Influenza and the common cold are viral infections that affect the upper respiratory tract. The flu is caused by the influenza virus, while the common cold can be caused by any of 100 different viruses. Both illnesses can cause symptoms such as...
While people can contract the cold or flu throughout the year, the most common time for the season to spike is between September and January although a cold or the flu can occur at any time. Almost everyone has had a cold or flu at some point in...
Cold and flu are the common names for overlapping syndromes of respiratory infection caused by a number of viruses. According to FamilyDoctor, the two are mainly differentiated by onset and severity: Flu symptoms usually onset abruptly and are...
The common cold is a viral infection of your upper respiratory tract---your nose and throat, reports Mayo Clinic. It spreads easily to children from person to person contact. The symptoms of the common cold usually last a couple of weeks....
Similar symptoms of cold and flu can make it hard to tell the difference. In either case, the illness usually lasts for one to three weeks. The symptoms of a common cold develop slower than flu in two to three days. Flu symptoms start suddenly...
A pregnant woman is not any more or less immune than another person when it comes to catching a cold or the flu. The University of Michigan Health System explains that a woman's immune system is different during pregnancy leading her to have...
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...
A woman's body goes through a cycle every month during the pre-menopausal years in which it prepares for pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the lining of the uterus is shed, resulting in a period. A woman's monthly menstrual cycle can cause...
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...
Flu and colds share many of the same symptoms, including fever, fatigue, runny nose, and head and body aches. Although antiviral drugs are available to combat flu, their effects may be limited to a one-to-two-day reduction in the duration of...
The menstrual cycle repeats approximately every 28 days, and includes a variety of body changes that are mediated by hormones in a woman's body. The purpose of the cycle is to prepare the uterus for implantation of a fertilized egg, should...
The common cold and flu are nagging upper respiratory infections that can affect most people any time of the year, but especially during winter. These viral infections are spread through respiratory droplets released by sneezing, coughing and...
TheraFlu is an over-the-counter medication that helps to alleviate the symptoms of the common cold and the flu. It generally contains antihistamines, pain relievers and decongestants to combat the congestion, stuffiness, aches and pains of colds...
Yeast are single-celled organisms and brewer's yeast is a type often used for brewing or baking. Dried brewer's yeast is also available as a dietary supplement in the form of flakes, powders, capsules and tablets, all of which appear to impart...
The miserable symptoms of cold and flu may leave you fatigued, frustrated and looking for fast ways to get well. Getting rid of the infection requires supporting and strengthening the immune system. Most individuals can expect the illness to last...
The Vicks Ultrasonic humidifier helps relieve symptoms of a cold or the flu. It emits a fine mist that increases the moisture in a room and reduces the presence of white dust.
A variety of herbs and herbal remedies may help reduce or soothe symptoms of colds and flu, including headache, congestion, stuffy sinuses and fatigue. For best results, try to take herbal remedies when symptoms first appear, suggests Holistic...
Most colds and the flu will go away on their own in a couple of days. Antibiotics will not treat a cold or the flu because they are caused by a virus; however, there are some foods that can help alleviate symptoms. If the cold or flu does not go...
Ginger root is the underground rhizome of the Zingiber officinale plant that grows in semi-tropical areas, such as Hawaii, Haiti and Jamaica. While ginger root may offer some relief for symptoms of a cold or flu virus, it's doubtful that the herb...
Both colds and flus are the result of a viral infection. Although the symptoms of colds and flus are mostly distinct, the website Family Doctor warns that the symptoms usually associated with colds or flu could be other ailments, such as strep...
Many symptoms for the cold and flu are similar, which make it hard to tell the difference between the two at times. It is important to know which one you may have, as that will determine the course of treatment that you will take. Seeing your...
Second to water, green tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. Green tea extract is a supplement form of the green tea leaves that can be swallowed like a vitamin. It has a high level of antioxidants and can protect the body from...
Ginger is a spicy rhizome root that has medicinal as well as culinary uses. Herbalists use ginger to treat motion sickness, diarrhea, respiratory tract infections as well as migraine headaches. Ginger also contains certain phenols and volatile...
Treat your child's chest congestion with a variety of remedies to decrease the symptoms of a cold or flu. When your child is suffering from a cold, mucous may drip down the throat and collect in the lungs. Though your child may be sick for up to...
Even after your child's illness is no longer contagious, a lingering cough may last for weeks. Your child's cough is caused by mucus congestion that builds up in the chest and in the back of the throat. Treat her cough symptoms at home with...
The elder, scientifically known as Sambucus nigra, is a tree that can grow up to 12 feet tall. Its berries and flowers have been used and researched for treating colds and flu, and some studies support these benefits. If you are experiencing the...
If you're curious about which medicinal plants have curative properties for cold and flu, look no further than the gnarled, tan roots in the bin of your local market. Ginger has been used for thousands of years to treat symptoms of cold and flu....
The drug amphotericin B is marketed under two names in the United States, Fungizone and Amphocin. Fungizone may be administered as either an injection or as a topical cream, ointment or lotion. In either the topical or intravenous form, your...
Vicks produces a line of humidifiers designed to treat the air in uncomfortably dry environments; these devices are also capable of filling a room with medicinal vapors that may soothe the symptoms of a cold, flu or allergies. Vicks humidifiers...
Influenza, more commonly referred to as the flu, is a viral infection that attacks the respiratory system, including your nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs. The flu should not be taken lightly. Thousands of people die of complications due to...
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.