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Cold vs. Influenza (the Flu) – Do you have to pick one?

 

My husband, an aerospace engineer in a previous life, still asks why he can put a person on the moon but I can’t immunize a person for a cold.  I start to counter, “because colds are the result of viral infections –viruses have the ability to mutate.”  He repartees that influenza is a virus and since it has its own vaccine surely “you” (meaning the royal, anyone-in-medicine-you) can come up for a shot for the cold.

 

The Common Cold

 

The common cold (medically known as infectious nasopharyngitis) is the most common upper respiratory tract infection. More than 200 viruses can cause colds, thus the inherent difficulty coming up with one “shot” for the cold. The most common cause is the rhinovirus (are you picturing a rhinocerous with a cold?—“Rhino” actually means nose in Greek.) A cold usually progresses in the following manner:

 

       It nearly always starts rapidly with throat irritation and stuffiness in the nose. Within hours, full-blown cold symptoms usually develop, which can include sneezing, mild sore throat, fever, minor headaches, muscle aches, and coughing.

 

       Fever is low-grade or absent. In small children, however, fever may be as high as 103 degrees F for one or two days; it should go down after that and be normal by the fifth day.

 

       Nasal discharge is usually clear and runny the first one to three days. It then thickens and becomes yellow to greenish.

 

       The sore throat is usually mild and lasts only about a day. A runny nose usually lasts two to seven days, although coughing and nasal discharge can persist for more than two weeks.

 

Influenza

 

Influenza, commonly called “the flu”, is always caused by a specific virus. [ASIDE: Flu is a respiratory illness, not gastrointestinal. Some people refer to vomiting and diarrhea as “the flu” but different viruses cause this illness, medically called gastroenteritis. ] The symptoms of influenza usually occur as follows:

 

       Abrupt onset of severe symptoms, which include headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and high fever (up to 104 degrees F).

 

       Other symptoms that may occur or not include cough (which is usually dry but can be severe) and sometimes a runny nose and sore throat.

 

 

WHO GETS COLDS AND FLUS?

 

Everyone gets a cold or upper respiratory infection at some time:

 

       On average, every American has two to four colds a year.

 

       Each year, there are between 18 to 20 million cases of respiratory infections caused by influenza.

 

Exposure to Smoke and Environmental Pollutants

 

The risk of respiratory infections is increased by exposure to cigarette smoke, which can injure airways and damage the cilia (tiny hair-like structures  that help keep the airways clear).

 

People under Stress

 

Much evidence suggests that stress increases one's susceptibility to a cold. In one study, people with high stress levels averaged 2.7 upper respiratory infections during a six-month period and those reporting low stress averaged 1.5 infections. Stress appears to increase the risk for a

cold regardless of lifestyle or other health habits. And once a person catches a cold or flu, stress can exacerbate symptoms.

 

Seasonal Incidence

 

Flu season typically starts in October and lasts into mid March. Flu and colds are more like to be transmitted in winter because people spend more time indoors and are exposed to higher concentrations of airborne viruses. Dry winter weather also dries up nasal passages, making them more susceptible to viruses.

 

Preventing Transmission

 

Handwashing, frequently, is a very effective means to reduce transmission.  Antibacterialsoaps add little protection, particularly against viruses. In one study common liquid dish washing soaps was up to 100 times more effective than antibacterial soap in killing some viruses.

 

Vaccines for influenza

 

Based on the 2001-2002 flu season, nearly 90% were type A and about 10% were type B. Influenza A is the most widespread and can even animals and humans. Influenza A is the cause of the major pandemics (worldwide epidemics) of influenza that have occurred. Influenza B infects only humans. Influenza vaccine is made new each year based on worldwide patterns or the viral strains.

Why now?  The optimal timing for administration in the northern hemisphere is October through November.  The protection afforded takes about 2 weeks and lasts about 4 to 6 months

 

Effectiveness and Benefits. Vaccinations now protect against influenza in between 70% and 100% of healthy adults when the virus and the vaccine are well matched. Additionally, studies find that the more people that are vaccinated, the healthier the community at large (called “herd immunity.”)

The vaccine is inactive and one cannot GET influenza from the vaccine.  (You can feel icky or get a cold and blame it on the vaccine, but that’s not fair and it gives health care providers a bad name.)

 

 

Vaccine is readily available this year. Come to one of the flu shot clinics held by the Health Center at various locations around campus.  Call (x3440) and ask for a “house call” for your faculty meeting or sports team.  Or come by the nurses’ station during regular hours (Monday -Friday 8am to 8pm)

 

You may still get a cold this season (although you may be at lower risk with all those antibodies running around your body.)  But it really is worth the shot to NOT get influenza.  Join the herd.

 

Flu guidelines (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/fluvirus.htm)

Vaccine facts (http://www.immunofacts.com)

The Vaccine Page (http://vaccines.org)