Sick at home with a cold or the flu

Scratchiness at the back of the throat, skin chills and shivering, body aches and headache—the all to familiar feelings of illness coming on. Sometimes it seems inevitable no matter how well we take care of ourselves.

The article today is about the difference between a cold and flu, what you can do to feel better at home, and tips on how to prevent or stave off getting sick.

The Difference Between Cold and Flu:

Colds
There are over 200 types of viruses that can stimulate a cold. And the problem is that new strains are always developing and no one person can be immune to them all. That means that colds can be recurring. And school children in preschool and elementary level can experience between 3 to 12 bouts a year, while adolescents and adults typically get two to four colds or cold symptoms in the same period of time. A cold is the most common illness throughout the world and accounts for more sick days that any other complaint.

A cold is usually upper tract respiratory infection with headache, minor sore throat, sinus pain and low-grade fever. Basically a cold is spread by hand-to-hand contact but here’s the clincher, a cold virus can be actives on objects such as crayons, computer keys, cups and more for several hours. So hands that cover a sneeze, wipe a nose, or whatever can transmit the disease relatively quickly. And, no, you don’t get a cold because it’s cold outside. Although being inside so much among other people can help it to spread. Colds can last two to three days in a healthy person, but can also lead to bronchitis and other ailments.

Flu
The flu, also referred to as influenza, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses but it is associated with a high fever, sore throat, and body aches. There have been pandemic flu, which is when a virus emerges and people have no resistance to it and it spreads quickly. It is most likely that you will experience what’s called a “seasonal flu” that typically begins in fall and ends in the spring.

The sneeze too can produce airborne droplets, which help to contaminate other people or surfaces or saliva on objects is similar. The flu can last a week or more.

What You Can Do:
If you are vigilant in the first 48 hours, you can help to shorten the time the virus stays around.

Try This:

• Stay home and avoid contact with sick people

• Wash hands frequently or use a sanitizer

• Keep hands away from eyes, nose and mouth

• Clean common surfaces

• Avoid sharing objects like utensils, bottles or telephones

• Stay hydrated but avoid caffeine drinks and gargle with warm salt water

• Sleep to fight the symptoms and fatigue

• Make sure that cough or sneeze is covered with tissue

• Take Vitamin D, zinc, and C

• Chicken soup (with garlic)

• Use over-the-counter drugs to alleviate symptoms

• A warm bath sometimes helps

• Wear coziest flannel pajamas

*Note: a cold or flu is a virus and cannot be treated with antibiotics. The best defense for the flu is advance vaccination and there is no vaccination for the common cold.

For Kids
Right now make a play box for kids. Use a container with a lid (that can serve as a surface to work on). Fill it with new coloring books and crayons, puzzles, a new book, maybe play makeup for girls, video to watch, kid’s magazines, sticky darts and anything that can occupy with quiet time. Let kids make a blanket fort, or create a pillow wall.

Tip: In the 2004-2005 flu seasons, the vaccine was effective almost 60 percent of the time in children between 6 months and 5 years old who were fully vaccinated compared to those who were not. Adolescents with asthma or other related illnesses would be best served by getting a flu vaccine.