Arubi
12-06-2004, 12:11 PM
It would seem they misused the word flu, I think they meant cold :confused:
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The Arafat head-count
By Joannah Bharose
Monday, December 6th 2004
The latest flu, irreverently named "Arafat" after the late Palestinian leader, has taken a heavy toll in schools and offices.
Trinis just love any excuse to name the common cold. The bone-breaker, the Lewinsky, the Wang Yu, the skylab, the Saddam. Whatever you may want to call it, it is still the common cold and it can be a real problem if not taken care of in the early stages. The latest bout to hit us has the dubious honour of being called the The Arafat.
The common cold is an illness caused by an infection located in the nose. Colds are very common; adults get about three colds each year, children six to ten. Most colds are caught at the end of the year and last anywhere between three days and two weeks. Most colds clear up on their own, but they sometimes develop into more serious illnesses, such as middle ear infections, bronchitis or sinus infections. Colds are often confused with influenza, which is caused by a different type of virus and can be much more serious.
"It comes to our country literally via airplanes," said Dr Rohit Doon, Chief Medical Officer.
He pointed out there is a lot more travel in the winter season and "with people visiting. The disease is at its highest at that time of year".
There are more than 200 viruses that can cause the common cold, the most common of which is any from the group of rhinoviruses. The virus deposits itself in the front part of the nose, where it can be passed to another person by sneezing, coughing, or on the hands.
Contrary to popular belief, cold weather and rain do not cause colds, but cold viruses tend to live longer in cooler temperatures. This is why colds are more common in the fall and winter months and are easily spread from country to country.
Symptoms of the common cold include head congestion, nasal congestion, sore throat, coughing, headache, sneezing and watery eyes. Children can also develop a low-grade fever. Symptoms appear two to three days after infection.
Doon said the best course of action is to avoid contact with anyone who has a cold, especially during the first three days of the illness. Wash hands frequently during cold season. Keep hands and fingers away from the eyes and nose as much as possible. Always cover the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing and sneezing. Do not use the hands because this could further spread the illness. Flush tissues down the toilet after use instead of placing them in the trash can. Drink plenty of fluids, exercise regularly and spend time in the fresh, outdoor air as often as possible. Do not smoke and avoid smoky rooms whenever possible.
"Stay away from work if you have the cold. All you will do is communicate it to others," he said.
The Ministry of Health monitors all seasons of colds to see if there is anything abnormal, according to Doon, and this season so far has not been any different. "...There is no real cause for concern. Febrile illness is always a prominent feature of public health."
He also warned against rushing to doctors, hospitals and local health centres for the common cold, which can be treated effectively by most non-aspirin over-the-counter drugs.
The common cold is caused by more than 300 serologically distinct viruses. Since there are so many different types, it is impossible to develop a single vaccine effective against them all.
The common cold is spread by airborne droplets from an infected person breathing, coughing, or sneezing. Viruses generally will not stay alive long enough on inanimate objects to be a problem, as on a telephone, for instance. The droplets must be inhaled. However, when considering any infection, one must keep in mind a number of things. Infection is by no means automatic. Just because a person is exposed to an infection does not mean that the infection will ensue.
Most people are all too familiar with the symptoms of the common cold: headache, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea (runny nose), sneezing, and a scratchy throat accompanied by general malaise (body aches). Because the common cold is virus-borne, antibiotics that treat bacteria-borne infections are ineffective.
The majority of the infections adults have throughout the healthy time of their lives are viral in origin. Having a common cold with congested sinuses is not sinusitis. Patients may even have greenish nasal discharge with sinus congestion due to a common cold. The same can also be said for a cold associated with a bad cough, producing sputum.
Stress is a factor that can increase susceptibility to the common cold. This was shown in a study conducted at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Researchers measured the severity of respiratory symptoms, mucus production, and interleukin-6 in test subjects injected with influenza A virus. Volunteers who reported greater psychological stress before inoculation reacted to infection with more intense symptoms, increased mucus production, and higher concentrations of interleukin-6. The same researchers further believe that interleukin-6, a protein produced in the body, may be a biological link between psychological stress and the severity of upper respiratory infections such as cold and flu.
Rest and relaxation while recovering enables the individual to strengthen immune function and enhance detoxification. Avoiding contact with others will help to prevent spreading the infection. While there is no cure for the common cold, there are certain steps that can be taken to relieve symptoms and discomfort.
- Eating properly may help to shorten duration or make the symptoms less severe;
- Drink a minimum of eight to ten glasses of fluids a day to avoid dehydration, keep mucous membranes moist, and loosen phlegm;
- Abstain from alcohol because it reduces the body's ability to fight infection;
- Avoid smoking and smoky places;
- To relieve aches and fever, take an aspirin substitute;
- Use saline-based, over-the-counter nose drops to relieve a stuffy nose;
- Certain dietary supplements have been shown to lessen the discomfort and duration of a cold.
People often wonder if they should go to work while they are sick with a cold. The answer is simple-do what your body tells you to do. If you are sick, tired, and feel that you would be more comfortable at home under the covers resting, that is probably what you should do.
You can't "catch" a cold from being out in the cold. However, if your body is already under stress, being out in the cold may be the additional stress that lowers your immune threshold to the point that you become ill.
