health
All you need to know about
your child’s cold, flu and immune system
Your child’s nose is running, they’re all clogged up and just want to go to sleep. Parents will tell any concerned parties that their little one has the flu – but do they? There is a lot of confusion around the differences and similarities between a cold and the flu, as they cause similar symptoms. If you want a family of healthy kids and adults though, it is important to know the difference as flu is generally more serious and can cause further complications. By Dr Rabeen Lutchman
There are over 200 types of viruses that can cause a ‘cold’...
What is a ‘cold’
A ‘cold’ is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. The upper respiratory tract includes the nose, throat, larynx, Eustachian tube (the connection between the throat and the middle ear) and sinuses. There are over 200 types of viruses that can cause a ‘cold’ and they occur at different times of the year (this is called seasonal variation). The most common cause is Rhinovirus. The common symptoms of a ‘cold’ are stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, and less commonly, a cough. It has a more gradual onset, and one experiences mild body aches and fatigue. It is rarely associated with a fever. The exact cause of a ‘cold’ does not necessarily need to be established and the symptoms can be managed conservatively.
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