s. eg: paracetamol (Panadol) or ibuprofen (Nurofen)
• Expectorants: thin mucus, helping a productive cough do a better job of clearing a congested chest. eg: bromhexine which is found in Bisolvon.
• Cough suppressants: also known as antitussives such as pholcodine which is found in Durotuss.

The Demazin range of symptom relievers combine some of the above ingredients in their preparations.

If you do get the flu and want to take medicine to treat it, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication:

Tamiflu® (oseltamivir) helps adults 18 years and older and Relenza® (zanamivir) helps adults and children 7 years and older who have an uncomplicated flu infection and who have had symptoms for no more than two days.

Antibiotics do not kill viruses. These prescription drugs should be used only for rare bacterial complications, such as sinusitis or ear infections, that can develop as secondary infections.

COMPLICATIONS OF THE FLU

The flu is an important disease because it can cause serious complications. Most people who get the flu get better within a week. For elderly people, newborn babies, and people with certain chronic illnesses, however, the flu and its complications can be life-threatening. You can have flu complications if you get a bacterial infection, which may lead to pneumonia in your weakened lungs. Pneumonia also can be caused by the flu virus itself. Symptoms of complications will usually appear after you start feeling better. After a brief period of improvement, you may suddenly get

• High fever
• Shaking chills
• Chest pain with each breath
• Coughing that produces thick, yellow-greenish-coloured mucus

If you have any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately so that you can get the appropriate treatment.

CHILDREN AND THE FLU

Children are two to three times more likely than adults to get sick with the flu, and children frequently spread the virus to others. Because schools are an excellent place for flu viruses to attack and spread, families with school-age children have more infections than other families.

Reye's syndrome, a condition that affects the nerves, sometimes develops in children and adolescents who are recovering from the flu. Reye's syndrome begins with nausea and vomiting, but can lead to mental changes (such as confusion or delirium).

The syndrome often begins in young people after they take aspirin to get rid of fever or pain. Although very few children develop Reye's syndrome, you should consult a doctor before giving aspirin or products that contain aspirin to children. Paracetamol does not seem to be associated with Reye's syndrome. Other complications of the flu that affect children are

• Convulsions caused by fever
• Croup
• Ear infections, such as otitis media