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What is the difference between a cold and the flu? This is just an apparently difficult question. Although both diseases are caused by viruses, both are dangerous due to the possibility of complications, but they are easy to distinguish once you know their symptoms and course. Find out what are the differences between the flu and a cold and you will know what treatment to use.

Flu and colds -are two different infectious diseases. Although they have somewhat similarsymptoms , they are caused by other viruses (in the case of flu - the flu virus that mutates every year and is marked with the symbols A, B or C, and in the case of a cold - this is about 200 viruses: parainfluenza, rhinoviruses, RS viruses and adenoviruses).

How do viruses attack?

When the disease season comes (usually from November to March), both cold and flu viruses hover in the air, settling on the hands and objects around the patient. They are very easy to spread by airborne droplets, i.e. through the nose and mouth, or by direct contact. It is enough to stand on the bus with a cold person, touch the infected door handle, telephone receiver or drink from a common cup to get infected. No wonder that some people even get a cold several times during the season. Once the viruses enter the respiratory epithelium, they begin to multiply vigorously, damaging or destroying its cilia. If the body is weakened, e.g. as a result of stress, lack of sleep, poor nutrition or freezing, typical symptoms of inflammation appear, e.g. scratching in the throat, cough, runny nose. With a minor cold, you don't have to run to the doctor right away. However, that doesn't mean you have to wait for the symptoms to clear up. There is no better cure for upper respiratory infections than basking under the covers. The body needs to rest to fight viruses.

What else is the difference between the flu and the common cold?

The flu starts suddenly, the common cold develops slowly. With flu, the fever exceeds 39 degrees C, with colds it does not exceed 38. A runny nose in the case of flu is extremely rare - but it is an inseparable companion of colds.

FLU

COLD

Mileage

the beginning is sudden and sharp

developsslowly

Temperature

high - even above 39 degrees C

does not exceed 38 degrees C

Symptoms

pain in the head, muscles, throat, cough; it is not always accompanied by a runny nose; sometimes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea appear

sore throat, runny nose, cough

Virus incubation period

ok. 2 days; the severity of symptoms occurs on the 2-3rd day of the disease; the flu lasts at least a week and you may feel weak for a long time

4-14 days, therefore the symptoms increase much slower

Complications

can appear especially after an untreated flu; they can be serious, e.g. pneumonia, myocarditis, meningitis

generally there are no complications, but when the infection is caused by adenoviruses - conjunctivitis may develop

Cold: Symptoms and Treatment

First your nose turns you, your throat is dry, you cough. The ailments slowly increase. A day or two later, your nose is pumping, you sneeze, swollen mucosa makes breathing difficult, you cough, you may have a low-grade fever. The common cold differs from other respiratory infections in that it is milder. After 3-4 days of home treatment, it disappears without a trace.

  • How to overcome a cold?

Get drunk. If you do this as soon as you feel like something is starting to take you, you will not allow the disease to develop. Because by raising your body temperature, you will stop the multiplication of viruses. The easiest way to warm up is hot tea with raspberry juice, honey and lemon or ginger. Then take a hot bath, you can add a few drops of eucalyptus or pine oil to the water (the aromatic steam will open the airways).

Rub the chest with some warming preparation, put on warm pajamas, woolen socks and go to bed. Use air humidifiers, drink 2-3 liters of fluid a day.

Overheated and dry air increases symptoms: scratchy throat, stuffy nose. In addition, dried mucosa is more susceptible to bacterial contamination.

A watery runny nose and the feeling of stuffy nose will alleviate s alt inhalations (they will unblock the nose and make it easier to get rid of secretions). Drops, gels or sticks with mint and essential oils will also help to decongest the mucosa and soothe inflammation. However, they must not be used for more than 2-3 days because they can cause drug-induced rhinitis. Whereasscratching the throat and dry cough will alleviate frequent gargling with s alt solution (a teaspoon per glass of water) or chamomile infusion, sucking herbal candies with anti-inflammatory properties. You can drink a flaxseed infusion (a teaspoon of ground grains in half a glass of water) for good results. When the cough starts to get moist, use expectorant syrup, which speeds up the purification of the respiratory tract, preventing the development of bacterial infections.

Flu: Symptoms and Treatment

The onset of flu is usually sudden and acute. Chills, breaking bones, headache and muscle pain, sore and scratchy throat, high fever (usually above 39 degrees C) - these are typical symptoms. You have a dry cough, sometimes a runny nose, nausea, diarrhea. Sometimes the flu is mild, but even then it can leave a mark in the form of complications. The most common are pneumonia, bronchitis, and middle ear inflammation, but myocarditis can also occur. The flu won't go away by itself. Therefore, in the event of symptoms that may herald it, call a doctor.

  • How to beat the flu?

You just have to lie down for the flu without complications. Grandma's methods will help - linden, raspberry, elderberry teas, milk with butter and honey, hot chicken broth, which not only warm up and mobilize the immune system to function, but also relieve ailments, prevent dehydration of the body and help thin the secretion accumulating in the bronchi. .

Relief is provided by rubbing the chest and back with warming preparations.

Fragrant inhalations of a teaspoon of thyme, sage and chamomile will help for a sore throat and cough (inhale steam through your nose and slowly exhale through your mouth). Repeat the treatment 2-3 times a day.

Onion syrup is perfect for a dry cough. Peel and slice a large onion. Arrange in a jar, sprinkling with sugar. When he releases the juice, squeeze through gauze, put in the fridge. Drink a spoonful every 3 hours.

If there is a bacterial infection, you will need to take an antibiotic. It takes a week to treat flu without complications, but it can take up to several weeks to get weak.

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Category:

Infectious diseases