Common cold and influenza - symptoms, prevention and treatment

Common cold is the most frequent illness among people. It affects all age groups everywhere in the world. Medically it is referred to as a viral upper respiratory tract infection. Symptoms may include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and cough. More than 200 different types of viruses are known to cause the common cold, but most often it is induced by rhinovirus. Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and can sometimes even lead to death. Main symptoms are fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle and body aches, headaches and fatigue. In order to prevent catching the flu or the common cold it is important to limit contact with people who are already ill, wash hands as often as possible, keep fingers out of the eyes and nose, avoid crowded spaces and to ensure oneself plenty of rest and sleep. Healthy diet, phytotherapy, aromatherapy, apitherapy and homeopathy are also a good way of prevention. Of course the best way of preventing the flu is vaccination. Once the illness has begun, the therapy employed is symptomatic. First it is important to drink plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration. If body temperature is high, antipyretics are used which work as analgetics as well in case of headache, muscle ache and body ache. For sour thought throat lozenges with antiseptic, antiphlogistic and pain relieving properties are used. For runny and stuffy nose decongestants are applied. Depending on the type of cough, antitussives, expectorants and mucolytics are used. Since the common cold and flu are the most often illness for which the patients do not go to the doctors but to their pharmacist, it is important to recognize the symptoms and the differentiate common cold from influenza. In order to recommend the most appropriate medicine in terms of duration and intensity of the symptoms, patient age and existing medical conditions a professional advice from the pharmacist is required, considering interactions and side effects.