Where There Is No Doctor 2011 163
COLDS AND THE FLU
Colds and the flu are common virus infections that may
cause runny nose, cough, sore throat, and sometimes fever
or pain in the joints. There may be mild diarrhea, especially
in young children.
Colds and the flu almost always go away without
medicine. Do not use penicillin, tetracycline, or other
antibiotics, as they will not help at all and may cause harm.
♦ Drink plenty of water and get enough rest.
♦ Aspirin (p. 378) or acetaminophen (p. 379) helps lower
temperature and relieve body aches and headaches.
More expensive ‘cold tablets’ are no better than aspirin. So why waste your
money?
♦ No special diet is needed. However, fruit juices, especially orange juice or
lemonade, are helpful.
For treating coughs and stuffy noses that come with colds, see the next pages.
WARNING: Do not give any kind of antibiotic or injections to a child with a simple
cold. They will not help and may cause harm.
If a cold or the flu lasts more than a week, or if the person has fever, coughs up
a lot of phlegm (mucus with pus), has shallow fast breathing or chest pain, he could
be developing bronchitis or pneumonia (see p. 170 and 171). An antibiotic may be
called for. The danger of a cold turning into pneumonia is greater in old people, in
those who have lung problems like chronic bronchitis, in people who cannot move
much, and in people with HIV. People with HIV can take cotrimoxazole daily to
prevent pneumonia and other infections (see p. 357).
Sore throat is often part of a cold. No special medicine is needed, but it may help
to gargle with warm water. However, if the sore throat begins suddenly, with high
fever, it could be a strep throat. Special treatment is needed (see p. 309).
Prevention of colds:
♦ Getting enough sleep and eating well helps prevent colds. Eating oranges,
tomatoes, and other fruit containing vitamin C may also help.
♦ Contrary to popular belief, colds do not come from getting cold or wet
(although getting very cold, wet, or tired can make a cold worse). A cold is
‘caught’ from others who have the infection and sneeze the virus into the air.
♦ To keep from giving his cold to others, the sick person should eat and sleep
separately—and take special care to keep far away from small babies. He
should cover his nose and mouth when he coughs or sneezes.
♦ To prevent a cold from leading to earache (p. 309), try not to blow your
nose—just wipe it. Teach children to do the same.