Hospital Virtual Tour

Colds and the flu - Highlights

Description

An in-depth report on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of colds and flu.

Alternative Names

Influenza; Strep throat; Bird flu; Avian influenza

Highlights:

Drug Resistance

The World Health Organization reports that resistance to the anti-viral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu) can develop with extensive use. For the 2008 - 2009 flu season, the CDC determined that oseltamivir-resistant influenza A (H1N1) are circulating in high numbers in the U.S. The drug is no longer recommended for influenza unless special testing reveals a sensitive strain, such as influenza A H3N2 or influenza B.

Drug Recalls

In October 2007, drug manufacturers voluntarily withdrew from the market all oral cough and cold products, including decongestants, aimed at children under 2, due to potential harm from misuse. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends against using these products to treat children under age 2. The FDA is currently reviewing the safety of cough and cold medicines in children ages 2 - 11 years.
In late 2008, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which represents most of the US makers of nonprescription over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in children, began voluntarily modifying its products' labels to read "Do Not Use in Children Under 4." This action is supported by the FDA. No products are being removed from the shelves this time.

Emerging Virus

A strain of H1N1 (swine) flu virus emerged in Mexico, the United States, and several other countries in the spring of 2009. The virus caused several deaths. The World Health Organization declared the a worldwide pandemic.

Resources

www.cdc.gov/flu -- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.niaid.nih.gov -- National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases
www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/en -- World Health Organization
www.cdc.gov/vaccines -- National Immunization Program
www.immunize.org -- Immunization Action Coalition
www.entnet.org -- American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery
www.cdc.gov/flu/avian -- Avian Influenza Information

References

American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases. Recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedule: United States, 2005. Pediatrics. 2005 Jan;115(1):182.

Caruso TJ, Prober CG, Gwaltney JM Jr. Treatment of naturally acquired common colds with zinc: a structured review. Clin Infect Dis. 2007;45(5):569-74.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Key Facts About Seasonal Influenza (Flu). Available online.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2007-08 Influenza Prevention & Control Recommendations: Vaccination of Specific Populations. Available online.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Acute Respiratory Disease Associated with Adenovirus Serotype 14 -- Four States, 2006-2007. MMWR. 2007;56(45):1181-84.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. FDA Approves New Laboratory Test To Detect Human Infections With Avian Influenza A/H5 Viruses. February 3, 2006.

Harper SA, Fukuda K, Uyeki TM, Cox NJ, Bridges CB. Prevention and Control of Influenza: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep. 2005 Jul 29;54(RR-8):1-40.

Hayden GF, Turner RB. Acute Pharyngitis. In: Behrman RE, Kliegman RM, Jenson HB, eds. Behrman: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 17th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders; 2004.

Interagency Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance. Executive Summary: 2006 Annual Report on Progress on "A Public Health Action Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance." Draft release, June 2007. Available online.

Jefferson T, Demichelli V, Rivetti D, Jones M, Di Pietrantonj C, Rivetti A. Antivirals for influenza in healthy adults: systematic review. Lancet 2006 Jan 28;367(9507):303-13.

Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2008. MMWR. July 17, 2008/57(Early Release);1-60.

Reveiz L, Cardona AF, Ospina EG. Antibiotics for acute laryngitis in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Apr 18;(2):CD004783.

Sasazuki S, Sasaki S, Tsubono Y, Okubo S, Hayashi M, Tsugane S. Effect of vitamin C on common cold: randomized controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006;60(1):9 - 17.

Shah SA, Sander S, White CM, Rinaldi M, Coleman CI. Evaluation of echinacea for the prevention and treatment of the common cold: a meta-analysis. Lancet Infect Dis. 2007;7(7):473-80.

Simasek M, Blandino DA. Treatment of the common cold. Am Fam Physician. 2007;75(4):515-20.

Taverner D, Latte J. Nasal decongestants for the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jan 24;(1):CD001953.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Nonprescription Drugs and Pediatric Advisory Committee Meeting. Joint Meeting of the Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Pediatric Advisory Committee October 18-19, 2007. Available online.

World Health Organization: Neuraminidase Inhibitor Susceptibility Network. Monitoring of neuraminidase inhibitor resistance among clinical influenza virus isolates in Japan during the 2003-2006 influenza seasons. Weekly epidemiological record. 2007;82(17):149-50.

World Health Organization. Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian Influenza A/(H5N1) Reported to WHO. December 16, 2008. Available online.

Reviewed last on: 6/17/2009
A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Greg Juhn, MTPW, David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital (2/10/2009).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Home > Medical Reference > Patient Education