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You vs. trillions of cold and flu viruses: Four steps to even the odds
Arkansas
Trillions of individual viruses are out there looking for an opportunity to mug your sinuses and bring on a scratchy throat, runny nose and a week or two of misery.
Russ Kennedy, Ph.D., health and aging specialist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, offers four simple steps that can help an individual fight the overwhelming odds.
There are more than 200 virus families known to cause the symptoms of the common cold including rhinoviruses which target the nose; coronaviruses, such as the one responsible for SARS; and orthomyxoviruses, which include the influenza A and B viruses.
These viruses take quite a toll.
"Although a common cold is usually mild, with symptoms lasting one to two weeks, it's a leading cause of doctor visits and of school and job absenteeism," he said. "The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that in 1996, 62 million cases of common cold in the United States required medical attention or resulted in restricted activity."
Many of those sick days happen between August and April - peak cold months. Viruses do their most successful stalking during the fall and winter for three reasons:
--The most common cold-causing viruses survive better when the humidity is low
--Nasal passages are drier, making them more vulnerable to infection
--Cold weather forces people inside, increasing the chances of person-to-person transmission
Preventing the common cold takes a little common sense. Just four simple steps can save two weeks of decongestants, antihistamines and other over-the-counter cold treatments.
--Wash your hands to shed any viruses picked up through the air or contact with doorknobs, phones or other surfaces
--Don't touch your eyes or nose--these are highways for viruses to reach their targets
--Avoid close, prolonged exposure to people with colds
--Because rhinoviruses can survive up to three hours outside the body, cleaning surfaces with a virus-killing disinfectant may help
--If you've got a cold, you can help prevent its spread by sneezing or coughing into a facial tissue and promptly throwing it away," Kennedy said.
If the virus does take hold, listen to the advice mom used to give: Get plenty of rest and fluids. When it comes to medications, there are some serious effects to consider, especially when treating children.
"Several studies have linked the use of aspirin to the development of Reye's syndrome in children recovering from flu or chickenpox. Reye's is a rare, but serious illness affecting children between 3 and 12 years of age," Kennedy said. "The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children and teen-agers not be given aspirin or any medications containing aspirin when they have any viral illness, particularly chicken pox and influenza."
For more information about colds and flu, visit www.Arfamilies.org or visit the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health.
Date: 1/27/04
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