Cold and Flu News

Flu Vaccines for All?

If you have ever been unsure about whether or not you should get a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://coldflu.about.com/od/vaccines/p/flushot.htm">flu vaccine</a> before - worry no more. Starting next flu season, the CDC will recommend that everyone over 6 months of age get the flu vaccine unless they have an allergy to eggs or other ingredients in the vaccine. That means no more questioning whether or not you are in a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://coldflu.about.com/od/fluvaccinequestions/qt/whoneedsflushot.htm">high risk group</a> - although these groups are more likely to receive priority when there are limited amounts of flu vaccine available. Strains for 2010-11 Flu Vaccine Selected Both the WHO and the FDA have selected the strains of flu that will be included in next season's ...

How a Cold Can Ruin Years of Hard Work

For most of us, colds are an annoying part of winter. No one really enjoys having a runny nose or hacking cough. <img src="http://z.about.com/d/coldflu/1/0/B/0/-/-/97001395.jpg" border="0" align="right"> But what if you worked for nearly your entire life to become great at something and then a cold ruined your moment to shine? It's hard to imagine that a tiny virus could derail someone's dreams, but it is a very real possibility for the athletes competing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Years and years of practice all lead up to the few moments that they have to compete in their event in the Olympics. These athletes have to be in top condition and even something as small as a runny nose can destroy their chances of performing at their best. To make things even more complicated, many over the counter cold and flu medications are banned by the International ...

Is It Allergy Season Yet?

Most people who suffer from allergies have what we call "seasonal allergies" meaning that they only have allergies during certain seasons (typically spring or fall). Spring is only a few weeks away - despite what the groundhog says - and with it will come pollen and lots of watery, itchy eyes and runny noses. However, it is still winter right now. Have you had a cold that has lasted for months on end? Believe it or not, it may be allergies. In fact, some people can even be <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://allergies.about.com/od/urticariahives/a/coldurticaria.htm">allergic to cold weather</a>! I'm a Southern girl and always thought I was "allergic to the cold", but it turns out there may be some truth to that thought. If you aren't sure if your symptoms are due to a ...

What Happened to the Flu?

The 2009-10 flu season has been anything but normal. In April, we saw the start of the first <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://coldflu.about.com/od/glossary/g/pandemic.htm">flu pandemic</a> in 40 years when <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://coldflu.about.com/od/flu/p/swineflu.htm">H1N1 (swine flu)</a> was discovered in Mexico and the US. It quickly spread around the world and persisted even throughout the summer. That in itself is unusual for the flu. Typically, influenza does not spread during the warm weather months. The CDC estimates that in the US as many as 80 million people were infected with H1N1 between April and December of 2009. Fortunately the virus was relatively mild and a vast majority of those people recovered with no complications. However, we have seen more deaths and hospitalizations than we do during a typical flu season. So although H1N1 ...

Salmonella in Salami?

The FDA and CDC are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo. It appears that certain italian style sausages and salami were contaminated with <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://coldflu.about.com/od/othercommonillnesses/a/salmonella.htm">Salmonella</a>. So far, at least 207 people in 42 states have gotten sick due to the contaminated meats. The agencies believe the contamination may be traced to black pepper that the meats were seasoned with, but have not confirmed that theory. The FDA and CDC have compiled <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_006_2010_Release/index.asp">lists of the recalled products</a>. They include salami and italian sausages that can be stored without refrigeration for up to a year. Symptoms of Salmonella ...

The Many Sides of Strep Throat

<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://coldflu.about.com/od/othercommonillnesses/p/strepthroat.htm">Strep throat</a> is a common illness in school-age children. It can affect younger children and adults as well, but is most common in kids age 6-15. Did you know that strep throat can take several forms and also lead to some potentially serious complications? It may be tempting to wait it out if you have a sore throat, but if you have symptoms of strep throat, it is better to be tested to be sure. Delaying treatment too long could lead to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://coldflu.about.com/od/othercommonillnesses/p/rheumaticfever.htm">rheumatic fever</a>, which can cause serious heart damage. While rheumatic fever is a very serious illness, it is also quite uncommon in the US. A more common illness that is often confused with rheumatic fever is ...

Have You Tried a Natural Cold Remedy?

Millions of people use natural and alternative medicine to treat everything from the common cold to cancer. Have you ever tried a natural or herbal remedy to treat or prevent a cold or the flu? If so, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://coldflu.about.com/u/ua/naturalandherbal/naturalcoldremedyua.htm?from=lb#ua_form">share your experience</a> with other readers. Natural remedies such as vitamin C and echinacea have been used for years but the efficacy of these remedies is still questionable. Still other products, such as Airborne, contain a combination of herbs and minerals that are supposed to boost the immune system so you don't get sick. If you have used these products, or others, share your thoughts on them and let us know why you chose that particular remedy. <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid ...

Latest H1N1 Estimates from the CDC

On January 15th, the CDC updated its estimates of H1N1 infections in the United States. The numbers are not exact because many people who have had <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://coldflu.about.com/od/flu/a/swinefluguide.htm">H1N1 (swine flu)</a> did not seek treatment or were not tested. However, the CDC developed a formula to help them calculate the approximate number of people they believe have had this strain of flu, as well as the number of hospitalizations and deaths. These latest numbers encompass the dates between the beginning of the pandemic in April 2009 and December 12, 2009. <ul> <li>Between 39 and 80 million people in the US have had H1N1, the most likely number is around 55 million. <li>Between 173,000 and 362,000 people have been hospitalized with H1N1 or illnesses related to it ...

Multiple Medications Recalled Due to Foul Odor

McNeil Consumer Healthcare has recalled numerous medications due to reports of a foul odor and some cases of nausea, stomach pain, vomiting or diarrhea. They recalled certain packages of Tylenol Arthritis last month due to the same complaints but have now expanded the recall to include all products that could possibly be affected. The recalled products were sold in the Americas, The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Fiji. After an investigation, McNeil determined that the odor - which has been described as moldy or musty - is caused by a chemical known as 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA) which is commonly found in wood pallets that are used to transport the packaging materials that the medications are stored in. Trace amounts of the chemical were found in some of the medications when they were tested. Some of the medications involved in the recall include: <ul> <li>Children's and ...

Influenza Vaccination Week: Day 6

Day 6 of National Influenza Vaccination Week is meant to remind older Americans (those 65 and older) that they too need flu vaccines. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://coldflu.about.com/od/flu/p/fluprofile.htm">Seasonal flu</a> is typically very serious for older adults, striking this group the hardest. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://coldflu.about.com/od/flu/a/swinefluguide.htm">H1N1 (swine flu)</a> has been significantly different because it has largely spared people in this age group. However, although many older adults may have some degree of immunity to H1N1, it is still affecting some of them. Those who have gotten it have had severe symptoms and serious complications. Now that there are plenty of H1N1 vaccines for anyone who wants one, older adults are encouraged to get them. ...

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