With summer now a memory, and fall and winter fast approaching, flu season will soon be upon us before you know it. With this in mind, I thought it would be a good time to talk about the flu and the common cold. The common cold can be caused by a number of viruses, most commonly the rhinovirus. Although it has been estimated that over 1 billion colds occur annually in the US (mostly in children, some of whom average one a month!), the cold is for the most part a self limiting disease—meaning that if you do nothing it will go away, usually in about 5 days to a week. The flu is caused by the influenza virus, and, unlike the common cold, can be a very serious illness. It is therefore important to be able to tell the difference between the two.

After ‘catching’ the cold, the sequence of events is fairly predictable: sore throat, followed by nasal symptoms (runny nose/congestion) with the occasional cough or low-grade fever (especially in children). Symptoms of the flu, while similar to the cold, are often more severe, and typically begin very rapidly. The following table presents some common symptoms of both the cold and the flu, and which symptoms are more likely with each illness.
Symptom                            Cold                                         Flu
Fever                                   Possible, often < 100°F       Common
Headache                           Rare                                         Common
Muscle aches/pain           Rare                                         Common
Fatigue/weakness            Possible                                   May last weeks
Stuffy nose                        Common                                  Sometimes
Extreme exhaustion        Rare                                          Common at beginning of illness
Sore throat                        Common                                  Rare
Chest congestion              Mild/moderate                      Moderate/severe
Vomiting/diarrhea           No                                            Possible with the “swine flu”

The best way to protect you and your family from getting sick is consistent hand washing with soap and water or an alcohol based cleaner. This is because viruses can live outside the body on doorknobs, phones, and any other everyday object for up to two hours after an infected person has contaminated them. Once on your hands, these viruses still need a place to enter your body—typically through the mouth, nose or eyes, and so not touching your face is also a way to decrease your risk. The most effective way to prevent getting the flu is the influenza vaccine. Flu vaccinations can begin as early as September, however you can get them anytime during flu season. This year’s vaccine will prevent H1N1, H3N2, and the two influenza B strains. While the flu shot is recommended for everyone older than 6 months, it is particularly important for groups at high risk of infection or high risks of complications from infection to be vaccinated:

• Children < 5 (and especially those <2) • Pregnant women • People > 50
• People living in nursing homes or other long term care facilities • People with certain chronic medical conditions • Household contacts of babies < 6 months old (they are too young to get the flu shot) • Healthcare workers

People with an allergy to chicken eggs should avoid the flu shot, because viral particles used in the shot were grown in eggs. Additionally, people who have had an allergy or Guillian-Barre Syndrome following a flu shot should avoid the flu shot. People who are currently sick with a fever should wait for the fever to break before receiving the vaccine; it is not currently approved for persons less than 6 months. Although side effects are rare, redness/soreness at the site of injection, low-grade fever or aches are possible, and they typically resolve in a couple days.

If you do get sick, it is important to avoid passing the infection to others. Don’t try to cover sneezes with your hands, use the inside of your elbow or disposable tissues, so that way you won’t pass along viral particles the next time you touch something—or someone. Be sure to disinfect common household items and children’s toys. Once infected, the most important thing to remember is to stay well rested and well hydrated, so your immune system can fight off the infection. Tea with honey/lemon or chicken soup is an inexpensive way to maintain an adequate fluid intake. If you develop a fever >101.5°F, chest pain/shortness of breath, or if symptoms continue for days or get worse, you should consult a doctor, as should patients with any chronic respiratory disease (e.g. severe asthma or COPD), patients with AIDS, those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, or people who are either very old or very young. Both the cold and the flu are caused by viruses, so antibiotics are not effective treatments; if your doctor decides to start antiviral therapy it is important you take the medications exactly as prescribed. Symptoms such as sore throat or congestion can be treated individually; you can always approach your pharmacist to help you find a medication.

#The Medicine Shoppe

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