Fever, headaches and tiredness, how to know if it is an influenza or a cold? You cannot make a mistake. In the vast majority cases, influenza is accompanied by such symptoms as you cannot merge it with a cold or another winter infection.

Influenza is much more aggressive than cold

In case of cold, the nose runs, they feel weak and tired. Sometimes muscular pain happens, but they are not very intense. Also a person got cold can have a little of fever and headaches, but these symptoms are not much marked.

In the comparing, influenza is much more aggressive. Symptoms are very intense and of violent appearance (high fever, make tired important, big weakness, muscular pain, aches) with a feeling of intense general feeling of faintness (they feel ‘poor ‘). These symptoms nail generally in the bed in some hours and for several days.

It is therefore not so much the nature of the symptoms that differentiates an influenza of a cold, that their intensity and their suddenness.

What is interest to be able to differentiate a cold of an influenza?

It is primordial. Because if there is no treatment against the cold, benign viral illness which recovers spontaneously in some days, on the other hand, we have an antiviral medicament against influenza (Tamiflu ®). This treatment allows to cure an influenza in one-two days or to attenuate symptoms strongly, instead of imposing on you the bed for at least a week.

To cure or to attenuate symptoms? Difference is fond of the speed with which the treatment after the beginning of symptoms is taken.

Indeed, to be efficient, Tamiflu ® must be taken as early as possible, that is to say in 24 hours according to the beginning of symptoms (at the latest in 48 hours). It is therefore primordial to consult his doctor very fast so that he prescribes you this treatment.

At the adult, he comes in the form of capsules: a capsule twice a day during 5 days. At the child of more than a year, it is about a potable solution, to adapt according to its weight, also twice a day during 5 days.

Finally, Tamiflu ® is also pointed out in prevention at the persons who were in contact with a person infected by the virus: a tablet one time a day during ten days.

Needs in blood products are in constant increase while the number of donors stagnates. And every event which prevents the donor from going to the actual generates a risk of shortage. At present, such events accrue: Christmas, big cold, epidemics of gastroenteritis then of influenza. An alert is thrown: give now!

The supply of blood products passed under the threshold of alert. Traditionally, the period which follows holidays year end is difficult for the Establishment Frenchman of the blood (the donors, occupied by the preparations of Christmas and of the New Year are fewer in number), while needs during January are generally more important in the hospital establishments.

And this year, situation is particularly worrying. Indeed, the intense cold which clamped down at the beginning of January limited displacements of the habitual donors and did not encourage the new donors to go to the actual. At the same time, the epidemic of gastroenteritis and now the arrival of influenza are so much events compromising donations of blood …

Who can give? Indications and contraindications in the donation of blood

The site of the French Establishment of the blood (EFS) shows apparently the list of contraindications in the donation of blood. It is necessary to weigh for example the very least 50 kg. After an influenza or a gastroenteritis it is necessary to wait two weeks before being able to give his blood. Of even if you followed a treatment antibiotic. EFS also specifies delays after a visit at the dentist according to the type of intervention (descaling, decay).

The cold is very frequent. This viral infection manifests itself by a blocked nose, sneezes, a sore throat and sometimes a light cough. Is it necessary to see patients? How to know if it is not rather about an influenza? How to avoid him? And otherwise, how not to transmit it to all family?

Colds are extremely infectious

With the arrival of winter cold, organism is less resistant and the less competitive immune system. That’s how the victims of the cold are the most vulnerable at some point.
The children are the most affected. They contract six colds on average every year. Their still childish immune system is at issue, but viruses being particularly infectious, the life in group (day nursery, day nursery, nursery school) also plays an important role.
The frequency of colds diminishes then with age. The adult, he, is attained 2 - 3 times a year about and the old person once, or even in no way, because organism is then immunised against viruses responsible for colds.

How to avoid a cold?

Way the surest of not catching a cold is to watch not to weaken its immune system.

• Manage stress because this one starts immune system surely: yoga, relaxation …
• Practice regularly a physical activity: half an hour of walk a day for the most sedentary, it is already this!
• Eat balanced, various and enough: it is not really the instant to start a limitative regime.
• Sleep enough and lie down at the regular hour.

How to avoid transmitting it in your circle?

Viral transmission is based on hygiene.

• Wash your hands regularly and learn to the children to make it correctly: water and soap, to make bubble during more than one minute, nails in wrists.
• Do not exchange place settings, glasses, teats, washcloths, etc.
• Carry your hands the least possible with the face.
• Ideally, wear a mask when one gives a cold to you, otherwise covers your face when you sneeze or cough.
• Do not embrace if one gives a cold to you.
• Got cold or not, when viruses circulate, do not embrace a juvenile child on the face.

How to differentiate a cold of an influenza?

Influenza is characterised by intense symptoms, which start very roughly and that most often make remain in the bed (fever, headaches, muscular pain, aches, strong tiredness). Conversely, the symptoms of a cold become established progressively and are less intense: not very high fever, light headaches, small pain, tiredness and weakness, nose which casts sneeze, congested, and sometimes a light cough, watering of the eyes.

Is it necessary to see patients?

Useless to consult his medicated doctor as soon as a cold is caught.
On the other hand, if symptoms go on forever more than a dozen days, they signal very indeed the presence of complications. It becomes then necessary to go to the doctor.
At the child it is most often about a medium otitis. But a cold can also degenerate into sinusitis, into bronchitis, into pharyngitis, or even into pneumonia. To note also that a cold, by weakening organism can reactivate a herpes (cold sore or genital herpes).