Is It a Cold or Flu? Fighting Takes Might and Power
It would be unusual to find a living person who hasn’t experienced the misery of a cold, cough, and fever at some point. While some people are in usually good health, others are likely to be struck by the illness on a regular basis. Most adults will catch at least a few of colds each year, and kids will catch much more. There are between 290,000 and 650,000 fatalities attributable to the flu annually around the globe, out of an estimated 3 to 5 million severe cases. This, doctors would say, is because to the unquestionably various immune systems.
In the event that a person has been exposed to an infectious bug, such as a virus, in the past, specialized immune cells that know what it looks like will continue to circulate in the blood and body fluids, ready to activate a rapid immune reaction should the bug ever reassert itself. The immune system would work in this way to prevent you from catching a cold or other illness.
Parents of young children attending school in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may worry, “Is nursery worth it?” knowing full well the difficulty of preventing infectious disease transmission among their active children. Of course, it’s likely that your child will catch a bug if they spend any significant amount of time in a group setting (nursery, school, or even just a group of friends playing together). Sirwiss partners with health professionals who have years of experience and knowledge in infectious diseases, and they provide their professional opinions on prevention and treatment of these common conditions.
What Kind of Bug Is It?
It is difficult to differentiate between the common cold and the flu because the symptoms are so similar. Yet, unlike a cold, the flu typically comes on faster and is considerably more severe than a cold. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, the virus can spread through the air, and when someone touches an infected surface, such as a doorknob or light switch, they may contract the virus and spread it to others.
1. Common Cold
The common cold is a viral respiratory ailment that causes at least five episodes each year. An infant or young child will have a low-grade fever, cough, sore throat, and nasal congestion. We all know what to expect when a child has a fever over 38 degrees Celsius, a runny nose, and a sore throat: a generally cranky kid who might not want to eat.
The typical cold can cause more than just a sore throat, cough, and a runny or stuffy nose; a headache and lethargy are other potential adverse reactions. Most individuals begin spreading colds one to two days after being exposed to a virus. Two to four days later, the worst of these symptoms typically begin. Ten days is the average duration of a cold.
Treatment
Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections like the common cold; thus, they are useless in treating the illness. Also, there is no medicine that can shorten the length of a cold, and the vast majority of individuals recover without medical attention. But several over-the-counter drugs may provide some relief. A few examples are anti-inflammatories, analgesics, antipyretics, and decongestants, all of which work by reducing inflammation and swelling (to relieve nasal congestion).
For children, our medical professionals advise that plenty of fluids and rest are usually enough to relieve symptoms, while antipyretics (fever-lowering medications) such as infant Panadol or Brufen may help to relieve fever and any aches or pains (follow the instructions carefully, or seek advice from your doctor; it is not recommended that you give your child either of these medicines for two consecutive days without first seeing your doctor). Saline sprays and aspirators can also help in the removal of excess mucus in the nose.
Prevention
Wrapping up your young child warmly will actually lessen the likelihood that they will develop a cold, contrary to what you may have heard. Many people are marginally infected yet exhibit no symptoms during a community-wide outbreak of the common cold. If they get chilly, the blood arteries in their nose will constrict noticeably, cutting off the warm blood supply that carries the white cells that fight illness. Common cold symptoms emerge when the nose’s defenses are weakened by the virus. We may be in the desert, but remember that air conditioning can be just as chilling to tiny bodies as cold temperatures.
By touching an infected person or an object that has been touched by an infected person, you can easily spread a cold (door knobs can harbor the cold virus for hours). It’s important to teach kids to wash their hands frequently and instruct them to avoid putting their hands in their mouths or noses.
2. The Flu
Flu symptoms include fever (38°C or higher), cough, chills, sore throat, headache, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, and muscle aches. After being sick, an infected person can spread the flu for five to seven days. The infectious phase might begin up to 24 hours before symptoms appear. This means anyone can spread the illness without even realizing it.
Influenza viruses can infect persons of all ages and cause mild to severe illness.
In children, the dreaded flu usually manifests as a higher temperature than a regular cold. Body aches, chills, sore throat, headache, and cough, which can continue for a few days to ten days. Unlike a regular cold, the flu can cause significant consequences such as pneumonia and even dehydration. If you suspect your child has the flu, you should see a doctor right once to reduce the possibility of complications.
Treatment
In most situations, treating influenza is no different than treating a cold, while antiviral medication like Tamiflu may be necessary in severe cases. The recovery time from the flu can be cut by one or two days if you take Tamiflu. If someone in the home gets the flu or there is an outbreak, it can be used as a preventative measure as well. Little children should be given plenty of healthful fluids and rest.
Prevention
Your child’s chance of contracting the flu can be drastically reduced by administering the vaccination annually beginning at 6 months of age. This vaccine is designed to protect against the strains of influenza virus that are statistically most likely to cause illness in humans over the course of a year. Proper hand washing and teaching kids to cough or sneeze into their elbows or a tissue can also reduce the transmission of flu.
Boost Your Child’s Immune System for Life
We all want to safeguard our children from falls, bumps, and scrapes, as well as preventable infections and diseases. To assist your child, prevent disease, it is essential to instill healthy habits and build their immune system from a young age.
1. Encourage a Healthy Diet
Encourage your kid to eat a wide variety of fruits and veggies, or “eat the rainbow.” They should also include a variety of whole grains in their diet. Reduce their intake of processed foods. You can make sure your kid gets enough essential nutrients like vitamins A and E by making smart meal choices. These vitamins are essential for optimal health and immune system function.
2. Promote Regular Hand Washing
Ninety percent of germs are passed about by hand-to-hand contact. Teach your child to always wash their hands after using the restroom or wiping their nose or coughing. The risk of contracting a lung infection can be cut by as much as 45 percent simply by washing one’s hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds.
3. Consider Nursing Your Newborn
Although it is a personal choice (and not always attainable), it may be beneficial to breastfeed your baby for at least six months. Breastfeeding your infant may help prevent allergy symptoms, based on certain research.