When To See A Healthcare Provider
If, based on the symptoms, you believe you may have the flu, call your healthcare provider right away. Antiviral medications such as Tamiflu can lessen the severity and duration of the flu if started within the first 48 hours of symptom onset.
Your healthcare provider may want you to come in to confirm the influenza virus with a rapid in-office test or may prescribe an antiviral solely based on your symptoms and flu activity in your area.
You should also contact your healthcare provider if symptoms continue to worsen after a week, or if you develop a fever or productive cough after you have started to feel better. This could indicate a secondary infection, such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
Other symptoms that require a call to your healthcare provider include severe muscle pain, weakness, or unsteadiness, and any worsening of chronic medical conditions.
Covid Eye Problems In Children
While COVID-19 vaccines havent been tied to serious vision issues, researchers have detected eye problems in a number of children with the disease itself.
One study showed nearly one-fourth of children treated for COVID-19 at a Chinese hospital in early 2020 had mild eye problems. Those problems included:
Symptoms Of A Common Cold
The symptoms of a cold usually develop within a few days of becoming infected.
The main symptoms include:
- a blocked or runny nose
- sneezing
Less common symptoms of a cold include:
- a high temperature this is usually about 37-39C
- earache severe earache may be a sign of a middle ear infection
- muscle pain
- loss of taste and smell
- mild irritation of your eyes
- a feeling of pressure in your ears and face
The symptoms are usually at their worst during the first two to three days, before they gradually start to improve. In adults and older children, they usually last about 7 to 10 days, but can last longer. A cough in particular can last for two or three weeks.
Colds tend to last longer in younger children who are under five, typically lasting around 10 to 14 days. Read more about colds in children.
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Viruses Most Common Cause Of Pinkeye
Pinkeye, or conjunctivitis, is redness and swelling of the conjunctiva, the thin, clear lining inside the eyelid and on the surface of the eyeball. Irritation or infection can cause this lining to become red and swollen. Pinkeye is a very common problem in children and adults and can have many different causes, including infections caused by viruses or bacteria, allergies and exposure to irritants.
Viruses are the most common cause of infectious pinkeye. Viral pinkeye is most common in the late fall and early spring. Symptoms include redness in the white of the eye, eyelid swelling, itchy eyes, tearing and watery or slightly thick whitish drainage. Both eyes are usually affected. Viruses that cause pinkeye usually cause other symptoms as well, including sore throat and runny nose and are not usually treatable with medication. Viral pinkeye symptoms usually last between five and seven days, but can last up to three weeks.
The eye discharge in both viral and bacterial pinkeye is usually most pronounced in the morning, when the child first wakes up. Because the eyes have been closed all night, the discharge builds up during sleep, and can even crust the eye shut. The discharge can be removed by gently dabbing the area with a damp washcloth. Eyelid swelling may also be more prominent in the morning, and should improve throughout the day.
Key Symptoms Of A Cold
Fever, runny nose, fatigue, headache, and muscle aches are symptoms shared by both cold and flu. It can be difficult to identify if you have a cold or flu because these symptoms overlap.
It may be helpful to remember that a runny, stuffy nose is a common indicator of a cold, along with scratchy throat, sneezing, watery eyes, and a mild fever .
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Viral Vs Bacterial Conjunctivitis
Viral conjunctivitis is usually caused by the adenovirus, which can produce many common cold- and flu-like symptoms. However, any cold or flu virus can be transferred to your eyes and give you an eye cold.
Compared to bacterial conjunctivitis, eye colds are relatively mild and shouldnt be a cause for too much concern. Bacterial conjunctivitis can last longer and be more severe or even dangerous if not treated, so its important to know the difference.
The most noticeable difference between viral and bacterial conjunctivitis is that bacterial conjunctivitis often produces a much thicker, stickier eye discharge that may be green or yellow.
Ocular Tropism Can Be Measured In The Laboratory
The study of small mammalian models has greatly improved our understanding of influenza viruses to infect and cause disease by the ocular route. Ocular inoculation of ferrets using either a liquid or aerosol inoculum has identified that both human and avian influenza viruses can cause a productive, transmissible respiratory infection following this exposure route . Interestingly, these studies have revealed reduced clinical signs of infection, less efficient virus transmission, and diminished induction of innate host responses following ocular compared with respiratory inoculation.43,44 As supported by studies in human beings,39 replication-independent drainage of inoculum from the ocular surface to the nasal mucosa and respiratory tract via the nasolacrimal duct has been shown in the ferret model.43 Although these ferret studies have underscored the capacity for both avian and human influenza viruses to cause respiratory disease following ocular-only exposure, this species does not reflect the apparent ocular tropism associated with H7 virus infection further immunohistochemical or histopathological studies are warranted to more closely examine this finding. By contrast, mice inoculated by the ocular route with H7 subtype viruses possess detectable virus in ocular and respiratory tissues with increased frequency postinoculation compared with A H5N1 or seasonal influenza viruses.45,46
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When To See A Doctor
If other methods are not working and your eye pain persists, the following treatments â with the help of your physician â may be beneficial.
