| Coughs, Colds & Flu xxxxx |
What are Coughs, Colds & Flu?
Coughs, colds and influenza affect most, if not all, of us at least once a year, but children seem to be more susceptible to them than adults and far more likely to be treated for them when they occur. In the UK & USA, more money is spent On over-the-counter medications for coughs and colds than any other childhood ailment. Yet, while some of these treatments may relieve the symptoms associated with colds and coughs, none will, in fact, effect a cure, all interfere with the body’s own efforts to cure itself (e.g. by ‘drying up mucus and many are associated with dangerous side effects. The truth is that without treatment a common cold will usually last about one week - with or without treatment.
Known Causes
There are two basic theories – the chill theory and the viral theory. The chill theory is based upon the fact that there is a much higher incidence of colds and flu in the winter and that these ailments are related to exposure to the cold weather. This theory, a favourite of mothers and grandmothers, argues that colds are brought about be failing to dress in warm enough clothes - coats. gloves, mittens and hats - during the cold weather.
The viral theory on the other hand suggests that colds are caught more frequently in winter because children are in school, confined in classrooms devoid of fresh air. Both theories may hold some truth; the flu, colds, and coughs are often caused by viruses, but exposure to the cold may lower the body’s resistance to these viruses.
Symptoms
The symptoms of the common cold vary from one person to the next, however, they generally include a watery, irritated eyes, a runny nose, coughing, sneezing and a low-grade fever. Influenza often also includes body aches, vomiting, diarrhoea arid a high fever. If nasal secretion is clear, gray or white, it is usually an indication of a cold or flu, whereas if the secretions are yellow it can indicate the presence of pus, which is an indication of bacterial sinusitis.
Colds can accompany other bacterial infections such as bronchitis or otitis (middle ear infection). Common colds and the flu do not, be themselves, require any invasive medical treatment (as mentioned above). This is also true of viral pneumonia a disease which can only be confirmed by X-ray and. in any event, is associated with mild symptoms. Bacterial pneumonia, on the other hand, is a very serious condition and does require immediate medical attention. The symptoms of bacterial pneumonia include a fever above 102 degrees, severe shortness of breath, aversion to bright lights, stiff neck and blueness of the skin.
Conventional Treatment
The medications most commonly used for treatment of cold and influenza symptoms fall into six categories: decongestants, expectorants, antihistamines, cough suppressants, pain killers and, last but not least, antibiotics. According to Dr Robert S Mendelssohn MD, who was a pediatrician for over thirty years and former chairman of the Medical Licensing Committee for the State of Illinois and associate professor of Preventive Medicine & Community Health in the School of Medicine of the University of Illinois all of these medications have a number of things in common - they are unnecessary they are associated with several harmful side effects, they interfere with the body’s own efforts to defeat the disease, and they are a waste of money!
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