Comments on Science In Action: What Are Viruses?

You're both right! The "common cold" is a viral u...

2005-11-25T16:09:00.000Z

You're both right! The "common cold" is a viral upper-respiratory tract infection that lasts a few days or a week or so, causing sneezing, runny nose, etc. It can be caused by any of a number of viruses.
"Flu" is a more severe disease, which also has fever, muscle aches, etc., and usually lasts longer. It is caused by a different set of viruses.
(There is also "stomach flu", gastroenteritis, which is caused by any of a range of viurses, bacteria, or parasites and involves vomiting and/or diarrhoea.)
Your doctor is right in a sense, however, since colds and flu are both upper respiratory viral infections, therapy is usually about the same. Rest, drink lots of fluids, take asperin or acetomenophen for fever or aches. You will get better in a few days or a week.
If you get a virulent form of influenze, like avian influenza, you have trouble breathing, and you are elderly, you will probably be hospitalized and given anti-viral drugs.

Is there a difference between the flu and a cold? ...

2005-11-25T08:46:00.000Z

Is there a difference between the flu and a cold? I've always been told that there was; the flu being the more severe one. I even read that the viruses were different; the influenza virus and the corona virus. But a while back I was at the doctor's and he diagnosed my symptoms as the flu. I said that I thought it was just a cold. He then said that they were the same thing. So what is it?

There is some amazing news with regards to cold so...

2005-11-02T08:48:00.000Z

There is some amazing news with regards to cold sores. Professor Bloom of Florida University has discovered a novel way to inhibit the virus. Check it out:

Cold Sore News

-NJ