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The common cold usually causes a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. You may also have a sore throat, cough, headache, or other symptoms.

Causes

It is called the “common cold” for good reason. There are over one billion colds in the United States each year. You and your children will probably have more colds than any other type of illness.

Colds are the most common reason that children miss school and parents miss work. Parents often get colds from their children.

Children can get many colds every year. They usually get them from other children. A cold can spread quickly through schools or daycares.

Colds can occur at any time of the year, but they are most common in the winter or rainy seasons.

A cold virus spreads through tiny, air droplets that are released when the sick person sneezes, coughs, or blows their nose.

You can catch a cold if:

• A person with a cold sneezes, coughs, or blows their nose near you
• You touch your nose, eyes, or mouth after you have touched something contaminated by the virus, such as a toy or doorknob.

People are most contagious for the first 2 to 3 days of a cold. A cold is usually not contagious after the first week.

Symptoms

Cold symptoms usually start about 2 or 3 days after you came in contact with the virus, although it could take up to a week. Symptoms mostly affect the nose.

The most common cold symptoms are:

• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Scratchy throat
• Sneezing

Adults and older children with colds generally have a low fever or no fever. Young children often run a fever around 100-102°F.

Depending on which virus caused your cold, you may also have:

• Cough
• Decreased appetite
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Postnasal drip
• Sore throat

Treatment

Most colds go away in a few days. Some things you can do to take care of yourself with a cold include:

• Get plenty of rest and drink fluids.
• Over-the-counter cold and cough medicines may help ease symptoms in adults and older children. They do not make your cold go away faster, but can help you feel better. Over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines are not recommended for children under age 4.
• Antibiotics should not be used to treat a common cold.
• Many alternative treatments have been tried for colds, such as vitamin C, zinc supplements, and echinacea. Talk to your doctor before trying any herbs or supplements.

Outlook (Prognosis)

The fluid from your runny nose will become thicker and may turn yellow or green within a few days. This is normal, and not a reason for antibiotics.

Most cold symptoms usually go away within a week. If you still feel sick after 7 days, see your health care provider to rule out a sinus infection, allergies, or other medical problem.

Possible Complications

Colds are the most common trigger of wheezing in children with asthma.

A cold may also lead to:

• Bronchitis
• Ear infection
• Pneumonia
• Sinusitis

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Try treating your cold at home first. Call your health care provider if:

• You have problems breathing.
• Your symptoms get worse or do not improve after 7 to 10 days.

Prevention

To lower your chances of getting sick:

• Always wash your hands. Children and adults should wash hands after nose-wiping, diapering, and using the bathroom, and before eating and preparing food.
• Disinfect your environment. Clean commonly touched surfaces (such as sink handles, door knobs, and sleeping mats) with an EPA-approved disinfectant.
• Choose smaller daycare classes for your children.
• Use instant hand sanitizers to stop the spread of germs.
• Use paper towels instead of sharing cloth towels.

The immune system helps your body fight off infection. Here are ways to support the immune system:

• Avoid secondhand smoke. It is responsible for many health problems, including colds.
• Do not use antibiotics if they are not needed.
• Breastfeed infants if possible. Breast milk is known to protect against respiratory tract infections in children, even years after you stop breastfeeding.
• Drink plenty of fluids to help your immune system work properly.
• Eat yogurt that contains "active cultures." These may help prevent colds. Probiotics may help prevent colds in children.
• Get enough sleep.

Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000678.htm

The flu is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs. It spreads easily.

This article discusses influenza types A and B. Another type of the flu is the swine flu (H1N1).

Causes

The flu is caused by an influenza virus.

Most people get the flu when they breathe in tiny airborne droplets from the coughs or sneezes of someone who has the flu. You can also catch the flu if you touch something with the virus on it, and then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes.

People often confuse colds and flu. They are different, but you might have some of the same symptoms. Most people get a cold several times a year. On the contrary, people get the flu only once every few years.