- Slit-lamp exam: An eye doctor can take a close look at both eyes to determine the underlying cause of eye pain such as injury, foreign body, or infection.
- Glasses or contact lenses: Correcting vision problems is an important step in addressing eye discomfort.
- Prescription eye drops: A doctor may prescribe more potent eye drops to treat an infection or lower the pressure behind the eye.
- Surgery: In rare cases, a procedure in the operating room may be necessary to address your eye problem.
What Are Common Flu Vaccine Side Effects To Expect
According to the CDC, you may experience short-lived, minor side effects of the flu shot or nasal spray vaccineas is the case with any vaccination or medication. You might think that side effects are a bad thing, but theyre actually signs that your immune system is responding and getting ready to protect you.
Heres how it works: The flu shot contains inactivated or incomplete strains of the influenza virus, while the nasal spray contains live attenuated strains. Neither form of the vaccine contains live flu viruses that can thrive in your body.
When you get any type of vaccine, the whole purpose is to expose your immune system to the virus, infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, tells SELF. Your immune system will start to rev up in response. These dead, partial, and weakened viruses are enough to provoke your immune system to develop antibodies to guard you against live and threatening flu viruses. It usually takes about two weeks for those to kick in and offer you protection, per the CDC.
Sometimes your immune system does this without causing noticeable symptoms, but other times, youll experience a few minor side effects as a result. Here are the most common ones you might experience:
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Why Is Pink Eye More Common During Cold And Flu Season
Cold and flu season is bad enough, but a case of pink eye can make it even worse. Its is a common eye infection that causes inflammation of the thin membrane that coats the whites of your eyes and the inside lining of the eyelids. Youll need to know the steps you can take to avoid it, as well as what to do if you contract an infection.
Pink eye is more common in cold and flu season due to an increased risk of direct contact and lack of sunlight, which can negatively affect your immune system. You can get it by touching your eye, coming in contact with someone who has it, or picking it up from an infected surface. Symptoms include redness, itchiness, and watery eyes.
You can prevent infection by washing your hands, using hand sanitizer, and avoiding touching your eyes. Talk to your doctor about treatment since different forms of conjunctivitis require different forms of treatment.
Can A Cold Virus Cause Your Teeth To Hurt
The short answer to this question is yes.
However, that doesnt necessarily mean that theres an issue with your oral health, especially if the pain isnt limited to one tooth.
In fact, if you have a cold or flu and are experiencing pain in your upper teeth, especially toward the rear of your mouth, the pain might actually be a side effect of acute sinusitis.
Acute sinusitis tooth pain can be triggered by a virus or bacterial infection. Its symptoms include thick yellow or greenish mucous draining from the nose or down the throat, pain and pressure around your eyes, cheeks, and nose, and nasal congestion. You may experience pain in your upper rear teeth simply because of their close proximity to your infected sinuses.
Although most common colds are gone within 7 10 days, acute sinusitis can stick around for up to four weeks. If rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medicines arent helping, seeing your doctor for a prescription might be your best bet to relieve your symptoms, and eliminate the pain youre feeling in your teeth.
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What Is The Difference Between Adult And Child Colds
Children get colds far more often than adults. While adults usually have two to four colds a year, children can catch as many as 8 to 12.
The symptoms of a cold are generally similar in adults and children, including a blocked or runny nose, sneezing and a high temperature .
Most colds in children get better on their own without treatment, although they may take a little bit longer to recover than an adult would.
Sometimes it may seem as though you child has had a cold for a very long time, when in fact they’ve had several different minor infections with a short recovery time in between.
When Should I Seek Medical Help
Anyone can develop serious complications from the flu, but certain people are at an especially high risk, including men and women over age 65, those with certain chronic health conditions , pregnant women, and children younger than 5 .
The CDC lists a number of emergency warning signs of the flu. For adults, these include the following symptoms:
- Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Persistent dizziness, confusion, or inability to rouse from sleep
- Seizures
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Can Adenovirus Infections Be Prevented
To help prevent the spread of adenovirus infections, parents and other caregivers should:
- make sure kids and caregivers wash their hands well and often
- keep shared surfaces clean
- keep kids with infections out of group settings until symptoms are gone
- teach kids to sneeze and cough into shirtsleeves or tissues not their hands
Throat Irritation And Cough
As discharge from your sinuses drains down the back of your throat, it can cause irritation, especially over a long period of time. This can lead to a persistent and annoying cough, which can be worse when lying down to sleep or first thing in the morning after getting up from bed.
It can also make sleeping difficult. Sleeping upright or with your head elevated can help reduce the frequency and intensity of your coughing.
