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Colds and Flu Introduction |
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The
common cold and flu are types of upper
respiratory tract infections that occur
yearly, mainly during the fall and
winter seasons. Both conditions
are caused by viruses and are
associated with decreases
immunological functioning. The causative agent in
30-50% of cases of the common
cold is one of the many types
of rhinovirus. Echovirus, coxsackievirus and other
viruses, account
for the remainder of reported cold
and flu cases. The viruses
that cause the flu are influenza viruses, which are
members of the orthomyxovirus
family.
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Although the same viruses cause
the highly publicized yearly flu outbreaks,
these viruses are subject to
changes in their genetic
structure, also known as antigenic
drift. Antigenic drift
results in the creation of new vaccine
every year. Occasionally, there are major
changes in the genetic structure
of the flu virus.
This is known as
antigenic shift. This mutation can result
in flu pandemics that have
major effects on the overall state of
health around the world. [1] |
While
the cold and flu are similar
illnesses, there are a few
important differences between the
two. In general, a patient with
a cold will usually exhibit general
malaise (feeling sick), fever
headache, and congestion. The
nasal discharge in a common cold
is watery and later becomes
thicker and possibly purulent.
The throat may also feel dry and
scratchy, as well as red and
irritated. In stark contrast, the symptoms of the flu tend to cause
the patient to have more intense
symptoms and will appear as if a
"toxicity has occurred.
Another feature of the flu as
opposed to the common cold is that
the flu will tend to occur
in epidemics. A call to the local
health department can help to
determine if there is an active
flu epidemic at any given time
during an active flu season. [2] [3]
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Learn More About Colds and Flu |
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