Diagnosis
Both the flu and a cold can sometimes take a different course and not show all the typical symptoms. A correct distinction is therefore not always possible for medical laymen and in case of doubt it is always advisable to consult a doctor for the exact diagnosis. Alternatively, there are now freely available rapid flu tests that can also be carried out at home and can detect the flu pathogen.
Then a cold can be ruled out. The most important measure is to take it easy. It does not matter whether it is a flu or a cold.
Both diseases weaken the body to such an extent that it should not be exposed to any unnecessary stress. Particularly sporting activities or sauna sessions should be avoided if you have a cold. Because of the very strong feeling of illness, the person affected by a flu is forced to take it easy anyway.
It is advisable to take a few days of bed rest to give the body time to recover. As a general rule, the person affected by flu should take it easy for a while after the symptoms have subsided. The typical symptoms that occur both with the flu and with the common cold, such as cough, rhinitis and sore throat, can be treated with over-the-counter medicines.New generation cold sprays (with a decongestant drug and additional mucous membrane protection dexpanthenol), cough suppressants, cough lotions or throat lozenges can alleviate the symptoms.
Headache and aching limbs can be treated with painkillers (e.g. acetysalicylic acid, ASS), peppermint oil can also help with headaches. Tried and tested household remedies such as calf compresses, sage tea, potato envelopes on the chest, inhalation with chamomile or gargling can provide relief. Caution is advised with viral infections in children.
Under no circumstances should children be given salicylates (e.g. acetylsalicylic acid), as there is a risk of Reye’s syndrome (serious illness with brain and liver damage). If the flu is mild, bed rest and the medications listed above are usually sufficient to improve the symptoms. In the case of a severe flu, there is the possibility of fighting the viruses with special antiviral drugs (antivirals).
However, this only makes sense if the drugs are used within 48 hours. In rare cases, an infection with bacteria also occurs, which can lead to the development of, for example, sinusitis (inflammation of the paranasal sinuses), inflammation of the airways (bronchitis) or pneumonia (pneumonia). These diseases are usually treated with antibiotics, but only when bacteria have been identified as the trigger. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses!
- Treatment of influenza
- Therapy of the common cold
