Cold and Flu or influenza: Compared with most other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, influenza or flu infection usually causes a more severe illness with a mortality rate of about 0.1% of people infected with the virus. Cold symptoms (for example, sore throat, runny nose, cough with possible phlegm production; congestion, and slight fever) are similar to flu symptoms, but the flu symptoms are more severe, last longer, and may include vomiting, diarrhea, and dry cough.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Cold
The common cold is medically referred to as a upper respiratory tract viral infection a self-limited contagious disease that can be caused by a number of different types of viruses.
Symptoms of the common cold may include cough, sore throat, low-grade fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing etc.
More than 200 different types of viruses are known to cause the common cold, with rhinovirus causing approximately 30%-40% of all adult colds.
- Rhinovirus multiplies best at temperatures found in the nose (in summer).
- Rhinovirus infection rates peak from September to November and March to May.
- Nevertheless, rhinovirus may cause disease at any time of year. During peak periods, up to 80% of colds may be due to rhinovirus.
Because the common cold can be caused by so many different viruses, the progression and severity of symptoms vary from individual to individual. In general, symptoms will develop two to three days after the virus is contracted (incubation period).
The type of symptoms will vary, with some individuals developing only nasal congestion, while others may develop any or all of the symptoms described above.
Most colds will radiates/moves deeper after seven to 10 days, though some individuals experience a shorter course and others a more prolonged illness, depending on the particular virus involved, and the infected person’s underlying health issues.
The four typical stages of a common cold are as follows:
- Stage 1 (incubation period): This refers to the stage between the infection by a cold virus and the development of symptoms. This stage may last for one to three days, although for some it may be as short as 10 to 12 hours.
- Stage 2 (appearance and progression of symptoms): In this stage, symptoms begin and reach their peak intensity. The symptoms of a cold generally peak in one to three days. Typical cold symptoms include a sore throat, sneezing, cough, a stuffy nose, a runny nose (clear, watery discharge from the nose), feeling sick, headache, body ache, and fever. Fever is more commonly seen in children.
- Stage 3: This stage is marked by a decline and eventual fading of cold symptoms. The symptoms usually subside and goes deeper between 3 and 10 days. After two to three days of the appearance of symptoms, the discharge from the nose may appear white, yellow, or green; which means more sever infection.
- Stage 4: In this stage, the person feels normal and gets on their feet. There may be some lingering symptoms such as mild cough, stuffy nose, and scanty nasal discharge. Such mild symptoms may last up to two weeks and convert into more severe diseases like pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, asthma etc.
Other commonly implicated viruses include coronavirus (COVID-19), adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and parainfluenza virus.
Because so many different viruses can cause the common cold, and because new cold viruses constantly develop, the body never builds up resistance against all of them. For this reason, colds are a frequent and recurring problem. In fact, children in preschool and elementary school can have six to 12 colds per year while adolescents and adults typically have two to four colds per year.
How does the common cold spread?
The common cold is spread either by direct contact with infected secretions from contaminated surfaces or by inhaling the airborne virus after individuals sneeze or cough. Person-to-person transmission often occurs when an individual has a cold blow or touches their nose and then touches someone or something else. A healthy individual who then makes direct contact with these secretions can subsequently become infected, often after their contaminated hands contact their own eyes, nose, or mouth.
On room temperature a cold virus can live on frequently touched objects such as doorknobs, pens, books, cell phones, computer keyboards, and coffee cups for several hours and can thus be acquired from contact with these objects.
Symptoms and incubation period of the common cold
Common cold symptoms typically begin two to three days after acquiring the infection (incubation period), though this may vary depending on the type of virus causing the infection. Individuals also tend to be most contagious during the initial two to three days of having symptoms. Cold viruses target mainly the upper respiratory tract (nose, sinuses, and throat). Symptoms and signs of the common cold may also vary depending on the virus responsible for the infection and may include
- stuffy nose or nasal drainage,
- sore or scratchy throat,
- sneezing,
- hoarseness,
- cough,
- low-grade fever,
- headache,
- earache,
- body aches,
- loss of appetite, and
- fatigue.
The signs and symptoms of the common cold in infants and children are similar to those in adults.
How long is the common cold contagious?
The common cold can be contagious from one to two days before the symptoms begin up until the symptoms have completely resolved. However, the common cold is typically most contagious during the initial two to three days of illness.
Diagnose the common cold
A doctor will generally diagnose the common cold based on the description of the symptoms and the findings during the physical exam. Laboratory testing and imaging studies are generally not necessary unless there are concerns about another underlying medical condition, such as a bacterial disease or potential complications of the common cold.
