During the winter, many of us will have a cold or a bout with the flu. This guide will help you decide which you have, what you can do to feel better and when to call your doctor’s office.

Tips:

• The best way to prevent a cold during the winter is to wash your hands frequently, and to keep them away from your eyes, nose and mouth. Avoiding crowds (sneeze droplets) also helps.
• If you use an over-the-counter nasal spray according to label directions for more than three days or so, a “rebound effect” can occur that can make nasal congestion worse than ever.
• Antihistamines can’t relieve cold symptoms; they’re only good for allergy symptoms.
• Antibiotics can’t help viral infections (e.g., colds, flu, most bronchitis); they’re only good for bacterial infections (e.g., ear infections).
• Best times for a flu shot are October and November. If you are 65 and older or have chronic health problems, such as heart or lung problems, kidney disease, diabetes, asthma, cystic fibrosis, cancer or an immune disorder, you should definitely get a flu shot.
• If you are currently taking a prescription medication or have a chronic health problem, read the labels on the Tylenol, Sudafed, and Afrin containers carefully or check with your pharmacist to make sure these medicines are OK for you.

Colds (URI’S)

Colds are caused by viruses, which you catch, from other people. Cold symptoms include runny nose and eyes, fever, congestion in head, ears and nose, sore throat and cough. Symptoms usually last 4 to 10 days regardless of treatment. You can make yourself feel more comfortable by following the home care guidelines listed here. Antibiotics will not help.

Flu (Influenza)

The flu or influenza is a viral infection of the bronchial tubes and lungs. Flu symptoms are body aches, headache, fever, chills and cold symptoms. Some combination of these symptoms will last 7 to 10 days.

Stomach Flu (Viral Gastroenteritis or Sometimes Food Poisoning)

Stomach flu symptoms are cramps, diarrhea and sometimes vomiting.

Home Care Guidelines

What to do for a Sore Throat:

• Stop smoking.
• Try acetaminophen for throat soreness, muscle aches and fever.
• Suck on throat lozenges or hard candy.
• Gargle 4 to 6 times a day with salt water (1 cup warm water + 1/4 tsp. salt). Warm lemonade works great, too.
• Drink extra fluids to keep your throat moist; try ice chips or iced drinks.

Call your doctor:

• If your throat is sore for more than one week (call if a child has had a sore throat for more than 2 days).
• You have severe pain when you swallow and you have swollen lymph nodes in the sides and front of your neck.
• If a fever over 100 degrees begins on day 3 or 4 of your illness.
• If you have a skin rash that feels like fine sandpaper.
• If your throat is beefy-red (not just pinkish-red), swollen and pus-covered.
• If you have a sore throat and still no runny nose after 48 hours.
• If you have been exposed to someone who has strep throat.

What to do for a Runny Nose:

If you have the typical runny nose where the discharge is clear or white, or green or yellow when you awake, but becomes clear or white later in the day…

• Stop smoking.
• Try salt-water nose drops (see below).
• Drink extra fluids.
• Take a steamy shower or use a vaporizer.
• Put warm washcloths on your forehead and supper cheeks to relieve sinus congestion.
• Try Sudafed.

Call your doctor:

• If you have a runny nose for more than 2 weeks.
• If your nasal discharge is yellow, green or bloody and lasts all day.
• If you have facial pain or a severe headache.

What to do for a Dry Cough:

• Stop smoking.
• Suck on lozenges (e.g., Halls) or hard candy.
• Drink extra fluids.
• Try steam (e.g., run hot water in your bathroom).
• Try homemade cough mixture (see below).
• Try over-the-counter cough suppressant or dextromethorphan (e.g., Robitussin DM, Benylin DM, Delsym, Triaminic DM).

Call your doctor:

• If your cough lasts longer than 2 weeks.
• If you persistently cough up yellow, green, brown or bloody sputum (especially if your fever is over 100 degrees).
• If a fever over 100 degrees begins on day 3 of your illness.
• If you have wheezing or significant tightness in your chest.
• If you have pain with breathing or coughing in the side of your chest.

What to do for a Productive Cough (Bronchitis):

If your sputum is clear or white within an hour after waking…

• Stop smoking.
• Drink extra fluids.
• Try steam.
• Try the over-the-counter expectorant or guaifenesin (e.g., Benylin, Robitussin, Sudafed, Triaminic Expectorant). An expectorant helps you to cough to bring up phlegm.
• Antibiotics usually don’t help.

Call your doctor:

• If your symptoms last for more than 2 weeks.
• If coughing produces thick, foul-smelling, yellow or greenish sputum.
• If you have been a heavy smoker for many years or have asthma.
• If you are wheezing or have shortness of breath.

What to do for Plugged Ears:

• Try salt-water nose drops (see below) in your nose to relieve nasal congestion.
• If this doesn’t relieve congestion, try Sudafed pills or Afrin nasal spray (see tips above).

Call your doctor:

• If your ears are still bothering you after 10 days.
• If you have sudden pain in or discharge from your ear.

What to do for a Fever:

• If your temperature is 100 degrees for a day or two, you can take acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol). Note: Use acetaminophen, not aspirin, for children and teens under age 18; aspirin use by children with viral illness has been associated with the rare disease, Reye’s Syndrome.
• Drink extra fluids.

Call your doctor:

• If your temperature does not go down after taking acetaminophen.
• If a fever over 100 degrees begins after day 3 of your illness, or if you have shaking chills, soaking sweats, shortness of breath, or mental confusion.

What to do for Stomach Flu:

• Suck on ice chips the first day (to avoid dehydration) if nothing else will stay down.
• Day 2, try clear liquids (e.g., broth, tea, soft drinks, apple juice).
• Day 3, try a “soft diet” (e.g., flavored gelatins, applesauce, bananas, cooked non-grainy cereals, mashed potatoes, plain crackers).
• Avoid coffee, whole grains, dairy products, citrus fruits and juices, and alcohol for several days.

Call your doctor:

• If you have severe abdominal pain.
• If a fever over 100 degrees begins on day 3 of your illness.
• If you’ve had an abdominal injury or head injury in the last 48 hours.
• If you have black or bloody stools or vomit.
• If the pain is localized in one area of your abdomen.
• If there is persistent pain in your abdomen or rectum.
• If nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea last longer than 24 hours.
• If you have more than 8 bowel movements a day.
• If you are taking medication (e.g., antibiotics) that may cause diarrhea.
• If there is a convulsion (infants or children). Note: Extreme thirst and dry mouth can indicate dehydration; it requires a day or so to develop in adults. In infants and children, dehydration can develop more quickly and be more severe and is difficult to detect early on.

What to do for Influenza:

• See self-care instructions above for colds and stomach flu.
• Never take a friend of family member’s prescription medication – this includes diarrhea medication – without consulting your doctor.

Call your doctor:

• If your cough is severe and/or you have green, yellow or bloody sputum.
• If you have chest pain when you breathe, or if you have difficulty breathing.

Home Care Remedies

Salt water nose drops:

Boil 2 cups of water; cool to room temperature. Add 1/4 tsp. table salt; put solution into a dropper or spray bottle. Apply 2 to 3 drops, or squirt 4 times a day, as needed. Blow nose gently after applying. Make a new solution after 7 days.

Cough mixture:

Mix 1 part lemon juice with 2 parts honey; take 1 tbsp. every 2 to 3 hours.

Return to List