Colds and flu

"Colds can make us feel pretty awful but being struck down with flu can be far more serious, particularly for those more vulnerable in the community. Autumn is the best time to consider having your annual flu vaccine. If you do get sick, stay home, throw away used tissues, wash your hands often and keep sick children home from school if they are sick. This will help to stop the flu spreading through the community this winter." Dr Christine Bennett, Bupa Chief Medical Officer.

What is the difference between cold and flu?

The runny nose, sore throat or "stuffy" feeling you get during a cold is caused by one of many viruses - often a rhinovirus - and they can infect your nose, throat, sinuses and airways.

Influenza - or flu - is caused by influenza viruses. Flu has similar symptoms to a cold but tends to be a more severe illness with prominent muscle pains, sore throat and headache. In vulnerable people, such as the elderly or people with lung disease, it can lead to life-threatening complications.

Although colds and flu can make you feel miserable, your body will usually fight off the infection on its own, without medical treatment.

What happens during the flu season?

About 2500 Australians die, and there are 80,000 GP visits and 15,000 hospitalisations each year due to flu.¹ Most cases of influenza occur within a six to eight-week period during winter and spring.

Infected people can spread cold and flu viruses from a day before symptoms start and up to five days afterwards. On average, adults catch two to three colds each year. School-age children can have twelve or more colds in a year.

How do you catch colds and flu?

Colds and flu viruses are spread from person to person as droplets in the air. Sneezing or coughing produces more droplets and helps to spread the infection. Touching infected surfaces, such as door handles or when shaking hands, and then passing the virus from the hands to the mouth, nose or eyes is another route of infection.

What are the symptoms of colds and flu?

Colds
The cold virus grows in the soft, warm surfaces of your nose, throat, sinuses and airways, so this is where you usually get the symptoms. Typically, you will get a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and a cough. You might also have a fever, aching muscles and general tiredness. These symptoms usually last for about a week.

Flu

The symptoms are similar to colds but the muscle aching is usually more severe and the tiredness may last for a few weeks after the illness has cleared up. You are likely to get a fever, and you may also lose your appetite, feel or be sick or have diarrhoea. This is most likely for children.

What are the complications of flu?

To most healthy adults, flu is just like a nasty cold. However, young children, the elderly and people with long-term illnesses are more likely to get complications.

Complications of flu include getting an infection in your lungs (pneumonia) or of your ears, nose and throat. Children under six with flu can sometimes have seizures or fits - known as febrile convulsions - because of their high body temperature.

You are at greater risk of having complications if you are elderly or live in a care home or if you have:

asthma
chronic lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
diabetes
heart disease
kidney diseases and kidney failure
reduced immunity, for example if you have HIV/AIDS or have had your spleen removed

How can I prevent getting a cold or flu?

There are a few steps that you can take to help prevent catching colds and flu:

eat a balanced diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables
take regular (preferably daily) exercise
don't smoke - or if you do try to stop - because smokers are more likely to catch colds and flu

There are steps you can take o help prevent spreading a cold or flu:

try to stay away from other people to prevent the virus from spreading
cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing and wash your hands regularly
throw away tissues as soon as you have used them
if you are contagious with flu, stay home from work to prevent spreading it to others and keep children home from school

Should I get the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccine will help to protect you from human strains of the influenza virus (not strain that may cause Pandemic influenza).²

The flu-virus may change every year. That is why, the World Health Organisation recommends the composition of the flu vaccines each year. 3 The protection against flu develops about two weeks after vaccination and lasts for a year. ⁴

The National Health and Medical Research Council recommends annual flu vaccination for people at risk from the complications of flu.⁵ The flu vaccine is free for:

Everyone aged 65 years or older
Kooris and Torres Strait Islanders aged between 15 and 49 years with health risks
Kooris and Torres Strait Islanders aged 50 years or older
All public hospital outpatients and inpatients with high-risk factors
Public hospital staff who provide direct care to patients.

For all others, it is subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and is available by prescription. ⁶ Your GP will give you more advice. Flu jabs may also be offered to employees by their company.

The best time to vaccinate is in autumn, before the actual outbreak in winter.

How do I treat colds or flu?

There is no cure for colds or flu. Antibiotics, which treat infections due to bacteria, do not work on cold and flu viruses. However, there are things you can do to help yourself feel better.

Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
Paracetamol may help relieve the fever and pain and decongestants can help a blocked nose. Talk to your pharmacist.
Steam inhalations with menthol, eucalyptus or camomile may help.
Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Get plenty of rest and don’t go back to work too early.
Don't smoke or drink alcohol.

Complementary medicines

There is some evidence to suggest that supplements of zinc and the herbal remedy echinacea may ease the symptoms or reduce the duration of a cold.

When to call the doctor

See your GP or pharmacist if your symptoms get worse or if you are concerned about yourself or someone with flu. If you want to know more about the flu vaccine, contact Immunise Australia, Australian Government (phone 1800 671 811 or visit www.immunise.health.gov.au)

Sources

Fact sheet supplied courtesy of British United Provident Association (Bupa) UK

Flu facts: National Health & Medical Research Council (fightflu.gov.au/facts)
Immunise Australia program: Australian Government (immunise.health.gov.au)
WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference & Research on Influenza: Melbourne Australia (influenzacentre.org/index.html)
Better Health Channel: Flu (influenza) – immunisation (betterhealth.vic.gov.au)
Fight flu evidence: National Health and Medical Research Council (fightflu.gov.au/evidence)
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme: Australian Government (pbs.gov.au)

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