Colds & Flu

Scientists have discovered that bacteria found in a traditional Japanese pickle can prevent flu. Could this be the next superfood? The research, which assesses the...

Shedding light on influenza's insidious nature, scientists from the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts have discovered how the flu virus is able to quickly...

A new review of past studies suggests that taking zinc may cut the time adults have to suffer with a common cold, but the...

Coughs are one of the main reasons patients visit doctors, both Western and alternative. Many people ignore their cough until it becomes apparent that it’s not going away on its own. Besides treatment for daytime cough, patients also seek relief from night-time coughing, painful chest sensations, sore throat while coughing, fatigue and headache. Western medicine offers very few choices for dealing with cough, primarily antibiotics, antitussives (cough suppressants) and expectorants such as guaifenesin (found in products such as Robitussin®, Anti-Tuss® and Scot-Tussin®).

Flu is reaching epidemic levels this year. A flu outbreak affects more than individual's health. Communities, schools and businesses will all be impacted by the virus. Will your business be ready for a flu outbreak?

New research from the University of Georgia exposes a large discrepancy in the length of time patients expect an acute cough illness, also called acute bronchitis, to last and the reality of the illness. This mismatch may be a factor in the over-prescription of antibiotics.

As flu season approaches, people who get sick may not realize they can pass the flu not only to other humans, but possibly to other animals, including pets such as cats, dogs and ferrets. This concept, called "reverse zoonosis," is still poorly understood but has raised concern among some scientists and veterinarians, who want to raise awareness and prevent further flu transmission to pets.

Although some data have suggested a possible inverse association between serum vitamin D levels and the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (colds), participants in a randomized controlled trial who received a monthly dose of 100,000 IUs of vitamin D3 did not have a significantly reduced incidence or severity of colds, according to a study in the October 3 issue of JAMA.

Exposure to school-age children raises the odds that a person with lung disease who catches a cold will actually suffer symptoms like a runny nose, sore throat and cough, according to a study just published in the Journal of Clinical Virology.

Exposure to school-age children raises the odds that a person with lung disease who catches a cold will actually suffer symptoms like a runny...

Scientists are trying to unravel a medical mystery involving a new type of coronavirus, which come from that same large family of viruses that...

Although people often say they have "strep" throat, most sore throats actually are caused by a virus, not streptococcus bacteria, and shouldn't be treated with antibiotics, suggest guidelines published by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses.