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Cold and Flu Information for Your Students and Staff The best way to handle colds is simply to prevent them from occurring, and if that fails, to treat the unpleasant symptoms. Prevention is mainly a matter of hygiene. To avoid spreading colds: Avoid close contact during the contagious period. Wash your hands frequently Dispose of all tissue used to blow your nose immediately after use Cover your mouth and nose with tissue or handkerchief when coughing or sneezing Treating cold symptoms won't cure your cold, but it will make you feel better until your body fights off the virus. General measures include: Rest. Refusing to rest can result in worse symptoms, delayed recovery, and even relapses. Fluids. Drink at least two quarts of clear liquids per day, but avoid mild, salty foods, and broths. This will promote drainage.
Humidify dry air. Moist air decreases swelling of the respiratory tract and helps to clear our mucus. Avoid tobacco smoke. Smokers catch more colds which last longer than in non-smokers. Children whose partners smoke also have more colds and ear infections. Special instructions for infants: Infants and very young children are best treated without cold medicines, since they may not work and have unpredictable side effects in the very young. In addition to the measures above, stuffy noses can be treated with saline nose drops (1/4 tsp. salt in 4 oz. water). 2-3 drops in each nostril for up to 150-30 seconds., followed by suctioning with a bulb syringe. This allows infants to sleep more comfortably since they can't breathe well through their mouths. What is the difference between cold and influenza (flu) The symptoms of a common cold include:
Influenza is a much more serious illness. Often people call a severe common cold 'the flu', but they are quite different illnesses. Symptoms of influenza usually start suddenly with a high fever and you may feel sick enough to go to bed. Symptoms include:
The flu tends to make the whole body ache, whereas the common cold usually affects the nose and throat only. How can you prevent getting a common cold?
Practical ways to treat the symptoms of common colds and flu
Antibiotics won't help a common cold or flu. Antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by bacteria and do not have any effect on viruses such as colds and flu. Most viruses are fought and overcome by your immune system. If you have a cold use common sense.
Over-the-counter cold remedies, decongestants and simple pain relievers may relieve some cold symptoms, but will not prevent, cure, or even shorten the illness. However, they can make you feel better!
Drinking plenty of fluids is essential to prevent dehydration. Hot honey and lemon drinks are a great way to soothe the throat and help to clear the nasal passages and sinuses. Also try inhaling steam. To assist with a sore throat, try throat lozenges, gargles and throat sprays.
Shifting into lower gear by staying at home - with plenty of rest - is a good idea until you're feeling better. You won't be popular if you spread your cold around the work place. Likewise if you have children who are sick, keep them at home. Kids spread germs quickly. Will antibiotics help me get better? Antibiotics won't stop your cold from getting worse and will not stop infection spreading to other people. Importantly, using antibiotics when you don't need them may make them less effective when you do need them. Antibiotics cause side effects like stomach upsets, diarrhoea and thrush. Links to information: http://www.drgreene.com/21_577.html http://quickcare.org/resp/colds.html http://health.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=1509 http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/coldflu.htm This one is the Center for Disease Control
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