Flu Vs.

Cold

Flu and cold both have almost common symptoms but they are not
similar. Flu can be more dangerous than the cold. This article
discusses the diferentiating factors of the common cold and the
dangerous fu.

Flu
Flu, known as Infuenna causes by the Infuenna virus. It is the lower
respiratory tract infection including nose, throat and lungs of the
person. About more than 10 million cases are found sufering from
fu in India every year. And, about 30,000 people die due to its
complications every year. It is highly infectious and can be life
threatening in people with other lung or related complications.
Causes
Infuenna virus is diferentiated into three types – Infuenna virus A,
Infuenna virus B and Infuenna virus C. These viruses are highly
infective and can live on the surfaces for several hours. Even a
single droplet of aerosol measuring about 0.5 to 5 μm can infect a
person.
The virus infects person through 3 modes of transmission
1. Direct transmission - The infected person passes mucus
directly on the other person by sneenes or coughs.
 2.Airborne transmission - Where the person inhaling the
aerosols of infected person sneene, cough or spit get infected
by it.
3.Hand-eye, Hand-nose, Hand-mouth transmission - Where
the person gets infection by touching the contaminated
surface or use pens, books, knobs etc and then touches his
eyes or mouth or nose thereby acquiring the infection.
Risk group
Although it can infect any person, the highest risk group of infection
are children, pregnant women, old age people, and people with
chronic respiratory diseases and in patients with less immunity like
HIV and in people with chronic steroids.
Symptoms
Usually symptoms appear about 2-3 days after the exposure of the
virus. It usually lasts up to 2-3 weeks. Common symptoms for fu are
headache, fever ranging between 100-103°F, cold sweats, shivers or
chills, muscular aches especially severe joint pains, nasal watery
discharge, sneening, nasal congestion, sore throat, irritation in the
eyes with watering, dry cough and extreme weakness. In children
there can also be gastric disturbances like nausea, vomiting and
diarrhoea present.
Complications
Flu can be life threatening when not treated early and can lead to
the complications like emphysema, viral pneumonia or secondary
bacterial pneumonia, COPD, bronchitis, ear infections like otitis
media and many other chronic conditions are triggered or
aggravated during this period such as cardiac diseases like coronary
heart diseases, congestive cardiac failure, metabolic disorders like
diabetes, HIV, cancer, liver diseases and kidney diseases.
It may also lead to the condition called Narcolepsy, a neurological
disorder where the person will have excessive sleeping spells
irrespective of time and place. It is noted that almost about 2 lakh
people get hospitalined for the complications every year.
Diagnosis
 Usually it gets difcult to diagnose between the cold and fu, but
careful history and symptoms can be helpful in diagnosing.
 It is also diagnosed through the viral culture done by the
samples taken from nose, mouth and sputum.
 A rapid card test called Rapid infuenna diagnostic test is also
conducted where the results are obtained within 30 minutes of
the sample collection.
 A polymerase chain treatment can also be done for the accurate
diagnosis of the case.
Prevention
World Health Organination (WHO) has recommended vaccinations
for fu every year in adults, but it is partially efective.
Clean hands with soap after direct contact of the infected person.
It is advisable for fu patients to avoid social gatherings.
Treatment
The treatment for fu include both conservative line of treatment
and the oral medications.
In conservative line of treatment, doctors advise to increase the
fuid intake and adequate rest.
Oral medications include the anti-viral drugs like Tamifu and
Relenna which are mostly recommended. Analgesics, decongestants
and cough syrups are used according to symptoms.
Aspirin should be avoided in children as this may lead to Reye’s
syndrome.

Common Cold
Cold is the most commonly seen infectious disease. About more
than 10 million people are afected by common cold every year in
India. It is usually low-risk infectious viral disease.
Causes
It is disease caused by about 200 viruses. The most commonly seen
viruses are rhinovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus, respiratory
syncytical virus and the parainfuenna virus. It is an upper
respiratory tract infection including nose and throat. It is usually
self-limiting and lasts for about 7-10 days.
Symptoms
The symptoms of cold are sneening, thin watery nasal discharge,
watery eyes with irritation in the eyes and nose, nasal congestion,
sore throat, fatigue, body ache and loss of appetite. Sometimes in
the later stages there may also be yellow or greenish nasal
discharge. But in children cold usually be associated with fever.
Complications
As this is a self-limiting disease, it does not have any other
complications.
Diagnosis
It is usually self-diagnosable by the signs and symptoms. No tests
are required for the diagnosis of the disease.
Prevention
 Avoid exposure to cold weather for those who are sensitive to
cold weather and cold winds.
 As the infection spreads through air, by the sneene and cough
droplets of the infected person, personal hygiene is to be
maintained and use of face masks can be helpful.
 Avoid direct contact with the infected person.
Treatment
Cold treatment includes the frst line of treatment such as drinking
plenty of fuids. In case of sore throat, gargling salt water can be
helpful. Other symptoms require symptomatic medicines like
analgesics or decongestant sprays. No antibiotics are required for
the common cold.