The Flu Virus Vs A Common Cold
A new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences looked into this question. The team found that yes, it is possible to be sick with a cold and the flu viruses at the same time although, its not the norm.
The researchers conducted their studies in Scotland in the United Kingdom with 36,000+ participants who had various respiratory infections. The illnesses included adenoviruses, influenza A and B, rhinoviruses, and respiratory syncytial virus. The scientists followed these individuals from 2005-2013.
Medicine Net says that the flu viruses are stronger than the cold viruses and tend to overtake the cold that a person has been exposed to. So, when a person has both viruses in their system, the flu wins.
According to the site, Dr. Selma Nickbakhsh, one of the researchers from the University of Glasgow, goes on to explain the results of the study. Our key finding shows that competition with flu in winter may explain why cold infections tend to diminish during winter seasons.
Dr. Nickbakhsh elaborated, focusing on the rhinovirus, a very common source of the cold. She notes a regular decline in rhinovirus cases during the winter when flu season usually heats up. In the same way, as lions and spotted hyenas compete for food resources, we believe respiratory viruses may be competing for resources in the respiratory tract, said Dr. Nickbakhsh.
How Is The Common Cold Treated
Currently, there is no medicine available to cure or shorten the duration of the common cold. However, the following are some treatments that may help to relieve some symptoms of the cold:
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Over-the-counter cold medicines, such as decongestants and cough medicine
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Over-the-counter antihistamines
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Rest
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Pain relievers for headache or fever
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Warm, salt water gargling for sore throat
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Petroleum jelly for raw, chapped skin around the nose and lips
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Warm steam for congestion
Because colds are caused by viruses, antibiotics don’t work. Antibiotics are only effective when given to treat bacterial infections.
Do not give aspirin to a child who has fever. Aspirin, when given as treatment for viral illnesses in children, has been associated with Reye syndrome. This is a potentially serious or deadly disorder in children.
When To Seek Emergency Care
Do you have a fever with a cold or flu? With colds, fevers are usually mild, if they appear at all. Children are more likely than adults to get a fever from having a cold.
If you do have a fever, make sure to monitor it. A high fever is one flu symptom that can quickly become dangerous if you dont take action.
When you have the flu, your fever may rise over 102°F. Prolonged fever above this point, as well as other dangerous symptoms such as chest pain or persistent vomiting, should prompt you to call a doctor.
You should seek medical care for children if they have:
- High fever over 103°F
- Prolonged fever
- Earaches or ear drainage
- Blueish tint to the skin
- Trouble waking up
- Stomach pain
- Irritability
You should also call a doctor if their chronic medical conditions, like heart disease or diabetes, get worse. In addition, look for symptoms that seem to get better and then return worse than before.
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Related Conditions Of Cold And Flu
The CDCs website presents weekly updates on flu activity nationwide. The site details how the flu may be spreading in each state and which strains of the virus are most prominent. It also contains useful guidelines for the most current treatments and vaccinations.
Founded in 1973, the NFID is a nonprofit dedicated to educating the public and healthcare providers about infectious diseases. Its influenza web page provides basic information about the flu and links to sections about influenza in vulnerable segments of the population, such as children and older adults.
Thanks to this search function on the CDC’s website, you can locate your state health department, which can then help you find direct access to your countys health department. Your local health department will likely provide updated information on flu activity in your area, as well as information on how to access vaccinations.
The WHOs global influenza website provides worldwide surveillance information on flu outbreaks and what prevention efforts are taking place. It also provides information from its conferences regarding future strategies to combat the flu.
What The Study Uncovered
The study from researchers at the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom notes there have been numerous clues that viruses like those that cause the flu and common cold interact.
This includes the fact that the flu and cold tend to peak at different times of the year.
To see if there was statistical evidence of this interaction, researchers looked at 9 years of data, covering 44,230 cases of a respiratory illness in which each person was tested for 11 virus groups.
The researchers concluded that the viruses likely interact in a way that makes it unlikely someone would show symptoms of more than one infection at once.
This is a very interesting study, Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, chief of Stanford Universitys Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases in California, told Healthline.
Whats really interesting is the opportunity to understand how organisms work together or collaborate, if you will.
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How Long Does Flu Last And Is It Serious
If you have flu, you generally start to feel ill within a few days of being infected.
