NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Cold and flu season is upon us. To help people avoid falling ill, the American Lung Association (ALA) has issued guidelines on the prevention and treatment of these viral illnesses.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, 11 states have already reported confirmed cases of influenza, and 10 more states report cases of flu-like illness. But what distinguishes a cold from the flu? The ALA guidelines help clear up the confusion.
Colds, the guidelines explain, are caused by five different viruses which infect the nose and throat. Symptoms are a stuffy nose, sneezing, scratchy throat and cough, which last on average about a week. Colds are spread through direct physical contact, usually via the hands. The best way to prevent colds is to stay clear of people who have them, wash your hands often -- especially after contact with a sick person or with objects the sick person has touched -- and avoid touching your nose and eyes.
Even the most careful among us cannot always avoid catching a cold, however. Adults have an average of two to four colds a year.
The flu, on the other hand, is caused by three influenza viruses: A, B, and C. (Health officials tailor each year's vaccine to whichever strains emerge first and appear dominant.) The viruses are airborne, and spread whenever a flu victim sneezes, coughs, or even speaks.
While a mild case of the flu is often confused with a cold, the flu can be identified by the more sudden onset of symptoms, which include headaches, fever, chills, body aches, cough, and sore throat. "Neither illness is considered mild when you're the one with the symptoms," says ALA's Dr. Norman Edelman. "But the flu can be especially serious, particularly for older people, young children, and those with serious health problems," he added. The flu usually lasts about a week, but in the elderly a persistent post-flu weakness can last many weeks.
Consumers should also remember that antibiotics are ineffective against these and all viral illnesses. Treatment for both the flu and colds therefore marshall together a similar arsenal: antihistamines and decongestants, acetaminophen, and plenty of fluids.
The type A flu can be further combated with two antiviral medications, amantadine and rimantadine, if treatment begins within 48 hours of onset of symptoms.
The best defense against the flu, of course, is prevention. Edelman told USA Today that "we strongly recommend that people who want to avoid the flu be immunized. The flu vaccine is highly successful, does not cause flu, and causes only minor side effects," such as possible soreness at the inoculation site, mild body aches, or low fever.
The vaccine can be given anytime during flu season, now through January. For a copy of the ALA Cold and Flu Guidelines, visit the ALA Web site at http://www.lungusa.org, or call 1-800-LUNGUSA.
