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What To Do for Colds and Flu
Information from the UC Berkeley University Health Services – Tang Center
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Medications
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There is no cure for cold or flu, and no medicines that kill cold or flu viruses. (Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses, and will not help a cold unless you develop serious complications.) Over-the-counter products relieve symptoms; you might feel more comfortable if you use them carefully.
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Take a single medicine for a single symptom, rather than an all-in-one preparation, which may give you ingredients and side effects you don't want. If you take an all-in-one, check ingredients to make sure you're not "doubling up" with medicines you're taking separately, such as pain medications.
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Any medicine has potential side effects. Read labels carefully for warnings, follow instructions, and use medicines only as needed.
Note active ingredients in brand names so you can find generic equivalents.
Decongestants. Medicines with pseudoepinephrine (e.g., Sudafed) can help nasal congestion. Some people react with nervousness, palpitations or sleeplessness. Avoid if: high blood pressure, diabetes, heart or thyroid disease.
Antihistamines relieve runny nose, congestion and sneezing from hay fever/allergies, are not effective for colds/flu, and can cause undesirable drowsiness.
Nasal sprays/drops. Saline will thin secretions and help unblock a stuffy nose. Make by mixing 1/4 teaspoon salt in 4 oz. water, or buy saline nose drops. Medicated sprays/drops with oxymetazolin (e.g., Afrin) shrink mucous membranes. These can rebound congestion. Use sparingly, no more than 2-3 days.
Pain medications. For fever, headache, muscle aches, use acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol), asprin, ibuprofen (e.g., Motrin), or naproxen (e.g., Aleve). Follow instructions.
Cough drops and lozenges help keep the throat moist, and can lessen discomfort and dry cough.
Cough suppressants. A productive cough serves a function, so it's best not to suppress it. but if a cough is dry, irritating, or keeps you awake, a cough syrup may help. (Ample fluids work, too.) Cough syrups are of two types: "suppressant" and "expectorant." for a suppressant, use a preparation with dextromethorphan. For a tight cough, look for an expectorant with guaifenesin.
Anesthetic spray for throat pain. Products such as Chloroseptic numb the throat temporarily so that swallowing is less painful. Gargle with warm salt water every 2 hours (1/2 teaspoon salt in 8 ounces water) to reduce throat swelling and pain.
Complications
The following may be signs of serious complications.
Contact the University Health Services Advice Nurse if you have:
- Severe ear pain or discharge
- Severe headache or pain in cheeks or upper teeth
- Brownish-green nasal discharge
- Sudden or persistent hearing loss
- Congestion lasting longer than three weeks
- Severe chest pain, wheezing, shortness of breath
- Cough with a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit
- Cough with bloody, brown, or green sputum
- Cough that lasts longer than 2 weeks
- Pronounced difficulty in swallowing, breathing, or opening mouth fully
- Severe sore throat with fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 24 hours
- Skin rash
- Recent close contact with someone with a positive culture for strep throat
- Fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit
- Fever with rash, severe headache, stiff neck, marked irritability, or mental confusion
- Signs of dehydration: extreme thirst, infrequent urination, dark urine, light-headedness
- Fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit lasting five days