The common cold and the flu share some symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the symptoms are so similar that a diagnosis based on symptoms alone is extremely difficult. In regards to symptoms, the main difference...
The flu is a viral infection that affects the respiratory system. Called seasonal influenza, the peak time of year for flu is between November and March. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that every year anywhere from 5 to...
The swine flu, also known as the H1N1 influenza virus, is a strain of influenza that is a combination of the genetic materials from human, avian and swine flu virus. This virus was first discovered in 2009 and was declared a pandemic worldwide by...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States approximately "5% to 20% of the population gets the flu" every year. The flu, or influenza, is an airborne virus, making it very contagious. Flu vaccines are...
Elderberries have a long history as a folk cure for a variety of ailments. Currently, scientific studies are being conducted to test the accuracy of these health claims. While some uses haven't been proven yet, elderberries in the form of...
The flu is a respiratory infection that is considered highly contagious, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illness is spread from person to person by touching and coming in close contact. Flu is considered a serious...
The flu and the common cold share many of the same respiratory symptoms, including congestion, sneezing and coughing. The overlap in symptoms makes it tough to diagnose flu. The only way to definitively diagnose the flu is to be tested by your...
The influenza virus is divided into three main types titled type A, type B and type C, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Humans can be infected by all three types of influenza. Type A influenza is divided into multiple...
The influenza virus is a highly contagious virus that infects the epithelial cells of the respiratory tracts, notes Microbiology and Immunology Online, a website provided by the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. The influenza virus...
The flu, also known as influenza, is often mistaken for the common cold. Many of the symptoms may be the same but tend to come on much more quickly than they would with a cold. The flu is a viral infection that impacts the nose, throat, lungs...
Influenza, whether seasonal or H1N1 (swine flu), carries symptoms such as fever, body aches, stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing and coughing. Though the flu cannot be cured with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs--or even prescription drugs--many...
Each year, between 25 to 50 million cases of influenza, or the flu, are reported within the United States, according to estimates provided by FluFacts.com, a website established by Genentech, a founding member of the biotechnology industry. Cough,...
The Spanish flu was an H1N1 virus related to the 2009 swine flu, but the 1918 pandemic was caused by a much more lethal form. One-fifth of the world's population became infected and 50 to 100 million people died, more than from any other illness,...
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, or NINDS, 25 percent of adults eventually develop shingles, a condition characterized by reawakening of the virus that causes chicken pox within the nerve roots of the...
While a drop in outside temperature means it's time to replace t-shirts for sweatshirts, it also means it's flu season. The flu virus is more prevalent during colder months than any other time of year. Flu symptoms vary from person to person yet...
When you hear that someone has the flu, you probably think of aches, pains and fever that are associated with it. While these are common flu symptoms, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there are actually three...
The flu, headaches and shingles can affect all populations. The flu virus often changes and new strains appear regularly. Headaches are one of the most common health complaints, and anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk for shingles. Each of...
Remicade is the brand name for the biologic response modifier infliximab. Biologic response modifiers like Remicade boost certain functions of the immune system and suppress others. Because of these varying actions, Remicade has serious side...
Influenza is marked by upper respiratory problems, sinus infections, cough, bronchial congestion and nasal discharge as well as aching and pain in the body and extremities, and fever, to name the most common symptoms. Ideally, a homeopathic...
A variety of herbs have been successful in treating the flu going back beyond the beginning of the 20th century. Numerous cultures including the Chinese have used herbal mixtures to boost the immune system and stave off fever and other troubling...
The flu is a common type of infectious virus that can affect people of any age. Babies, young children and elderly adults are at the highest risk of experiencing severe complications from the flu due to poorly developed or compromised immune...
An aching head, sore muscles, runny nose, as well as lack of energy and an upset stomach are all flu symptoms; however, they can also indicate a food allergy or allergic rhinitis, which can be seasonal or year-round, notes MayoClinic.com. Most...
Shingles is an illness caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox. From the episode of chickenpox the virus remains dormant in the individual's body for several years before it reactivates as the shingles...
According to Mayoclinic.com, bird flu, or avian flu, is a type of influenza virus that although rare in the human population, it can be deadly. According to the UK National Health Services (NHS), there are 16 strains of bird flu known to man. The...
The influenza virus, conversationally called the flu, is an illness that's highly contagious and causes a number of different symptoms. There are many different types, or strains, of the influenza virus, including the seasonal flu virus and the...
The flu is an upper-respiratory infection caused by one or more influenza viruses. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases states 5 to 20 percent of Americans come down with the seasonal flu every year. The flu is different from...
The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is transmitted by contact with infected bodily fluids through unprotected sex, shared needles and blood transfusions. It eventually causes the life-threatening condition known as acquired immunodeficiency...
Natural licorice candy may help to relieve certain symptoms associated with the cold and flu. Licorice is a natural plant that is commonly used to flavor candy, foods and certain beverages. The root of the licorice plant is used as a herbal...
Avian influenza, also known as bird flu or H5N1, is a strain of influenza that primarily affects birds; however, the illness can also affect humans. H5N1 is classified as a type A influenza virus, which means that it is responsible for global...
Sore throat, or pharyngitis, is a painful condition wherein the pharynx inflames and makes swallowing difficult. Learn more about sore throat in this health video.