You should begin to feel much better within a week or so, although you may feel tired for much longer.
You’ll usually be most infectious from the day your symptoms start and for a further 3 to 7 days. Children and people with weaker immune systems may remain infectious for longer.
Most people will make a full recovery and won’t experience any further problems, but elderly people and people with certain long-term medical conditions are more likely to have a bad case of flu or develop a serious complication, such as a chest infection.
Read more about the complications of flu
Preventing The Common Cold
On the other hand, the common cold is caused by a large variety of viruses, which mutate quite frequently during reproduction, resulting in constantly changing virus strains. Thus, successful immunization is highly improbable.
The best way to avoid a cold is to avoid close contact with existing sufferers to wash hands thoroughly and regularly and to avoid touching the mouth and face. Anti-bacterial soaps have no effect on the cold virus it is the mechanical action of hand washing that removes the virus particles.
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The Difference Between The Flu A Cold And Allergies
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If you have a runny nose, a stuffy head, and generally feel under the weather, how do you know whether its allergies making you feel miserable, a cold, or the more serious flu virus?
With the current flu season showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon it is important to know to treat accordingly, and if you do have a virus to avoid passing it to someone else.
Isabel Valdez, a physician assistant and instructor of family and community medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, gives her expert tips on how to tell what is going on.
READ MORE: Health officials warn of a shorter but more intense flu season
Causes And Risk Factors Of Cold And Flu
The flu is caused by influenza viruses, but many distinct viruses can cause a cold.
Certain populations are more susceptible to getting a cold or the flu, including the very young, older adults, and people with a compromised immune system.
Factors that can increase your risk of becoming infected include:
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What Are The Symptoms Of Flu Versus The Symptoms Of A Cold
The symptoms of flu can include fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue . Cold symptoms are usually milder than the symptoms of flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems.
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Key Points About The Common Cold
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A cold is caused by a virus that causes inflammation of the membranes that line the nose and throat.
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The common cold is very easily spread to others. It’s often spread through airborne droplets that are coughed or sneezed into the air by the sick person. The droplets are then inhaled by another person.
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Symptoms may include a stuffy, runny nose, scratchy, tickly throat, sneezing, watery eyes and a low-grade fever.
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Treatment to reduce symptoms includes getting rest and drinking plenty of fluids.
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Because colds are caused by viruses, treatment with antibiotics won’t work.
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The best prevention for the common cold is frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact with people who have colds.
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Strep Vs Covid Vs Cold
Strep Vs Covid Vs Cold. It is possible to have a cold and strep throat at the same time, as you can have both a viral. Symptoms of the common cold vs.
A high temperature is likely to indicate a flu. Both can give you a fever, cough, headaches, and body aches. However, it may be harder for.
Source: www.sharp.com
The symptoms of a cold may come on gradually, while the flu usually starts abruptly. While sore throat can be a symptom of covid, strep throat is a separate illness with a different cause.
Source: www.vaccinateyourfamily.org
A runny or stuffy nose. There’s no cure for the common cold.
Source: news.yahoo.com
A runny or stuffy nose. Strep is just as contagious when sneezing, coughing, or touching the same things as someone else.
Source: health.cornell.edu
But common colds usually also come. Alongside the worry of being infected with covid, most people are likely to suffer with a cold during the winter months.
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Omicron cases are climbing in the uk and experts have said that symptoms are likely to differ from the three traditional covid symptoms. With the flu season soon coming, its important to be aware of.
Source: plushcare.com
There’s no cure for the common cold. Someone with a cold may experience a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough and body aches.
Source: www.cogwriter.comSource: www.centralillinoisproud.com
But common colds usually also come. Loss of taste and smell.
Source: Source: www.pcschools.usSource: advurgent.com
How Do You Cure The Flu Quickly
Give these a try today.
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Who Is At Risk For The Common Cold
Everyone is at risk for the common cold. People are most likely to have colds during fall and winter, starting in late August or early September until March or April. The increased incidence of colds during the cold season may be attributed to the fact that more people are indoors and close to each other. In addition, in cold, dry weather, the nasal passages become drier and more vulnerable to infection.
Children suffer more colds each year than adults, due to their immature immune systems and to the close physical contact with other children at school or day care. In fact, the average child will have between 6 to 10 colds a year. The average adult will get 2 to 4 colds a year.