Allopathic treatment for the common cold
There is no cure for the common cold in allopathy.
According to allopaths, the common cold is a self-limiting illness that will resolve spontaneously with time and expectant management. Home remedies and medical treatments are directed at alleviating the symptoms associated with the common cold while the body fights off the infection. Allopathic antibiotics play no role in treating the common cold. Antibiotics are effective only against illnesses caused by bacteria, while colds are caused by viruses. Not only do antibiotics not help, but they can rarely also cause severe allergic reactions that can sometimes be fatal.
Furthermore, using antibiotics when they are not necessary has led to the growth of several strains of common bacteria that have become resistant to certain antibiotics. For these and other reasons, it is important to limit the use of antibiotics to situations in which they are allopathically indicated.
Occasionally, a bacterial infection such as sinusitis or a middle ear infection (acute otitis media) can develop following the common cold, however, the decision to treat with antibiotics should be determined by a doctor or health care professional after a medical evaluation.
About 30% of children with middle ear infections have rhinovirus. Because middle ear infection may be viral, some allopaths suggest treating acute otitis media in children with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and resorting to antibiotics only if there is worsening or no improvement.
Allopathic doctors advises home treatment for upper respiratory infections for example getting rest and drinking plenty of fluids.
In older children and adults, common over-the-counter drugs such as throat lozenges, throat sprays, cough drops, and syrups may help relieve symptoms, though they will not prevent or shorten the duration of the common cold.
Gargling with warm salt water may help people with sore throats. Saline nasal sprays may also be beneficial.
Decongestant drugs such as pseudoephedrine or antihistamines may be used for nasal symptoms.
It is important to note that all allopathic drugs including over-the-counter medications may cause undesirable side effects, therefore they must be taken with care and as directed by the physician.
Pregnant women should discuss the safety of allopathic drugs with their doctors.
Acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen are common over-the-counter medicines that can help with fever, sore throat, headache, and body aches, with severe side effects like liver, gastrointestinal and renal toxicity.
The treatment for infants and small children with the common cold is also just supportive. It is especially important to allow rest and encourage plenty of fluids in order to prevent dehydration. Nasal drops and bulb suctioning may be used to clear nasal mucus from the nasal passages in infants. Medicines such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen may be taken for pain or fever based on the package recommendations for age and weight.
Do not use aspirin or aspirin-containing medications because it has been associated with a rare, potentially fatal condition called Reye’s syndrome.
Over-the-counter cough and other cold allopathic drugs for infants and young children are not recommended because of serious and potentially life-threatening side effects.
Common alternative treatment to prevent or treat the common cold, such as vitamin C, zinc, Capsicum, Ars. Album, Drosera, echinacea, and other many Homeopathic medicines have had good results in studies evaluating their effectiveness. Therefore, discuss these treatment options with a healthcare professional.
Complications of the common cold
Complications that may arise from the common cold include
- the development of a bacterial middle ear infection (otitis media) or bacterial sinusitis.
- In individuals with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the common cold can sometimes trigger an exacerbation of their illness, leading to shortness of breath and increased wheezing.
- Though uncommon, pneumonia can sometimes develop as a secondary infection in individuals with the common cold. For example, coronaviruses, rhinoviruses, and several other cold-causing viruses can cause bronchitis and pneumonia in people with very weakened immune systems.
Homeopathic treatment for Common cold and Flu or influenza is the same is described in the end of this article.
Flu or influenza
Influenza, commonly called “the flu,” is an illness caused by RNA viruses (Orthomyxoviridae family) that infect the respiratory tract of many animals, birds, and humans. In most people, the infection results in the person getting a fever, cough, headache, and malaise (tired, no energy); some patient also may develop a sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
According to allopathic researchers, the majority of individuals has flu symptoms for about 1-2 weeks and then recovers with no problems which is i (Dr Qaisar Ahmed) think is not true.
Compared with most other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, influenza (flu) infection can cause a more severe illness with a mortality rate (death rate) of about 0.1% of people infected with the virus.
There are situations in which some flu outbreaks are severe. These severe outbreaks occur when a portion of the human population is exposed to a flu strain against which the population has little or no immunity because the virus has become altered in a significant way. These outbreaks are usually termed epidemics.
Unusually severe worldwide outbreaks (pandemics) have occurred several times in the last hundred years since influenza virus was identified in 1933. By an examination of preserved tissue, the worst influenza pandemic (also termed the Spanish flu or Spanish influenza) occurred in 1918 when the virus caused between 40-100 million deaths worldwide, with a mortality rate estimated to range from 2%-20%.
