What are some effective home remedies for treating common cold and flu?

Cold and Flu

flu and cold

1. Common cold and Flu

2. Causes of cold and flu

3. Symptoms

4. Treatments

5. Expectations (forecast)

6. Possible complications

7. When to contact a medical professional

8. Prevention

9. Alternative names

Common cold and Flu

The common cold in most cases causes rhinorrhea or runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. You may also experience a sore throat, cough, headache, or other symptoms.

common flu and cold

Causes of cold and flu

It's called the common cold for a good reason. There are more than one billion colds in the United States each year. You and your children will probably get more colds than any other type of illness.

Colds are the most common reason children miss school and parents miss work. Parents usually catch colds from their children.

Children can get many colds each year. They usually acquire them from other children. A cold can spread quickly in schools or daycares.

Colds can occur at any time of the year, but are more common in winter or rainy seasons.

A cold virus spreads through tiny airborne droplets that are released when a sick person sneezes, coughs, or blows their nose.

You can get a cold if:

• A person with a cold sneezes, coughs, or blows their nose near you
• You touch your nose, eyes, or mouth after touching something contaminated with the virus, such as a toy or a door latch

People are most contagious during the first 2 to 3 days of a cold. A cold in most cases is not contagious after the first week.

Symptoms

Symptoms of flu and cold

Cold symptoms usually begin about 2 to 3 days after you come into contact with the virus, although they could take up to a week. The symptoms mainly affect the nose.

The most common symptoms of a cold are:

• Nasal congestion
• Rhinorrhea
• Hoarseness
• Sneeze

Adults and older children with colds usually have a low fever or no fever. Young children often have a fever of around 100°F to 102°F (37.7°C to 38.8°C).

Depending on the virus that caused your cold, you may also have:

• Cough
• Decreased appetite
• Headache
• Muscle pains
• retronasal drip
• Sore throat

Treatments

Treatment of flu and cold

Most colds go away within a few days. Some steps you can take to care for yourself with a cold include:

Get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids.

• Over-the-counter cold and cough medicines can help relieve symptoms in adults and older children. They don't make the cold go away faster, but they can help you feel better. These over-the-counter medications are not recommended for children under 4 years of age.
• Antibiotics should not be used to treat a common cold.
• Many alternative treatments for colds have been tried, such as vitamin C, zinc supplements, and echinacea. Talk to your healthcare provider before trying any type of herbs or supplements.

Expectations (forecast)

Expectation of flu and cold

The fluid from rhinorrhea will become thicker over time. It may turn yellow or green after a few days. This is normal and is not a reason to use antibiotics.

Most cold symptoms disappear within a week in most cases. If you still feel sick after 7 days, check with your provider. He may examine you to rule out a sinus infection, allergies, or another health problem.

Possible complications

Colds are the most common trigger of wheezing in children with asthma.

A cold can also lead to:

Bronchitis

• ear infection
• Pneumonia
• Sinusitis

When to contact a medical professional

Consult with doctor in flu and cold

Try treating the cold at home first. Contact your provider if:

• Respiratory difficulty occurs.
• Symptoms worsen or do not improve after 7 to 10 days.

Prevention

To help reduce your chances of getting sick:

• Always wash your hands. Children and adults should wash their hands after blowing their nose, after changing diapers or using the bathroom, and before eating and preparing food.
• Disinfect the environment. Clean commonly touched surfaces (such as sink handles, door latches, and sleeping mats) with an EPA-approved disinfectant.
• Choose smaller daycare classes for your children.
• Use hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol to stop the spread of germs.
• Use paper towels instead of sharing cloth towels.

Preventions of flu and cold

The immune system helps the body fight infections. Below are ways to boost your immune system:

• Avoid passive smoking. This is responsible for many health problems, including colds.
• DO NOT use antibiotics if they are not needed.
• Breastfeed babies if possible. Breast milk is known to protect against respiratory tract infections in children, even years after breastfeeding has stopped.
• Drink plenty of fluids to help your immune system work properly.
• Eat yogurt that contains "active cultures." These can help prevent colds. Probiotics can help prevent colds in children.
• Sleep well.
• The immune system helps the body fight infections. Below are ways to boost your immune system:

Alternative names

Viral upper respiratory tract infection; Cold