What are colds and flu?
A cold is a highly contagious viral infection that last about a week, but may last as long as two weeks. Symptoms of a cold can include: sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing and cough. Sometimes, a cold may also cause conjunctivitis (“pink eye”), muscle aches, fatigue, malaise, headaches, muscle weakness, and loss of appetite. Rhinoviruses cause most common colds, although other viruses can cause them as well. Colds usually last about a week, but symptoms may last for as long as two weeks.
Fever and extreme exhaustion are symptoms more characteristic of influenza (“the flu”), another infectious viral disease (caused by one of three different types of influenza virus). Other common symptoms of influenza include: chills, a high fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort. While influenza may produce nausea and vomiting (especially in children), these symptoms are more characteristic of the unrelated “stomach flu” or gastroenteritis or even of food poisoning. The flu usually lasts from 1-2 weeks, but can last as long as a month.
How common are colds and flu?
The average adult catches from 1 to 3 colds a year, usually during the winter. Because their immune system is less well-developed, children get about 5 to 7 colds a year, with infants catching as many as eight per year. It is estimated that 40% of time lost from work and 30% of school absences are due to the common cold. (source)
The flu affects Canadians primarily from November through April. From 10% to 25% of the population develops the flu in a given year. Most of these people recover completely, but about 4 000 to 8 000 Canadians (mostly seniors) die from flu-related pneumonia or other complications. (source)
How can I keep from catching a cold or flu?
You can catch both colds and flus quite easily. Coughing and sneezing and hand-to-hand contact easily transmit both types of virus; you can even catch it by touching something like a door knob, pen or phone that an infected person was using. The first time you rub your eyes or nose, the virus has a chance to enter your body. (source)
Regular hand-washing helps to minimise your risk, since it reduces your chances of becoming infected after touching contaminated surfaces. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or wash your hands with anti-microbial soap and warm water, for as long as it takes to sing the alphabet (about 15 seconds). Turn off the tap with a paper towel.
To prevent spreading the virus to others, Toronto Public Health also recommends coughing and sneezing into your sleeve, which keeps the germs off your hands and reduces the chances of contaminating others.
The flu is a much more serious disease than a cold: extreme cases can turn into pneumonia, which can be fatal among the very young, the very old, or among people whose immune system has been compromised. For this reason, during flu season doctors recommend that certain groups of people receive a flu vaccination at a flu clinic or in their doctor’s office. In Toronto, flu vaccination clinics are open October 27 to December 13, 2008, and again January 5-8, 2009.
The flu takes from 1-4 days to develop, but people become contagious before symptoms appear, often just the day after the virus enters the body. Adults can spread the virus to others for about 6 days, and children remain infectious for up to 10 days. (source)
According to the Canadian Medical Association :
Only flu antibodies can prevent flu. The only ways to generate antibodies are to be infected or to get vaccinated. Vaccination needs to be repeated every year. (…)The vaccine is over 80% effective in preventing flu in healthy adults. It’s given to anyone classified as high-risk, health workers, and anyone who wants to avoid the flu. The flu vaccine is paid for by the government in some Canadian provinces and universal vaccination is encouraged. (source)
If I do get a cold or flu, what can I do to get better?
Antibiotics are not effective against viral infections (like flu and the cold).
Colds go away on their own. Bed rest, plenty of fluids and a salt-water gargle can help you feel better more quickly. A number of over-the-counter medications help minimise specific symptoms, although these are not recommended for children. If you get the flu, the normal treatment is rest, plenty of liquids, and something to fight the fever.
Alternative treatments for colds and flu
Some believe that echinacea may help prevent or reduce the severity of colds and flu, although it may cause problems for people with allergies. Studies (2002, 2004, 2005) seem not to have found conclusive proof, however.
Some evidence suggests that the European elder may have some benefits for people suffering from the flu. Ginger extract is a common ingredient in over-the-counter cold and flu products.
Others recommend zinc lozenges (although the evidence is conflicting) and vitamin C to help prevent or treat colds. Some studies (2000, 2001, 2005) indicate that deficiencies in selenium or vitamin E may lower your resistance to infection.
Siberian ginseng may boost your immune system. One human study found that compared to placebo, garlic supplements significantly helped reduce viral infections such as colds. (source)
Certain herbs and spices also have a decongestant effect, notably horseradish, mustard, cayenne pepper, cloves, curry, ginger and cinnamon. (source). As does drinking hot liquids such as miso or chicken soup.
Donna MacLeod for Consumer Health Information Service, Toronto Public Library (read original post)
Further reading
About the common cold:
- Canadian Medical Association. Cold. (October 2005)
- About Kids’ Health. Infections: Common cold. (November 2007)
- Mayo Clinic. Common cold. (September 2007); Cold remedies: Cold remedies: What works, what doesn’t, what can’t hurt. (February 2008); Common cold in babies. (October 2008)
About the flu:
- Canadian Medical Association. Influenza. (March 2008)
- Government of Canada, Pandemic Influenza website. Types of flu. (July 2006)
- Kids Health. Infections: Influenza (Flu) (September 2008)
- Health Canada. Influenza (Flu). (July 2007)
- Health Canada. It’s your health: Influenza (the “flu”) (November 2005)
- Public Health Agency of Canada. Understanding influenza (September 2006)
- Toronto Public Health. Flu vaccination clinics.
About prevention:
- Toronto Public Health. Stop the spread of germs: Keep your hands clean. (November 2006);
Stop the spread of germs: Cover your cough (November 2006);
Handwashing. (undated). Available in many languages. - Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety. Hand washing: Reducing the risk of common infections. (April 2006);
Good Hygiene Practices – Reducing the Spread of Infections and Viruses (April 2006);
Common Cold (August 2008) - OtoRhinoLounsburgology Productions. Cough Safe website. (2006). Includes videos of cough and sneeze techniques.
- Natural News. Eight natural ways to prevent cold and flu. (October 2008)
About medication and herbal products:
- CAMline. (Note: Use menu at left for more information)
Echinacea. (February 2006)
Garlic. (January 2005)
Siberian ginseng. (August 2005)
Zinc. (December 2006) - NCCAM. Herbs at a glance: European elder (April 2008)
Herbs at a glance: Echinacea (March 2008)
Herbs at a glance: Ginger (May 2008)
Echinacea for the Prevention and Treatment of Colds in Adults: Research Results and Implications for Future Studies. (October 2005) - MedlinePlus. Vitamin C and colds. (July 2007)
- American Academy of Family Physicians. Over the counter medicines and how they work. (March 2008)
- Passeport Santé. Rhume et grippe. (octobre 2008) In French only.