In April 2009, a new influenza strain against which the world population has little or no immunity was isolated from humans in Mexico. It quickly spread throughout the world so fast that the WHO declared this new flu strain (first termed novel H1N1 influenza A swine flu, often later shortened to H1N1 or swine flu) as the cause of a pandemic on June 11, 2009.
This was the first declared flu pandemic in 41 years. Fortunately, there was a worldwide response that included vaccine production, good hygiene practices (especially hand washing), and the virus (H1N1) caused far less morbidity and mortality than was expected and predicted. The WHO declared the pandemic’s end on Aug. 10, 2010, because it no longer fits into the WHO’s criteria for a pandemic.
Researchers identified a new influenza-related viral strain, H3N2, in 2011, but this strain has caused only about 330 infections with one death in the U.S. Since 2003, researchers identified another strain, H5N1, a bird flu virus, that caused about 650 human infections. This virus has not been detected in the U.S. and easily spreads among people in contrast to other flu strains. Unfortunately, people infected with H5N1 have a high death rate (about 60% of infected people die). Currently, H5N1 does not readily transfer from person to person like other flu viruses.
The most recent data for the mortality (death rates) from the influenza rate (death rate) for the United States in 2016 indicates that mortality from influenza varies from year to year. Death rates estimated by the CDC range from about 12,000 during 2011-2012 to 56,000 during 2012-2013. In the 2017-2018 season, deaths reached a new high of about 79,000. The CDC estimates between 24,000-62,000 deaths occurred in the 2019-2020 flu season. Experts suggest that a large percentage of people went unvaccinated or refused to vaccinate family members, causing an increased number of deaths due to the flu.
Haemophilus influenzae is a bacterium incorrectly considered to cause the flu until the virus was demonstrated to be the correct cause in 1933. This bacterium can cause lung infections in infants and young children, and it occasionally causes ear, eye, sinus, joint, and a few other infections, but it does not cause the flu.
Another confusing term is stomach flu. This term refers to a gastrointestinal tract infection, not a respiratory infection like influenza (flu). Influenza viruses do not cause stomach flu (gastroenteritis). Another name problem is with the condition called swine flu. Swine flu is a flu-like illness that usually infects pigs, but the term swine flu was applied to a flu strain that also could infect humans (H1N1).
Although initially, symptoms of influenza may mimic those of a cold, influenza is more debilitating with symptoms of fatigue, fever, and respiratory congestion. Colds can be caused by over 100 different virus types, but only influenza viruses (and subtypes) A, B, and C cause the flu. In addition, colds do not lead to life-threatening illnesses like pneumonia, but severe infections with influenza viruses can lead to pneumonia or even death.
The common cold, including chest cold and head cold (ENT), and seasonal flu are caused by viruses.
Flu symptoms are similar, but include fever, headache and muscle soreness.
Differentiation Between Cold and Flu
How does a doctor know if patient have flu or cold symptoms ?
- Common Cold symptoms :
A cold is a milder respiratory illness usually begin with a sore throat, which usually goes away after a day or two. Cold symptoms usually last for about a week, During the first three days patient having cold symptoms, are contagious.
Nasal symptoms are : runny nose, congestion of nose with watery nasal secretions for the first few days. Later, these secretions become thicker and darker, along with cough by the fourth and fifth days (radiates to the lower respiratory system). Temperature is uncommon in adults, but a slight fever is possible. Children are more likely to have a temperature with cold.
- Flu symptoms :
Flu symptoms are usually more severe than cold symptoms and can make patient feel quite ill for a few days to few weeks.
Symptoms of flu include: sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and soreness, congestion along with cough.
Swine flu in particular is also associated with vomiting and diarrhea.
Most flu symptoms looks like they are gradually improving (over two to five days), but it’s not uncommon to feel run down for a week or more.
A common complication of the flu is pneumonia (shortness of breath, fever that comes back after having been gone for a day or two), particularly in the young, elderly, or people with lung or heart problems.
How long is the flu contagious?
The flu is typically contagious about 24-48 hours before symptoms appear (from about the last day of the incubation period) and in normal healthy adults is contagious for another 5-7 days. Children are usually contagious for a little while longer (about 7-10 days). Individuals with severe infections may be contagious as long as symptoms last (about 7-14 days).
Diagnose the flu or influenza
Medical professionals clinically diagnose the flu by evaluating the patient’s history of association with people known to have the disease and their symptoms listed above. Usually, a doctor performs a quick test (for example, nasopharyngeal swab sample) to see if the patient has an influenza A or B viral infection.
