Influenza (Common Cold)

In the flu-like infection (synonyms: Acute upper respiratory illness; Acute upper respiratory infection; Acute upper respiratory infection; Acute upper respiratory catarrh; Acute upper respiratory catarrh; Common cold; Inflammation of the upper respiratory tract; Common cold; Febrile upper respiratory infection; Febrile upper respiratory tract infection; Febrile influenza infection; Febrile upper respiratory tract infection; Influenza respiratory tract infection; Influenza infection with bacterial superinfection; Influenza infection with respiratory tract infection; Influenza infection with respiratory tract infection; Influenza airway infection; Influenza infection; Influenza infection with bacterial superinfection; Influenza infection with respiratory tract infection; Influenza infection with respiratory tract infection; Influenza viral infection; Influenza [influenza infection]; High fever influenza infection; Cough with influenza infection; Upper respiratory tract infection; Upper respiratory tract infection; Recurrent upper respiratory tract infection; Recurrent upper respiratory tract infection; Viral infection of upper respiratory tract a. n.k.; ICD-10-GM J06.9: Acute upper respiratory tract infection, unspecified) is a group of acute febrile infections of the upper respiratory tract (nasal mucosa, sinuses, throat, and/or bronchi).

One can classify an influenza infection in the following manner:

The disease is most commonly caused by cold viruses of the genera Rhino, Entero, Corona, Mastadeno and the family Paramyxoviridae. Most frequently, rhinoviruses trigger the flu-like infection.

The pathogen reservoir is mainly humans.

The contagiousness (infectiousness or transmissibility of the pathogen) of the cold viruses is not high in the majority.

Seasonal accumulation of the disease: The common cold occurs more frequently in the winter months.

The transmission of the pathogen (infection route) occurs predominantly via droplets, which are produced during coughing and sneezing and are absorbed by the other person via the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and possibly the eye (droplet infection) or aerogenically (through droplet nuclei (aerosols) containing the pathogen in the exhaled air), less by smear infection in close contact.

Human-to-human transmission: Yes.

Incubation period is usually 3-8 days.

Duration of illness is usually 7 days.

Peak incidence: The disease occurs predominantly in young children.

Influenza is the most common infection in humans. Infants can be affected up to 13 times a year, while adults contract the disease on average two to three times a year.

Course and prognosis: As a rule, an influenza infection is harmless and subsides without complications. Two-thirds of patients are symptom-free again within two weeks. However, the cough often persists for a longer period of time. A comprehensive clarification should be made if the cough has still not subsided after 8 weeks. Failure to take rest during the flu infection increases the risk for secondary bacterial infection or myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle).