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The following people should get vaccinated against influenza :

• People who live in nursing homes or other institutions of long-term care.
• Adults and children who have heart disease or chronic lung.
• Adults and children who suffer from diabetes, kidney disease, anemia or immune system disorders, including AIDS.
• Children undergoing long-term therapy with aspirin.
• People over 65 years.
• Workers in health care facilities or family members caring for a person who may suffer complications from influenza.

People who do not belong to these groups are also interested in getting vaccinated. If you’r part of one of these groups or are interested in getting a flu shot anyway, talk to your doctor. October and November are the best months to be vaccinated. In addition to vaccination, there are now drugs that can help prevent certain types of flu or reduce the severity of symptoms if taken 48 hours before their appearance.

Although these two diseases are manifested by respiratory symptoms they differ on several points. The general symptoms such as fever and fatigue, are much more important during a flu. While the person who has a cold usually continues to work, the person with influenza is much more often absent from work for a few days, mainly because of the intensity of fatigue. Moreover fever is usually absent or very slight in a cold, so it can be much more variable during the flu, generally individuals with influenza have a higher fever. by cons, in the very sick, such as the elderly, fever may be absent. Other symptoms such as headache and abdominal pain are virtually absent during cold but often present in cases of influenza.

Influenza is a disease caused by a virus (influence), which is transmitted from person to person through coughing, sneezing and contaminated objects directly, and is it a virus particuliaridad easy mutation.
The most common symptoms are: progressive deterioration, chills, fever up to 40 º C, sneezing, coughing, headache, muscle aches, sore throat …. The fever usually lasts from 3 to 5 days if no improvement complications occurring in 1 to 2 weeks.

General Care:

- Get vaccinated every year, especially if the person is within the risk group (aged over 65 years, certain illnesses, groups of people who can pass the risk to an individual and personal services).
- Emphasize the rest.
- Take a mild analgesic (paracetamol) to ease the discomfort.
- Drink plenty of juices and water.
- In case of fever over 38 º C, giving an antipyretic or cold cloths to his forehead.

Your child’s doctor can not identify the specific virus causing cold symptoms, but examine your throat and ears and can even tell a throat (culture) to ensure that symptoms are not due to a medical condition that may require specific treatment. (If after about 3 days, your child’s symptoms get worse instead of better, you may be suffering from strep throat, sinusitis, pneumonia or bronchitis, especially if your child or teen smokes).

Taking a throat culture is a simple and painless procedure, which involves brushing the inside of the throat with a long cotton swab. The analysis of the germs that stick to the swab will help the doctor determine if your child has strep throat and needs treatment with antibiotics.

If your child’s symptoms last more than a week or come every year for the same period, or every time it is exposed to pollen, dust, animals or other substances, it is possible that your child suffers from allergies. If your child has trouble breathing or wheezing occurs when a cold, could have asthma.

You should also consult your doctor if you think your child may be suffering from something more than a cold, or if your condition gets worse instead of better.

The following are other reasons to communicate with the doctor:

* phlegm coughing up a lot;
* shortness of breath;
* unusual lethargy / tiredness;
* inability to keep food or liquids down or poor fluid intake
* it hurts with increasing intensity the head, face or throat;
* it hurts or throat swells so much that you can not swallow;
* fever of 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39.3 degrees Celsius) or higher, or a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.0 Celsius) or higher for more than a day
* pain in your chest or stomach;
* will swell the glands in the neck;
* earache.

As with most viral infections, colds should complete its cycle. Meanwhile, plenty of rest, avoiding vigorous activity and drink plenty of fluids (juice, water or soft drinks without caffeine) help your child feel better.

Surely, going to school or continue with normal activities do not worsen your child’s cold. But it will increase the likelihood of spread to classmates or friends. It is appropriate for your child will leave some of the daily activities until you feel better.