Cold and Flu Support Group Online

The Cold and Flu Support Group

An infection is the colonization of a host organism by a parasite species. Infections in humans are normally due to viruses or bacteria. Join this community to learn, share and discuss different infections and your health by connecting with peers, health professionals and doctors.

Members Online (2)

Professional Members (1)

Honey Don't Cough

Latest Blogs More

[A New Itch] The Ultimate Super Villian

It's flu season! This episode of the flu, we will be joined by Mr. Swine and Mrs. Bird. Stay tuned to find out all the... Read More ▶
Ear Infections - Are Antibiotics Necessary?

Ear infections are a big problem for children and their parents. In 1995 it was estimated that the direct cost (doctor bills, medicine, etc) of... Read More ▶
Do I Need To See A Doctor For My Sore Throat?

I have a sore throat. Could it be strep? Do I need to be tested? As a doctor, these are two of the most common... Read More ▶
Cold or Allergies? Know How To Tell The Difference

Just when all seems well, your eyes water, you become congested and can't stop sneezing. If it's the result of allergies, you should take an... Read More ▶
13 Ways to Prevent a Cold

There is no cure for a cold or the flu, so it is best to focus on prevention. The best way to help prevent getting... Read More ▶
Why Buckwheat Honey for a Cough? Medicinal Properties, Nutrients, Antioxidants, Flavor and More!

Why Buckwheat Honey? Medicinal Properties, Nutrients, Antioxidants, Flavor and more! Read More ▶
The 4 Best Natural Remedies for the Common Cold

Alleviate cold symptoms for you and your loved ones with these natural (and inexpensive!) home remedies. Read More ▶

What's New in Cold and Flu

2
Jeffrey VanWingen M.D. posted the blog "The Flu" vs. Influenza.
The term the flu has gone from being a shortened version of the illness influenza to a virtual catch-all word that means any type of viral sickness. Let's clear things up.
2/19
- Big Dave said:
  Dr. VanWingen: My grandmother on my dad's side was 3 years old in 1918 when the epidemic hit. Sadly, she lost siblings to it, and she had it herself but survived. She passed away a few years ago, but I remember as a kid hearing my dad and her talking and mention that she can't get vaccinated because of it. Any chance you can explain why that might have been the case, and if that can still happen with others today? Thanks, and excellent blog as usual. :)2/20
- Jeffrey VanWingen M.D. said:
  Great question, Dave. Actually, the reason that someone should not get vaccinated if they lived during a recurrent strain is that they are likely immune or would have a much more minor infection. We saw this with the recent H1N1 outbreak. Some thought that it was cruel to offer the vaccine to younger members of the population before the elderly as rationing took place. In reality, though, older people were likely exposed decades ago when it had a prior go-around. So, in such a case it is not that prior exposure prevents the ability to vaccinate but rather that it not as necessary.2/20
0
E.M. Wollof posted the blog [A New Itch] The Ultimate Super Villian.
It's flu season! This episode of the flu, we will be joined by Mr. Swine and Mrs. Bird. Stay tuned to find out all the new ways that news dissemination can freak you out!
1/6
0
Jeffrey VanWingen M.D. posted the blog Ear Infections - Are Antibiotics Necessary?.
Ear infections are a big problem for children and their parents. In 1995 it was estimated that the direct cost (doctor bills, medicine, etc) of this problem in the U.S. was 1.97 billion per year. The indirect cost (lost work time, forfeited daycare payment, etc) was estimated at 1.02 billion...
12/11
1
Jeffrey VanWingen M.D. posted the blog Should Tonsils Be Taken Out?.
Decades ago, the town doctor would visit the home and remove the kids' tonsils right in the home. Today, tonsillectomy is the second-most common surgery in children with 500,000 performed each year in the United States. But do tonsils actually NEED to be removed? In most cases, no.
12/7
- Laura Hogg said:
  Very informative! I had always wondered what makes tonsilitis bad enough to have them taken out. I tend to be prone to sore throats but I still have my tonsils.
  
  I'm sure the surgery has come a long way since my mom had hers out in the early 60's... anesthetic never really works well for her, so she woke up in the middle of the procedure!12/8
0
Jeffrey VanWingen M.D. posted the blog Do I Need To See A Doctor For My Sore Throat?.
I have a sore throat. Could it be strep? Do I need to be tested? As a doctor, these are two of the most common questions I am asked. In this blog I'll cover the most common causes of sore throat and when it's time to call your doctor.
12/4
1
Jeany Miller posted the blog 5 Natural Ways to Make a Cold More Comfortable.
A friend and I laughed about a doctor who advised she rest for four week while recovering from a cold. Was he going to pay her bills? Obviously, there are very few of us that can take time off like that - so what do WE do? Here are 5 natural ways to make a cold a little more comfortable.
11/18
- Bri Luginbill said:
  Thanks for posting this, Jeany. I really need to utilize #1 and enlist someone to help me around the house. Too much of the time, I try to do everything around the house when I'm sick and it ends up in the cold staying even longer. Sometimes I can have a hard time asking for help. Next time I get sick, I will remember that first tip!11/28
2
E.M. Wollof posted the blog [A New Itch] The Magellan Virus Effect.
When we guessed at the source of the flu epidemic, most scientific fingers were pointed at Asia. Now, with new research, it seems we owe Asia an apology. Australia is the most likely patient zero.
11/15
- Erin Froehlich said:
  What is it with Australia?!
  
  Interesting blog, E. :)11/16
- Laura Hogg said:
  I must say, I haven't ever really given much thought to where my cold or flu has come from, beyond looking at the people directly around me. But it makes sense that viruses can travel far quickly, with the rise (no pun intended) of airplane travel.
  
  It makes me think of when I was in Romania. On the plane from London to Bucharest, one of the girls in our group got violently ill. One by one, our group began to get really sick - 5 or 6 people total got it, I think. Luckily, none of the Romanians we were with (even the little kids) got sick. I wonder if they had already been exposed to the virus? With how fast and far those little suckers can travel, you never know!11/17
0
Bri Luginbill
According this article the best way to avoid flesh-eating bacteria is to wash your hands!
http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness…8/17