Upcoming Illness Season
by: Amanda Brandon
As summer winds down and fall and winter approach, illness begins spreading rapidly. Three of the most common illnesses associated with colder weather are the common cold, flu, and pneumonia. The most confusing aspect associated with the illnesses is figuring out which one you have, as these illnesses have very similar symptoms. According to genesishealth.com, the common cold is caused by a viral infection. Colds are typically passed on by physical contact, not by walking out of the house with wet hair on a rainy day. On average, adults catch 2 to 3 colds a year, and children catch 6 to 10 per year.
Sig Sophomore, Amy Francis says, "In the winter months, I typically catch the cold at least once per year." Like Francis, freshman, Zoe Breeze says, "I get the cold usually at the beginning of every season or change of weather." Often, the symptoms of a cold begin with a runny nose and sneezing. A sore throat may also occur with light coughing. "Usually, I get a really runny nose, my throat gets sore, and I become congested," said Francis. The main difference between the cold and any other viral infection is the lack of high fever. The body temperature usually stays under 101 degrees. Symptoms typically subside in a week.
The best way to protect yourself from the common cold is to avoid close contact with anyone who may be infected, and keep your hands away from your mouth, nose, and eyes. The second most popular seasonal illness is the flu. The flu is an infection within the nose, throat, bronchial tubes, and lungs, and is caused by influenza viruses A and B. Unlike the cold, the flu is spread by sneezing and coughing. The stomach flu, resulting in vomiting, is different than the typical flu. These symptoms are caused by bacteria. Contrasting to the cold, symptoms of the flu come rapidly and your temperature can reach higher than 101 degrees. Symptoms include fever, chills, head and muscle aches, and fatigue. The symptoms typically last 3 or 4 days.
According to Dr. Cardott on the Genesis Health website, "With a cold, you may feel that you can function normally; however, with the flu, you probably want to go to bed. Cardott adds, "You may also experience a prolonged period of fatigue after recovering from the initial symptoms." The flu can be extremely harmful for those over age 65 and those who are unhealthy. If your body cannot fight the flu, it can result in the out break of pneumonia, which is the third most common seasonal illness. According to CNN news, every year, more than 60,000 Americans die of pneumonia. Pneumonia is a serious illness, often following the cold or flu, and is an infection (inflammation) of the bronchial tubes and air sacs in the lungs. Rather than recovering, symptoms quickly worsen.
There are two different kinds of pneumonia: bacterial and viral. Bacterial can be sudden or gradual. In the worst case, you may experience uncontrollable chills, chattering teeth, chest pain, and severe coughing and green-colored discharge. Your breathing and pulse increase, as well as temperature. Viral pneumonia results in a dry, hacking cough, headache, fever, muscle aches and fatigue. A high fever emerges, and possibly blueness in the lips, along with a desperate cry for air. Typically, pneumonia occurs in older people; however, poor nutrition, AIDS, and alcoholism increase anyone's chance of catching it.
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