Flu and cold
Winters come with lots of common health complaints like- Colds and flu. Both are viral diseases. Thus, antibiotics are not used to treat flu and cold unless a doctor finds some other bacterial complications and advice the patient accordingly. So, we will know about the differences.
Difference between cold and flu
Flu is a nasal, lung, and throat infection caused only by the influenza virus. Cough and cold are one of the symptoms of the flu. It has various other symptoms like-
Symptoms
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Body ache
Cold is caused by many viruses such as Rhinovirus etc. It is one of the symptoms of the flu. It has symptoms like-
- Sneezing
- Running nose
- Sore throat
- Fever is rare in cold
Prevention
- Always cover your mouth while sneezing
- Wash your hands properly before eating
- Maintain minimum distance from infected people.
Both have symptomatic treatments
- Drink lots of water to stay hydrated during this period.
- In case of sore throat, gargling with lukewarm water and salt is a must.
- In case of fever, take anti-pyretic generic drugs such as paracetamol.
- In case of nasal congestion or runny nose, you can apply nasal drops.
Anti-viral medication side effects may include nausea and vomiting. This can be lessened if the medication is taken with food.
These are the primary medications that one can start at home immediately. But, if still, the symptoms persist after some tie, you must go and see a doctor as soon as possible.