Most of the tests can distinguish between A and B types. The test can be negative (no flu infection) or positive for types A or B. If it is positive for type A, the person could have a conventional flu strain or a potentially more aggressive strain such as H1N1. Most of the rapid tests are based on PCR technology that identifies the genetic material of the virus. Some rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) can screen for influenza in about 10-30 minutes.
Swine flu (H1N1) and other influenza strains like bird flu or H3N2 are definitively diagnosed by identifying the particular surface proteins or genetic material associated with the virus strain.
Clinical checkup :
First of all check patient’s temperature; The table given below will help determine if your patient have cold or flu symptoms :-
| Symptoms | Cold | Flu |
| Fever | Sometimes, usually mild | Usual; higher (100-102 F; occasionally higher, especially in young children); lasts 3 to 4 days |
| Headache | Occasionally | Common |
| General Aches, Pains | Slight | Usual; often severe |
| Fatigue, Weakness | Sometimes | Usual; can last 2 to 3 weeks |
| Extreme Exhaustion | Never | Usual; at the beginning of the illness |
| Stuffy Nose | Common | Sometimes |
| Sneezing | Usual | Sometimes |
| Sore Throat | Common | Sometimes |
| Chest Discomfort, Cough | Mild to moderate; hacking cough | Common; can become severe |
| Complications | Sinus congestion; middle ear infection | Sinusitis, bronchitis, ear infection, pneumonia; can be life-threatening |
Allopathic treatment for flu
The CDC published the following guidance concerning antiviral drugs:
Antiviral medications with activity against influenza viruses (anti-influenza drugs) are an important adjunct to influenza vaccine in the control of influenza.
- Influenza antiviral prescription drugs treat influenza or to prevent influenza.
- Oseltamivir, zanamivir, and peramivir are chemically related antiviral medications known as neuraminidase inhibitors that have activity against both influenza A and B viruses.
- In October 2018 (10/24/2018), the FDA approved a new antiviral drug (baloxavir marboxil [Xofluza]) for flu treatment that prevents viral replication.
Doctors recommend the following antiviral medications for the treatment of influenza or flu: oral oseltamivir, inhaled zanamivir, intravenous peramivir, and oral Baloxavir.
Over-the-counter medications that may help reduce symptoms of congestion (decongestants), coughing (cough medicine), and dehydration include diphenhydramine (Benadryl), acetaminophen (Tylenol), NSAIDs, guaifenesin, dextromethorphan, pseudoephedrine, and oral fluids. Aspirin may be used in adults but not in children.
P.S: Antibiotics treat bacterial infections, not viral illnesses like the flu.
Individuals with the flu may also benefit from some additional bed rest, throat lozenges, and possibly nasal irrigation; drinking fluids may help prevent symptoms of dehydration (for example, dry mucous
membranes and decreased urination).
Prevention from flu and cold :
The most important prevention measure for preventing colds and flu is frequent hand washing. Hand washing by rubbing the hands with good quality hand wash with warm water for at least 20 seconds helps to slough germs off the skin.
Homeopathic medicines for Cold and Flu or Influenza
No single remedy can cure a person with cold or flu completely; Doctor should advise few medicines (or combination) according to each and every patient’s individual history.
These homeopathic medications can be used in conjunction with antiretroviral therapy along with other treatments for influenza and have been shown to be very effective in alleviating some of the commonly encountered symptoms and related complications.
Utmost care must be ensured and these homeopathic medicine for any patient/person should not be taken without consulting a homeopathic doctor.
Common Cold and flu or influenza Remedy Options:
P. S : This article is only for doctors having good knowledge about Homeopathy and allopathy, for learning purpose(s).
For proper consultation and treatment, please visit our clinic.
Location, address and contact numbers are given below.
NoN of above mentioned medicine(s) is/are the full/complete treatment, but just hints for treatment; every patient has his/her own constitutional medicine.
To order medicine by courier, please send your details at WhatsApp– +923119884588
Dr. Sayyad Qaisar Ahmed (MD {Ukraine}, DHMS), Abdominal Surgeries, Oncological surgeries, Gastroenterologist, Specialist Homeopathic Medicines.
Senior research officer at Dnepropetrovsk state medical academy Ukraine.
Location: Al-Haytham clinic, Umer Farooq Chowk Risalpur Sadder (0923631023, 03119884588), K.P.K, Pakistan.
Find more about Dr Sayed Qaisar Ahmed at :
https://www.youtube.com/Dr Qaisar Ahmed
Comments are closed.