Common cold and flu

Whilst Flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses, they are however caused by different viruses. Colds are usually milder than flu.

People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.

Is it cold or flu?

Colds and flus cause considerable illness, negatively affect our social life and cost us a lot of money in medical bills and time off work.

Every year the average adult catches a common cold 2-4 times and children experience 3-6 colds.

A cold typically lasts for 7-10 days, which adds up to a lot of time off work, in bed and feeling unwell.

Influenza is less common, but more serious than a cold. Yet, up to one in five Batswana catch the flu each winter and children are more than twice as likely to get the flu.

There are many things you can do to reduce your chance of being exposed to these viruses. If you are exposed, you can still reduce the likelihood you’ll become infected and ill.

Limit exposure to cold and flu viruses

1. Wash your hands

The virus commonly enters your body when you touch your nose,

mouth or eyes with infected hands.

2. Avoid crowds and sick people

3. Disinfect surfaces

4. Stay warm and dry

But when you are infected with a cold or flu virus, staying warm and dry might reduce the likelihood you’ll be affected by symptoms like coughing and sneezing.

Practice healthy habits to prevent cold and flu

1. Boost the immune system to

beat colds and flus

Healthy eating

Eating a balanced diet provides your body with the nutrients and vitamins( e.g.Vitamin C rich food like oranges and tomatoes) help the immune system fight infection.

Rest

Getting plenty of sleep also helps boost the functioning of your immune system.

2. Reduce stress

3. Stop smoking

Smokers are more prone to respiratory illness than non-smokers, and experience more severe and frequent colds. This is because cigarette smoke dries out nasal passages and paralyses the hairs that line the mucous membranes, which normally act to sweep viruses out of the nasal passages.

4. Exercise regularly

5. Regulate humidity

Other ways to avoid catching a cold are to ensure your house is not overheated, and to increase the humidity by using cool mist humidifiers or vaporizers.

Influenza vaccination

The flu vaccine provides one of the best ways to protect against the flu. It is particularly important for people who are at high risk of developing flu-related complications:

Immunization is recommended for:

• All adults aged over 65 years;

• Infants and children aged from 6 • Children on long term aspirin therapy; • Pregnant women;

• Anyone with a chronic medical condition (e.g. asthma, diabetes or heart, kidney or lung disease);

• Anyone with a weakened immune system or who is undergoing immunosuppressive treatments;

• Residents of nursing homes or long term care facilities;

• Child care workers, health care workers, or anyone living with or looking after someone at high risk of developing flu-related complications; and

• Anyone visiting parts of the world where influenza is circulating.

The flu vaccine is between 70-90% effective, depending on the intensity and length of the flu season.

New vaccines are produced every year and supplies are sometimes limited. If you need a flu shot it is a good idea to talk to your doctor early to make sure you can get vaccinated.

Who should not be vaccinated?

• People who have had an allergic reaction to a flu vaccine in the past;

• People with allergies to chicken eggs (the vaccine is cultivated in chicken eggs); • Children under 6 months of age

• People suffering from an illness with a fever.