Can You Catch A Cold And The Flu At The Same Time
The cold and flu season isnt over just yet, and sometimes, no matter how much care we take to remain healthy, a dreaded bug can still take us down.
And among all the coughing and sneezing, we might wonder what exactly is causing our misery. Could it be one of the many strains of the common cold virus, or is it the flu? Or could it be both?
As much as you might put up a fight, there are times you can get a strain of a cold and the flu at the same time. As Dr Kevin Bonham explains on Science Blogs in 2013, this state is called a “superinfection”, and that when this happens, your immune system reacts in a certain way.
How the cold and flu can overlap
When you’re infected with one virus, your immune response makes it inhospitable for any other virus to attack, which means it is less likely that a second infection will take hold while your body is fighting the first, explains Science Focus. However, although it is rare for anyone to catch a cold and the flu at the same time, it is possible.
The common cold and the flu are caused by different families of viruses. Although there are no published studies looking at the concurrence of both, there is still a slim chance of it happening, said Dr Schaffner to Health.com.
Is it dangerous to have both viruses at the same time?
And when you cant distinguish whether you’re suffering from a cold or the flu, here are 7 warning signs that it’s more than “just a cold”.
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What Is The Difference Between Influenza And Covid
Influenza and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a coronavirus first identified in 2019, and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses.
COVID-19 seems to spread more easily than flu. However, as more people become fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 should slow down. More information is available about COVID-19 vaccines and how well they work.
Compared to flu, COVID-19 can cause more serious illnesses in some people. COVID-19 can also take longer before people show symptoms and people can be contagious for longer. More information about differences between flu and COVID-19 is available in the different sections below.
Because some of the symptoms of flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory illnesses are similar, the difference between them cannot be made based on symptoms alone. Testing is needed to tell what the illness is and to confirm a diagnosis. People can be infected with both flu and the virus that causes COVID-19 at the same time and have symptoms of both influenza and COVID-19.
While more is learned every day about COVID-19 and the virus that causes it, there are still things, such as post-COVID conditions, that are unknown. This page compares COVID-19 and flu, given the best available information to date.
Are Treatments For A Cold And The Flu The Same
While some treatments for a cold and the flu are similar, theres an important difference: There are specific antiviral medications that can help treat the flu that arent used for the common cold. The CDC recommends these flu treatments:
Most people who get the flu have mild symptoms and may not need medications. People with more severe disease or in high-risk groups such as those older than 65, with lung disease, or weakened immune systems may benefit from medication.
For those who do get flu treatment, its important to start any medications early for them to be effective ideally within 2 days after symptoms start. If started early, these medications have been shown to decrease symptoms, shorten the course of illness, and prevent some serious flu-related complications .
Other than the antiviral medications, cold and flu symptoms are treated similarly. If you have either, you should stay home, get plenty of rest, and stay hydrated with lots of fluids. Fever and other symptoms, like cough and congestion, can be treated with over-the-counter medications.
Some common examples of over-the-counter medications include or that can help lower fever. There are also combination medications, like and Theraflu, which can help with fever and other flu symptoms, like cough and congestion. Your healthcare provider can help determine what is best for you.
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Can A Cold Or Flu Be Prevented Or Avoided
There are things you can do to reduce your risks for colds and flu. They include:
- Wash your hands frequently. Use soap. This stops the spread of germs.
- Eat healthy, exercise, and get enough sleep. These things boost your immune system.
- Cough and sneeze into the inside of your elbow .
- Clean common surfaces, such as tables, counters, toys, door handles and bathrooms. Use anti-bacterial disinfectants.
- Get a flu vaccine . It is available through flu season. The best time is October and November. The flu shot is safe for adults and all children 6 months of age and older. It is strongly recommended that all children 6 months of age to 59 months of age get a yearly flu shot. The nasal-spray vaccine contains live but weakened viruses. It is safe for adults and all children 2 years of age and older who do not have asthma or breathing problems. Talk to your doctor before getting the nasal spray vaccine. You cannot get the flu from the flu shot or the nasal-spray vaccine. Some people who get the vaccine will still get the flu. They usually get a milder case than people who arent vaccinated. The vaccine is recommended for people who are more likely to get really sick from flu-related complications.