Having A Cold: Self-Contagious Illness

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a highly contagious viral disease that affects the upper respiratory tract. Flu season typically lasts between the months of October and April. Signs and symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, runny nose, and headaches. Individuals that are at a high risk of getting the flu include: children under the age of two, persons 65 and older, pregnant women, and persons with a chronic illness. Environment factors can also increase the risk of contracting the flu. Complications can include pneumonia, ear and sinus infections, dehydration, or worsening of chronic medical conditions. The influenza virus could eventually lead to longer hospitalization or death if left untreated. According to the CDC, the best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year. Compliance with the vaccination is also important in preventing the flu.

As we head into the fall, that also means that we're headed for cold and flu season. Being sick is terrible and disruptive to both your personal and work life and catching an illness could mean it ransacking your entire family.

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a highly contagious viral disease that affects the upper respiratory tract. Flu season typically lasts between the months of October and April. Signs and symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, runny nose, and headaches. Individuals that are at a high risk of getting the

Influenza fortunately can be prevented in most cases. You can prevent it through an annual vaccination. The vaccine is made up of 8 to 10 strains of the influenza virus. When you receive the vaccination the strains have been “killed”, so there is no possible way for you to get this illness just by receiving the vaccination. Your body recognizes the unknown strains and builds up immunity so if a “live” virus gets in your system your body has the correct code to “kill” it off.

Influenza, also known as “the flu,” is a virus that infects the respiratory tract. Although Influenza is not as severe as many viral infections it's almost the worst for viral infections of the respiratory tract. Typically, when someone is infected with influenza they experience fever (usually 100° to 103°F in adults, but even higher in children) and causes a cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and also headaches, muscle aches, and usually extreme tiredness. There are sometimes other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea but usually only in rare cases with young children. One other note: The term “Stomach flu” isn’t really caused by the influenza virus.

It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.” (CDC, 2014.). Symptoms include: Fever or feeling feverish/chills, Cough, Sore throat, Runny or stuffy nose, Muscle or body aches, Headaches, Fatigue (very tired). Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults. (CDC, 2014.) The CDC states that “Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or possibly their nose.” (CDC,

A runny nose, scratchy throat, and nonstop sneezing you can't miss the signs of a cold. But mystery shrouds a lot of other things about it. Why do you seem to get them so often while your best friend stays well? And more importantly, how can you stay healthy this year? Get the lowdown on the all-too-common common cold.It's an illness caused by a tiny, living thing called a virus. More than 200 types lead to your misery, but the most common one is the rhinovirus, which is thought to be responsible for at least 50% of colds. Other viruses that can cause colds include coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza and parainfluenza.Colds cause a lot of people to stay home. The CDC says 22 million school days are lost each year in

The cold is a very well known virus. About 3 million people in the U.S. get it every year. The cold spreads very easily and it is usually self treatable. Lab tests are not required for this,mans it usually last for about a week or less. Symptoms could be pain in the muscles, lots of coughing, whole body chills, fatigue, fever, malice, or body aches, runny nose, sneezing, redness, congestion, post nasal drip, and many more. The treatment for this virus is to get lots of rest and to blow your nose a

Just a few weeks ago my daughter was affected by the common cold. Early that morning she was in the shower and I heard her coughing and sneezing. It sounded like she was coughing up mucus. I asked her was she coming down with the common cold and she said, “No.” I then went back to doing what I was doing which was cooking. As I was chopping up some potatoes, I heard her sniffing. I asked her again did she have the common cold. She responded with the same answer. I told her to take some medication just in case she did have it but did not know. I gave her some children cold medication. As the day went on she told me that her nose was producing excess mucus. I told her to just blow her nose with tissue and take more medication. I then went in to

A viral respiratory infection is an illness that affects parts of the body used for breathing, like the lungs, nose, and throat. It is caused by a germ called a virus.

Common cold and flu viruses cause upper respiratory infections, but their symptoms, severity, and complications can be very different. The uncomfortable feeling of having your head full of fluid, your nose running like a faucet, and a raw scratchy throat with a dry cough is familiar to everyone. If your illness has built up slowly over a couple of days, you probably have a cold virus and will be back to normal after only a few days. Complications such as ear and sinus infections happen rarely, except for kids. On the other hand, feeling like you have suddenly been hit by a ton of bricks may point to the flu. Usually, a fever, body aches, weakness, chest congestion, and a juicy cough will knock you off your feet for at least a couple of weeks.

Rhinovirus infections appear year round, worldwide, but have seasonal peaks in the early fall, usually September to November and occur again in spring, usually from March to May. During these times of peak, up to 80% of common cold illnesses are documented to be involved with the rhinovirus infection. Human rhinoviruses can affect people of all ages. Epidemiological studies have shown that children under the age of seven, with almost all children experiencing this infection by the age of two, are more susceptible to the rhinovirus than adults are. Studies also have shown that individuals who have asthma are more susceptible to infection. The mode of transmission for human rhinoviruses is through airborne transmission. Airborne transmission of aerosols, as well as droplets, can be the main source of circulation of the virus, which then can enter the body through the respiratory tract through the nose and mouth. Transmission of the virus can also be through direct and indirect contact and is most commonly transmitted by the hand-to-hand route. The virus is transmitted through the hand contact by the source having nasal mucosa present on ones hands. The typical signs and symptoms associated with this virus include: sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing and coughing; sometimes followed by muscle aches, fatigue, headache, or

The first disease is common cold, with ICD-10 Code of J00. It is also known as nasophayngitis or rhinopharyngitis, which is a viral infectious disease of upper respiratory tract that affect the nose primarily. Most commonly, it is caused by rhinovirus (30-80%). Other virus include human coronavirus (15%), influenza virus (10-15%) and adenovirus(5%). Symptoms include coughing, sore throat, sneezing, runny nose and fever which will usually resolve in 7 to 10 days.1,5

Most adults suffer between 2–4 colds and flus each year. A person is contagious from the day before the illness breaks out until 1–3 days after they feel better. A cold usually lasts only a few days, while the flu can last several weeks to a month. The symptoms of a cold can include a general feeling of discomfort, a headache, nasal dryness and/or runny nose, and congestion of the upper respiratory tract.

Most adults suffer between 2 and 4 colds, as well as the flu each year. A person is contagious from the day before the illness breaks out until 1 to 3 days after they feel better. A cold usually last only a few days while the flu can last several weeks to a month. The symptoms of a cold can include a general feeling of discomfort, headaches, nasal dryness and/or runny nose, congestion of the upper respiratory tract… The flu is a viral infection that is highly contagious. The symptoms starts with: high fever, headaches, shivers aches and pains, tiredness; followed by lung congestion, nasal secretions, difficulty swallowing and watering of the eyes.