Are colds and the flu the same thing? Are they caused by the same virus? Can you confuse their symptoms? Does the flu vaccine prevent colds? Is it possible to catch the flu after being vaccinated? Answers to these and other frequently asked questions about these common infections in our environment are provided below. However, you can also contact your local Medical Doctor in Andover Kansas if you have further questions.
What are colds and the flu?
A cold is a mild infection of the nose and throat that lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Up to five distinct families of viruses cause colds, with a total of over 200 different types. The Rhinovirus family singlehandedly causes almost half of all colds. Given the large number of different viruses that can cause infection, it is unlikely to provide an effective vaccine to protect people against the common cold. The common cold is an infection. Adults can suffer 2 to 4 colds per year and children between 6 and 8.
The flu is a respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. There are three types of virus, called A, B and C, which produce epidemic-type infection during the winter months. During these epidemics up to 40% of the population may be infected with a disease that lasts a few weeks. The flu produces a unique epidemic every year. As a result, our immune system does not recognize and cannot protect against new forms of the virus. If you have any symptoms of a cold or flu, contact your local Medical Doctor in Andover Kansas immediately.
Symptoms
Almost everyone knows what cold symptoms are. They usually develop between one and three days after virus infection, and last up to a week, two at most. The most common symptoms are runny nose, difficulty breathing through the nose, sneezing, sore throat and cough. A slight fever may appear, especially in children.
The symptoms of flu are more severe than those of colds. A mild flu epidemic may seem much more than a cold. But more often, the flu has a sudden onset, more headaches, higher fever, muscle aches, more general tiredness, cough and sore throat, etc. These symptoms typically begin so suddenly that the patient can tell the exact time that he got sick. In most cases, people with flu recover completely within a week. For more information, contact Wichita Family Medicine Specialists today.