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When Should You Seek Help
Fortunately, the aches and pains are temporary. Once the body fights the infection, the pain should subside. If symptoms are ongoing or severely worsening, there may be a more significant underlying issue, Donaldson says.
“Influenza cannot be treated with antibiotics, but prolonged viral symptoms can turn into a bacterial bronchitis and or pneumonia,” he says. “A cough producing mucas that is not clear or white may require more aggressive treatment involving antibiotics.”
While its common for joints to feel stiff or sore, Donaldson says you should be able to move them fully. Even if its uncomfortable, you should still have full mobility of your joints, he says. If you lose movement or your joints are red or swollen, consider seeking medical attention.
To learn more about what you can do to protect yourself and your family during the flu season, visit our flu page at lluh.org/flu. Loma Linda University Health Primary Care and Urgent Care locations are available for in-person or virtual visits. Appointments can be made quickly and easily online at MyChart or by calling .
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How Can I Stop A Cold Spreading
You can take some simple steps to help prevent the spread of a cold. For example:
- wash your hands regularly, particularly before touching your nose or mouth and before handling food
- always sneeze and cough into tissues this will help prevent the virus-containing droplets from your nose and mouth entering the air, where they can infect others you should throw away used tissues immediately and wash your hands
- clean surfaces regularly to keep them free of germs
- use your own cup, plates, cutlery and kitchen utensils
- don’t share towels or toys with someone who has a cold
It’s been suggested that vitamin C, zinc and garlic supplements may help reduce your risk of getting a cold, but there’s currently not enough strong evidence to support this.
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Finding The Cause Depends On The Type Of Virus
Both a cold and the flu, or influenza, are respiratory infections, but they’re caused by different viruses. A cold can be caused by any one of more than 200 distinct viruses, while there are only a handful of viruses that cause the flu.
As a general rule, the flu is usually more intense and fierce than the common cold. In some situations, it can be important to know if you have the flu, since it is more likely to lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, bacterial infection, or hospitalization. “Watch out for a fever that goes away and then comes back. That could mean that a cold or flu has turned into a bacterial infection,” warns Charles Foster, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Pediatric Infectious Diseases in Ohio.
Symptoms Causes And Treatments Of An Eye Cold
Posted in Eye Disorders, Preventative Eye Care | July 28, 2020
Do You Have an Eye Cold?
Colds and other viral infections dont just cause sneezing and coughing but they may also affect your eyes. If your eyes are red, uncomfortable, and wont stop watering, an eye cold may be to blame.
What is an Eye Cold?
An eye cold occurs when you have viral conjunctivitis, commonly called pink eye. Viruses affect mucous membranes in your body, including those in the eyes, lungs, and nose.
Viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious and can be spread by person-to-person contact or by touching an object contaminated by the virus. If someone coughs near you or shakes your hand after wiping their eyes, you may catch an eye cold. If you already have a cold, it may spread to your eyes if you cough or sneeze into your hand then rub your eyes.
Although viral conjunctivitis isnt a serious eye infection, you might need to stay home from school or work to prevent the virus from infecting other people.
What Are the Symptoms of Viral Conjunctivitis?
If you have viral conjunctivitis, you may develop one or more of these signs and symptoms:
- The Whites of Your Eyes Look Pink or Red
- Watery Eyes
- Eyelid Swelling
- A Feeling That Something Is Stuck in Your Eye
These symptoms may also occur if you have allergic or bacterial conjunctivitis. If youve havent been sick but have allergies, your eye discomfort may be related to your allergies.
How Can I Treat an Eye Cold at Home?
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Why Do Muscles Joints Ache During The Flu
Orthopaedic surgeon breaks down whats happening in your joints when you have the flu.
In the 2019-2020 flu season, nearly 56 million cases of influenza were reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In many of those cases, the virus was accompanied by muscle and joint aches.
Muscle pain is never enjoyable, and can cause alarm in patients, says Thomas Donaldson, MD, chair of orthopaedics at Loma Linda University Health. They can be especially frustrating for people who already experience issues with joint or bone health, he says.
When a body is infected with a virus, the immune system works to fight the infection. Donaldson says this fight could lead you to feel muscle inflammation and weakness called myositis or joint and muscle pain called myalgia. Pain manifested in the joints is called arthralgia is also a commonly associated with a fever.
Can You Get The Flu Vaccine And Covid
You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine during the same visit, according to the CDC and based on extensive research with vaccines, Dr. Carney says. This gives people the opportunity to get vaccinated for both flu and COVID-19 at the same time, increasing their protection against both of these infections.
While there isnt a ton of information or research available on getting the COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time, the CDC makes their recommendation based on research into how people react to other combinations of vaccines. Its not clear if getting both vaccines at the same time will increase your chances of having side effects. Early research done in the U.K. of 670 adults shows that people who received their second COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine at the same time were more likely to have local reactions, which includes side effects like arm pain and swelling near the injection site, compared to people who only got the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the November 2021 paper published in The Lancet2.
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