Mucus

​ ​By: Kristina A. Bryant, MD, FAAP Influenza (the flu) can be deadly for older adults. But did you know that the flu can be very serious for babies and young children? Last flu season was off to an early start. In October 2022, flu hospitalization rates were the highest in 10 years for children under age 4 years and older adults. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages as many children as possible to get a flu vaccine every year. Babies and children can get other recommended immunizations when they get their flu shot. Fortunately, parents and caregivers have immune-boosting tools to keep babies healthy. Influenza may be spreading in many areas, but it is not too late to get a flu shot. We do not know how long or severe this influenza season will be. Read on for ways to prevent flu from spreading to infants and young children. Are babies and young children at higher risk from the flu? Yes. Because of...

There's no cure for a common cold, but some over-the-counter medicines may alleviate symptoms. The best cold and flu medicine depends on your symptoms. Pain medication, for example, can treat a sore throat, aches, and fever. Decongestants help alleviate a stuffy nose, while expectorants can treat a runny nose. Various viruses may cause a cold, the most common being rhinoviruses. Influenza viruses, in contrast, cause the flu. Common cold and flu symptoms include a cough, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, fever, and sore throat. It's no surprise people spend hundreds of millions of dollars on over-the-counter (OTC) cold and flu medicine annually. However, few cold and flu remedies are likely to influence the course of illness if you are already sick. That said, some actually work. Read on to learn about the best cold and flu medicines. jeffbergen / Getty Images The best cold and flu medicine will depend on your symptoms, including a runny or stu...

(SACRAMENTO) A team of infectious diseases experts is calling for more awareness and preparedness in the medical field to deal with the impact of climate change on the spread of diseases. Their article, published today in JAMA raises the alarm about the emergence and spread of harmful pathogens. The authors also urge the medical community to update their education and training and take steps to combat global warming. UC Davis infectious diseases specialist George Thompson "Clinicians need to be ready to deal with the changes in the infectious disease landscape," said lead author George R. Thompson. Thompson is a professor at the UC Davis School of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, and the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology. "Learning about the connection between climate change and disease behavior can help guide diagnoses, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases." Thompson encouraged phys...

Cold and flu season can feel endless, especially when you have little kids. A cough can linger long after the virus that caused it is over, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. In fact, coughing helps protect the body by eliminating mucus and bacteria. If your child's coughing is keeping them (and the entire family) up at night, their little chest and tummy are probably sore from all the exertion. Thankfully there are cough remedies for kids that range from easy solutions (like trying to keep their head elevated) to products (like a nasal aspirator that manually sucks the mucus from their sinuses). 15 home cough remedies for kids If you have ruled out a serious cough, there are plenty of home remedies that may help take the edge off. Here are 15 home cough remedies for kids to try: 1. Keep their head elevated If your little one is over 1 year old, arrange a few pillows under their back, shoulders and head so that they can sleep in a slightly up...

AMA News Wire What doctors wish patients knew about which cold medicines work Jan 19, 2024 There's a reason they call it the common cold. It happens a lot, especially in the wintertime. With runny noses, sore throats and persistent coughs, patients' demand for effective cold remedies is understandable. But does cold medicine help relieve symptoms of the common cold? It depends. But knowing how to find relief from the common cold and what cold medicines to use is key. There are more than 200 viruses that can cause a cold, but rhinoviruses are the most common type, affecting more than 3 million people in the U.S. each year. Symptoms of the common cold typically peak within three to five days and can include sneezing, stuffy and runny nose, sore throat, coughing and fever. Some symptoms—especially runny or stuffy nose and cough—can last up 14 days but...

AMA News Wire What doctors wish patients knew about which cold medicines work Jan 19, 2024 There's a reason they call it the common cold. It happens a lot, especially in the wintertime. With runny noses, sore throats and persistent coughs, patients' demand for effective cold remedies is understandable. But does cold medicine help relieve symptoms of the common cold? It depends. But knowing how to find relief from the common cold and what cold medicines to use is key. There are more than 200 viruses that can cause a cold, but rhinoviruses are the most common type, affecting more than 3 million people in the U.S. each year. Symptoms of the common cold typically peak within three to five days and can include sneezing, stuffy and runny nose, sore throat, coughing and fever. Some symptoms—especially runny or stuffy nose and cough—can last up 14 days but...