Sometimes, you can get a virus that makes you throw up or have diarrhea. Some people call this the "stomach flu." This is a misleading name because this virus is not the actual flu. The flu mostly affects your nose, throat, and lungs.

Symptoms

Flu symptoms will often start quickly. You can start to feel sick about 1 to 7 days after you come in contact with the virus. Most of the time symptoms appear within 2-3 days.

The flu spreads easily. It can affect a large group of people in a very short amount of time. For example, students and co-workers get sick within 2 or 3 weeks of the flu's arrival in a school or workplace.

The first symptom is a fever between 102 and 106°F. An adult often has a lower fever than a child.

Other common symptoms include:

• Body aches
• Chills
• Dizziness
• Flushed face
• Headache
• Lack of energy
• Nausea and vomiting

The fever, aches, and pains begin to go away on days 2 through 4. But new symptoms occur, including:

• Dry cough
• Increased symptoms that affect breathing
• Runny nose (clear and watery)
• Sneezing
• Sore throat

Most symptoms go away in 4 to 7 days. The cough and tired feeling may last for weeks. Sometimes, the fever comes back.

Some people may not feel like eating.

The flu can make asthma, breathing problems, and other long-term illnesses and conditions worse.

Exams and Tests

Most people do not need to see a health care provider when they have flu symptoms. This is because most people are not at risk for a severe case of the flu.

If you are very sick with the flu, you may want to see your health care provider. People who are at high risk for flu complications may also want to see a health care provider if they get the flu.

When many people in an area have flu, a health care provider can make a diagnosis after hearing about your symptoms. No further testing is needed.

There is a test to detect the flu. It is done by swabbing the nose or throat. Most of the time, test results are available very fast. The test can help your health care provider prescribe the best treatment.

Treatment

HOME CARE

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) help lower fever. Health care providers sometimes suggest that you use both types of medicine. Do NOT use aspirin.

A fever does not need to come all the way down to normal. Most people feel better when the temperature drops by 1 degree.

Over-the-counter cold medicines may make some of your symptoms better. Cough drops or throat sprays will help with your sore throat.

You will need a lot of rest. Drink plenty of liquids. Do not smoke or drink alcohol.

ANTIVIRAL DRUGS

Most people with milder symptoms feel better in 3 to 4 days. They do not need to see a health care provider or take antiviral medicines.

Health care providers may give antiviral drugs to people who get very sick with the flu. You may need these medicines if you are more likely to have flu complications.

These medicines may shorten the time you have symptoms by about 1 day. They work better if you start taking them within 2 days of your first symptoms.

Children at risk of a severe case of the flu may also need these medicines.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Millions of people in the United States get the flu each year. Most people get better within a week or two, but thousands of people with the flu develop pneumonia or a brain infection. They need to stay in the hospital. About 36,000 people in the U.S. die each year of problems from the flu.

Anyone at any age can have serious complications from the flu. Those at highest risk include:

• People over the age of 65
• Children younger than 2 years old
• Women who are more than 3 months pregnant
• Anyone living in a long-term care facility
• Anyone with chronic heart, lung, or kidney conditions, diabetes, or a weakened immune system

Possible Complications

Complications may include:

• Pneumonia
• Encephalitis (infection of the brain)
• Meningitis
• Seizures

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if you get the flu and think you are at risk for having complications.

Also call your health care provider if your flu symptoms are very bad and self-treatment is not working.

Prevention

You can take steps to avoid catching or spreading the flu. The best step is to get a flu vaccine.

If you have the flu:

• Stay in your apartment, dorm room, or home for at least 24 hours after your fever has gone.
• Wear a mask if you leave your room.
• Avoid sharing food, utensils, cups, or bottles.
• Use hand sanitizer often during the day and always after touching your face.
• Cover your mouth with a tissue when coughing and throw it away after use.
• Cough into your sleeve if a tissue is not available. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older should receive the influenza vaccine.

Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000080.htm