-Additional information provided
by Dr Carol Bhaggan-Khan
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_features?id=49253178
---------------------------------------------------------
The Arafat head-count
By Joannah Bharose
Monday, December 6th 2004
The latest flu, irreverently named "Arafat" after the late Palestinian leader, has taken a heavy toll in schools and offices.
Trinis just love any excuse to name the common cold. The bone-breaker, the Lewinsky, the Wang Yu, the skylab, the Saddam. Whatever you may want to call it, it is still the common cold and it can be a real problem if not taken care of in the early stages. The latest bout to hit us has the dubious honour of being called the The Arafat.
The common cold is an illness caused by an infection located in the nose. Colds are very common; adults get about three colds each year, children six to ten. Most colds are caught at the end of the year and last anywhere between three days and two weeks. Most colds clear up on their own, but they sometimes develop into more serious illnesses, such as middle ear infections, bronchitis or sinus infections. Colds are often confused with influenza, which is caused by a different type of virus and can be much more serious.
"It comes to our country literally via airplanes," said Dr Rohit Doon, Chief Medical Officer.
He pointed out there is a lot more travel in the winter season and "with people visiting. The disease is at its highest at that time of year".
There are more than 200 viruses that can cause the common cold, the most common of which is any from the group of rhinoviruses. The virus deposits itself in the front part of the nose, where it can be passed to another person by sneezing, coughing, or on the hands.
Contrary to popular belief, cold weather and rain do not cause colds, but cold viruses tend to live longer in cooler temperatures. This is why colds are more common in the fall and winter months and are easily spread from country to country.
Symptoms of the common cold include head congestion, nasal congestion, sore throat, coughing, headache, sneezing and watery eyes. Children can also develop a low-grade fever. Symptoms appear two to three days after infection.
Doon said the best course of action is to avoid contact with anyone who has a cold, especially during the first three days of the illness. Wash hands frequently during cold season. Keep hands and fingers away from the eyes and nose as much as possible. Always cover the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing and sneezing. Do not use the hands because this could further spread the illness. Flush tissues down the toilet after use instead of placing them in the trash can. Drink plenty of fluids, exercise regularly and spend time in the fresh, outdoor air as often as possible. Do not smoke and avoid smoky rooms whenever possible.
"Stay away from work if you have the cold. All you will do is communicate it to others," he said.
The Ministry of Health monitors all seasons of colds to see if there is anything abnormal, according to Doon, and this season so far has not been any different. "...There is no real cause for concern. Febrile illness is always a prominent feature of public health."
He also warned against rushing to doctors, hospitals and local health centres for the common cold, which can be treated effectively by most non-aspirin over-the-counter drugs.
The common cold is caused by more than 300 serologically distinct viruses. Since there are so many different types, it is impossible to develop a single vaccine effective against them all.
The common cold is spread by airborne droplets from an infected person breathing, coughing, or sneezing. Viruses generally will not stay alive long enough on inanimate objects to be a problem, as on a telephone, for instance. The droplets must be inhaled. However, when considering any infection, one must keep in mind a number of things. Infection is by no means automatic. Just because a person is exposed to an infection does not mean that the infection will ensue.
Most people are all too familiar with the symptoms of the common cold: headache, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea (runny nose), sneezing, and a scratchy throat accompanied by general malaise (body aches). Because the common cold is virus-borne, antibiotics that treat bacteria-borne infections are ineffective.
The majority of the infections adults have throughout the healthy time of their lives are viral in origin. Having a common cold with congested sinuses is not sinusitis. Patients may even have greenish nasal discharge with sinus congestion due to a common cold. The same can also be said for a cold associated with a bad cough, producing sputum.
Stress is a factor that can increase susceptibility to the common cold. This was shown in a study conducted at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Researchers measured the severity of respiratory symptoms, mucus production, and interleukin-6 in test subjects injected with influenza A virus. Volunteers who reported greater psychological stress before inoculation reacted to infection with more intense symptoms, increased mucus production, and higher concentrations of interleukin-6. The same researchers further believe that interleukin-6, a protein produced in the body, may be a biological link between psychological stress and the severity of upper respiratory infections such as cold and flu.
Rest and relaxation while recovering enables the individual to strengthen immune function and enhance detoxification. Avoiding contact with others will help to prevent spreading the infection. While there is no cure for the common cold, there are certain steps that can be taken to relieve symptoms and discomfort.
- Eating properly may help to shorten duration or make the symptoms less severe;
- Drink a minimum of eight to ten glasses of fluids a day to avoid dehydration, keep mucous membranes moist, and loosen phlegm;
- Abstain from alcohol because it reduces the body's ability to fight infection;
- Avoid smoking and smoky places;
- To relieve aches and fever, take an aspirin substitute;
- Use saline-based, over-the-counter nose drops to relieve a stuffy nose;
- Certain dietary supplements have been shown to lessen the discomfort and duration of a cold.
People often wonder if they should go to work while they are sick with a cold. The answer is simple-do what your body tells you to do. If you are sick, tired, and feel that you would be more comfortable at home under the covers resting, that is probably what you should do.
You can't "catch" a cold from being out in the cold. However, if your body is already under stress, being out in the cold may be the additional stress that lowers your immune threshold to the point that you become ill.
-Additional information provided
by Dr Carol Bhaggan-Khan
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_features?id=49253178