Cold, flu or influenza infection?

Every year in the cold season colds coughs, hoarseness meet every step of the way. One speaks of cold, flu or flu-like infection - but what lies behind these terms? We bring light into the darkness so that the delimitation of cold and flu will cause no more problems.

Cold or flu infection?

With a cold or flu-like infection - which means the same thing - is commonly referred to a viral disease, which manifests itself with a cold, cough and other general symptoms. Around 200 different types of viruses can cause a cold, so you can be colds several times in quick succession.

The pathogens are so diverse (rhino, adeno, and coronaviruses) that vaccination is not possible - fortunately, the diseases are not usually life-threatening. Most colds occur in the cold season, but it is also available as a summer flu. The situation is quite different with the real flu.

How does the flu announce?

Flu is caused by the influenza virus. A distinction is made between three groups of influenza viruses, whose genetic material is constantly changing - that is why certain risk groups should undergo a flu vaccine once a year.

The problem with the real flu is the serious illness with the typical cold symptoms, but here are much more pronounced. It may also affect the lungs (pneumonia), heart (myocardium and pericarditis) or brain (tissue inflammation).

In recent years, infectious diseases with influenza symptoms have repeatedly caused a stir throughout the world - SARS and bird flu are examples of viral infections that can also be dangerous for humans.

Illness flu influenza infection

How do you express cold and flu?

The flu and cold initially express the same symptoms and symptoms. Typical symptoms are:

• Sore throat
• Sniff
• To cough
• Hoarseness

Frequently, then shivering announces a rise in temperature and fever is accompanied by shivering. Body aches as well as headaches. Weakness, fatigue, and loss of appetite complete the picture.

With the true flu, the symptoms and discomfort often start suddenly and are so severe that the sufferer can tell exactly when the flu started.

Delimitation to other diseases

Other illnesses start with colds or watery eyes - for example, hay fever or allergic cold with a house dust allergy. Coughing, coughing and hoarseness are also causing another group of illnesses - the childhood diseases of measles, mumps, rubella & Co. After a few days, the typical rash often becomes apparent, making the diagnosis easier.

In case of repeated and stubborn colds in childhood, a congenital immunodeficiency may be behind it - however, up to six colds per year in childhood are not worrying.

Snuffling nose typical of cold

A snuffy nose can be found in the vast majority of cases of a cold. As soon as the cold on the paranasal sinuses expands, one speaks of sinusitis.

A snuffy nose can be found in the vast majority of cases of a cold. As soon as the cold on the paranasal sinuses expands, one speaks of sinusitis.

Even with infants, even a banal cold will quickly lead to a poor general condition. Babies breathe almost exclusively through the nose - and refuse to drink when the nose is blocked because the change between breathing and swallowing is too difficult. In infancy, the swollen mucous membranes often lead to a middle ear infection.

The nose is almost always affected by a cold, its environment (sinuses, eyes, and ears) often, the bronchi fortunately rare. While in a normal cold the extension of the adjacent organs to the paranasal sinuses, eyes or bronchia can be considered a complication, influenza flu can also damage the lungs, heart, and brain - it leads to pneumonia, inflammation of the heart muscle or inflammation of the brain tissue.

The danger of a superinfection

Since the disease weakens the immune system and the mucous membranes are sensitive, even bacteria such as pneumococci have an easy play and can cause a so-called superinfection (patch secondary infection). Then the viral pneumonia is superimposed by the bacterial.

Flu or cold - diagnosis

There are several ways to diagnose flu or cold:

1-Anamnesis (ask for medical history): The duration and severity of the symptoms can tell whether it is more of a cold or the flu.

2- Inspection (contemplation), palpation (palpation), percussion (knocking) and auscultation (eavesdropping): A sniffy nose is easily recognized by the red, swollen mucous membranes and when it hurts when tapping the forehead or cheekbones. Then usually the paranasal sinuses are inflamed. With the Otoscope (the Ohrenspiegel) one sees with a middle ear inflammation a reddened eardrum and perhaps some liquid behind it. The oral cavity and the pharynx are usually reddened, the palatine tonsils swollen or, in the case of bacterial secondary infection, stained with white spots. When coughing, one can hear rattle sounds over the bronchi with the stethoscope, with pneumonia the breathing noises are changed over the affected area.3-Ultrasound, X-ray, Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Imaging procedures are usually not needed for a cold. An advanced inflammation of the sinuses can be seen in an ultrasound or X-ray. In order to exclude pneumonia, usually, an X-ray is made. CT and MRI are used in dramatic courses of influenza to clarify heart or brain involvement.

3- Further investigations in case of complications: If a bacterial secondary infection is suspected, smears of the palatine tonsil, mucus samples or blood tests can give information about the type of pathogens. In the case of pneumonia, X-rays show the course - is the inflammation after the start of therapy declining or is it an abscess? When a heart muscle inflammation changes the heart rhythm, which can be controlled with the ECG.

A functioning immune system is an alpha and omega

A well-functioning immune system is a basic requirement to get well over the winter - vitamin-rich diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, a lot of exercise in the fresh air, sauna visits or regular Kneipp treatments are just a few ways to strengthen the immune system. A weakened immune system makes itself noticeable by the fact that one infection replaces the next and the symptoms of the disease are more pronounced.

In addition to nutrition and exercise, there is also a "cold-Knigge":

• Avoid shaking hands as much as possible
• Avoid crowds
• Nasal "wellness" operate, for example, by inhaling

Only one remedy is available against the real flu: the annual flu vaccine. Especially the elderly and people with chronic diseases are considered at risk - they are the flu vaccine and the pneumococcal vaccine especially to heart.

As the genetic material of the influenza virus changes, again and again, the vaccine must be renewed annually, because even in Pakistan there is a risk of a flu epidemic.

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Home remedies and cold remedies

In each family, recipes of home remedies for colds and flu are passed on - be it from the much-talked-on onions of the great aunt or from the chicken soup that has been known since childhood. Many of these home remedies help so well that you can easily cure a cold with it. You should not forget the inhalation, because the swollen nasal mucosa is grateful for this help for mucus solution.

Sometimes a painkiller or an over-the-counter flu remedy is helpful for head and body aches - whether acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), paracetamol or another active ingredient: Remember never to give children ASA because of side effects!

Because both the flu and a flu infection are caused by viruses, antibiotics do not help. They are therefore used only if in addition, a bacterial secondary infection exists.

For prolonged complaints you should always consult the doctor - so have serious illnesses no chance!