Author: Deputy Director Pharmacist Xu Nongzhang, Zhoupu Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Health Medical College, Common Cold and Flu (Influenza). Although it is the most common disease we encounter in normal times, many people just can't tell whether they are common cold or flu. L

Author: Deputy Director Pharmacist of Zhoupu Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Health Medical College Xu Nongzhang

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Common cold and flu (influenza). Although it is the most common disease we encounter in normal times, many people just can't tell whether they are common cold or flu .

Look, Aunt Zhang's baby grandson next door has a fever again recently. He went to the hospital and brought a large bag of medicines home. Seeing so many medicines, Aunt Zhang was a little dizzy and even thought: Do you need to take so many medicines? Which medicine is the best way to take?

Then, let the pharmacist look at it with you, what is the difference between common cold and sensation, and what are the differences between their respective medication ideas?

What are the differences between common cold and flu?

's biggest difference lies in the cause of the disease and whether it is epidemic (infectious).

Common cold: commonly known as cold , about 80% are caused by viruses (rhinovirus, adenovirus , coxsackie virus, etc.), and about 20% are caused by bacteria. The infection routes include direct contact with infection, contact with infection of secretions of infected persons (snot, coughing aerosol ), and the incubation period is several hours to 4 days.

Influenza: caused by influenza virus. Influenza is acute and contagious. It is characterized by epidemics in winter and spring. Although the influenza virus often mutates, vaccination still has a certain protective effect. Influenza is mainly transmitted through droplets, and the incubation period is generally 1 to 2 days.

What are the symptoms of cold and flu?

Common colds can occur throughout the year, with poor seasonality and mild symptoms. Even if there is a fever, it is only moderate to low-temperature fever, and headache or fatigue is not strong. The symptoms of influenza are generally severe, sometimes with high fever, general fatigue and muscle soreness, and a few people are prone to complications such as pneumonia, otitis media, , and myocarditis.

initial cathar symptoms; systemic symptoms will only occur later; severe secondary bacterial infection

will not be epidemic, rare complications

Bat moth Penicillium

_	Common cold	overview	Flu
Overview
Overview html l16
Body temperature	All over the body is chills, fatigue, low fever or normal; high fever, vomiting, diarrhea can be seen in children	① Simple type: Similar to cold symptoms (sufficiency, high fever, etc.), the course of the disease is about one week ② Pneumonia type: children and weak people, difficulty breathing, cyanosis, and pulmonary dampness ③ Gastrointestinal type : vomiting and diarrhea, the course of the disease is 2 to 4 days ④ Neurotype : high fever does not subside, headache, coma
nthelium symptoms	nthelium congestion, runny nose or sense of smell loss, sneezing
throat symptoms		throat symptoms		There is congestion, swelling and pain in the throat, dry throat
blood image		WBC normal or low, and the bacterial infection is increased by WBC

How to choose cold medicine?

In general life scenarios, people are accustomed to referring to the common cold and flu in general as "cold".

For most adults, colds are mostly self-limiting diseases (with sufficient rest, drinking water, etc., the condition improves), and the course of the disease is about 3 to 7 days. In principle, try not to use medicine.

For patients with severe complications, they should not only drink more water, but also deal with the symptomatic treatment in a timely manner, and take symptomatic medications such as antipyretic, analgesic, and cough relief.

When using antibacterial and antiviral drugs, be careful and should be taken as prescribed by the doctor.

Symptoms	Drug selection	Drug selection
Fever, obvious headaches and link Arthropathy	Acetaminophen (<12> Ibuprofen (200~300mg, once every 4~6h)
Katta symptoms html l4	contains pseudoephedrine or chlorphenamine preparation
cough	cough	contains demethorphan preparation
antiviral treatment	contains preparations such as amantadine
relieve nasal congestion	topical use of 1% ephedrine and naphazoline nasal drops (short-term use)

Do you need to take antiviral drugs?

Common colds generally do not require antiviral drugs. When patients develop severe flu, antiviral drugs should be used.

Drug name	Note
A influenza virus , inhibit disease Toxic activity, inhibit dehulling
oseltamivir	is a neuraminidase inhibitor, and it is advisable to prematurely. Influenza symptoms initially 48h

anti-cold medicine multi-compound prescription, abbreviated as helping you to recognize the efficacy

Due to the rapid onset of colds, the symptoms are diverse, and in clinical practice, the form of multi-drug compound prescriptions is generally used for treatment.

Currently, there are many compound preparations for treating colds, generally consisting of 2 to 7 pharmacological drug ingredients with different effects. Patients without a medical foundation generally find it difficult to understand the correspondence between their components and their effects. The following table is very practical. It provides a very concise correspondence method to help everyone identify the ingredients and effects of the drug, and can even quickly correspond to the drug ingredients from the "abbreviation" of the drug name.

Anti-heat analgesic

Action	Drug Ingredients	Abbreviation	Abbreviation
① Acetaminophen ② ibuprofen	① 合, phenol, ammonia, aminophenol ② 合
Anti-allergic	① Chlorphenamine	② diphenhydramine	① 合	① 合 ② Benzene
Anti-coughing medicine	dextromethorphan		Methorphan	Methorphan
relieve nasal congestion	pseudoephedrine		ma
anti-viral	amantine	alkamine
central excitation	caffeine		caffeine		caffeine

For example, the corresponding drug ingredients are acetaminophen, pseudoephedrine, dextromethorphan, chlorphenamine, etc. For example, the corresponding pharmaceutical ingredients of Aminophen Alkamide Capsules include four ingredients: acetaminophen, adamantine, caffeine, and chlorphenamine.

Anti-cold drugs have good efficacy, and the medication taboos should not be forgotten

Anti-cold drugs are mostly compound preparations, with many ingredients and diverse pharmacological effects. During treatment, it is easy to ignore its contraindications and adverse reactions.Some people should pay attention to avoid contraindications when using the following drugs, and should not forget to seek benefits and avoid harm.

7amantadine

effects	drug ingredients	drug ingredients	contraindications
relieve heat and analgesic	① Aspirin acetaminophen ② ibuprofen	gastric ulcer , bleeding, asthma , pregnant lactating women
relieve nasal congestion	pseudoephedrine	0 hypertension , driving and aerial operators
Anti-allergic	Chlorphenamine	Epilepsy, driving and aerial operators
Central excitation	Caffeine		Gastric ulcer html l5
Antiviral
Mental history, pregnant lactating women
Antimicrobial	Dextera methorphan	Dextera methorphan	Dextera methorphan	Dextera methorphan	Respiratory failure , driving and aerial workers
sedation	phenobarbital	gastric ulcer, asthma, liver and kidney insufficiency, pregnant women

Have you caught a cold, remember not to use medicine randomly, "medicine is more harmful than tigers." Please read the drug instructions carefully before taking the medicine. If you have any medication problems, please remember to consult your doctor and pharmacist.

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reviewer: Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University Li Zhongdong Director Pharmacist

or above are original works of volunteers of the "Drug Safety Cooperation Alliance". If reprinted, please indicate the author and source!

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