Latest news with #cold
ABC News
19 hours ago
- Health
- ABC News
What's the difference between the cold, flu and RSV?
When we're talking about winter illnesses, people use general terms like cold and the flu as if they're the same thing. But while they both tend to make us feel pretty rubbish, there are some key differences between them. At the same time, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is also circulating in the community, causing similar symptoms. Here are the differences between the common cold, the flu and RSV. It's a generic term for an infection that generally affects a person's nose and throat. There are more than 200 viruses that can cause a common cold, most of them being either a type of rhinovirus or coronavirus, Australia's public health information service, Healthdirect, says. "The symptoms of a cold are usually mild," the service's website says. "In most cases, you can treat the symptoms of a mild cold yourself. "Most people will get better by themselves within seven to 10 days without any treatment." The flu is a nickname for influenza. While you may hear people use cold and flu interchangeably, they're actually different diseases. And the flu can be much worse than a cold, Health Direct says. People at risk of developing a severe illness include young children, people over 65 years old and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Pregnancy is also a risk factor for a serious bout of the flu. In serious cases, the flu can lead to pneumonia, breathing difficulties and death. "[But] most people will get better by themselves within seven to 10 days and without any treatment," Healthdirect's website says. RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus. While it can affect people of all ages, it's most serious for infants, young children and older adults with chronic health conditions, Health Direct says. It can lead to serious respiratory illnesses like bronchitis and pneumonia. "There is no specific treatment for RSV, but having lots of rest and drinking plenty of fluids will help you recover," Healthdirect's website says. "Most people recover from RSV in about 10 days." They might sound the same, but there are specific differences between the three. Here's how Health Direct breaks it down: However, Healthdirect says that sometimes symptoms can differ and overlap. Healthdirect has an online service called Symptom Checker that helps you work out if you should see a doctor or treat yourself at home. It asks you a few questions about your symptoms and gives you general advice. It can also help you find a healthcare provider. But, as a guide, Healthdirect has this advice on its flu website: See your doctor if you: While many people won't need specific medical treatment for mild respiratory illnesses, some cases can become quite serious. Healthdirect says people should call triple-0 if someone is having severe difficulty breathing or turning blue. Here are some more warnings on the service's website: "If your baby is younger than 3 months old and has a fever above 38°Celsius, take them to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately, or call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance." "If your child is having difficulty breathing, is turning blue, is grunting or is lethargic, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance." The service also has these specific warnings about the common cold on its website: See your doctor urgently if you (or your child) have had cold or flu-like symptoms and you: The COVID-19 pandemic had many of us used to the idea that we needed to test ourselves to understand what was causing our illness. We asked Gemma Saravanos, a registered nurse and infectious diseases epidemiologist from the University of Sydney, if there was much point in that now. "Knowing the specific pathogen causing your respiratory illness may not provide a benefit [for treatment], particularly if you have a mild illness and no risk factors for severe disease," Dr Saravanos said. However, there are a lot of benefits to testing. "Home testing kits, or testing in healthcare services such as general practice, can guide our decision-making around infection prevention practices," Dr Saravanos says. "Testing is also important for those who may be eligible for influenza or COVID-19 antiviral medication. "Lastly, testing also serves a public health function. It helps us to understand what pathogens are circulating in the community and this can inform public health advice and research, such as vaccine effectiveness studies." "There are no clear guidelines for respiratory testing in the community," Dr Saravanos says. And it's not always easy — or cheap — to get tested. "Testing may not always be available depending on access and affordability of home testing kits, and laboratory services," Dr Saravanos says. "Without testing, it is very difficult to know what pathogen is causing a respiratory infection, so it's important to be guided by symptoms and modify our behaviours accordingly to avoid spreading infection. "What feels like a mild cold for you may result in a severe illness for another person." So knowing what you have might help you make better choices about where you go and what you do when you're sick. "It's good to know because, for example, I've got parents in their 90s and if I've got a mild cold I might go and see them with a mask," Patrick Reading, director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, said. "But if I've got influenza, that could be really life-threatening to them." "Most respiratory infections can be safely managed at home with rest, hydration and over-the-counter analgesics (such as paracetamol)," Dr Saravanos says. "We do have antivirals to treat COVID-19 and influenza and these are recommended for older adults and those with certain risk factors." We asked Dr Saravanos what sorts of foods people should eat if they wanted to speed up their recovery. But there doesn't appear to be a magic formula. "There is little evidence that foods or supplements will speed up recovery," she says. "Be guided by your symptoms," Dr Saravanos says. "If you are feeling unwell or have active symptoms, it is best practice to stay home, especially in the first few days of illness. "This supports recovery and also reduces the risk of passing the infection on to others." "This depends on a range of factors, including severity of illness and individual characteristics such as immune function and fitness," Dr Saravanos says. "A week may be sufficient for some people, however others will need more time for recovery."
ABC News
a day ago
- Climate
- ABC News
Sunny weather returns to most of Queensland, but cool conditions to come
Queenslanders will enjoy a brief reprieve from rainy conditions before a cloud band moves in mid-week and brings wintry weather to most of the state. Senior meteorologist Shane Kennedy said cooler, clear conditions were expected from Monday, but would not last. A trough in the south-west corner of the state is forecast to reach the coast by Wednesday, bringing widespread cloud cover. "A couple of frosty mornings, then we will get a bit of a break on Wednesday and Thursday as the cloud comes over, then back to even cooler conditions later in the week behind that trough," Mr Kennedy said. Widespread rainfall between 10 and 30 millimetres was recorded between Emerald and the south-east corner over the weekend. Mr Kennedy said south-east Queensland residents could expect clearer, cooler days at the beginning of the week, with isolated minor river flooding around Warwick and Amberley expected to clear. "It will drop back down to average, or slightly below, over the next couple of mornings, as far north as Hughenden," he said. Temperatures in western Queensland would return to average, he said, following the cold snap over the weekend that saw temperatures plummet. Julia Creek and Richmond in western Queensland recorded their coldest July days in two years, reaching just 16 degrees Celsius on Saturday afternoon. "It was a strong enough system that it had that impact," Mr Kennedy said. Mr Kennedy said the next cold snap would arrive later this week, off the back of another cloud band originating in the south-west. "The next cooler snap should push a fair way into northern Queensland, at least to the base of the Cape York Peninsula on Friday and Saturday," he said. This would help to bring temperatures down to average in the state's north. "The next cold snap after that next trough should be more substantial," he said. "It potentially might make it up to Georgetown, and it may even help to drop temperatures around Cairns on Friday and Saturday."
SBS Australia
6 days ago
- Health
- SBS Australia
Should you take a day off or work from home with a mild cold? What if you can't do either?
Whether it's your first or fourth cold of the season, many Australians are waking up at the moment with a sniffle, a sore throat or feeling more tired than usual. June to August is peak flu season in Australia. There are also high rates of COVID-19 circulating, along with other respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus and adenovirus. Sometimes it's clear when you need to spend the day in bed: you have a fever, aches and pains, and can't think clearly. If it's the flu or COVID-19, you'll want to stay away from others and rest and recover. But what about if your symptoms are mild? Are you sick enough to take the day off, or should you push through it? And what if you feel pressured to work? Here's what to consider. Are you likely to spread it? While it may seem like a good idea to continue working, especially when your symptoms are mild, going to work when infectious with a respiratory virus risks infecting your co-workers. If you are in a client-facing role, such as a teacher or a salesperson, you may also infect others, like students or customers. The risks may be even greater for those working with vulnerable communities, such as in aged care work, where the consequences can be severe. From an organisational perspective, you are likely less productive when you are not feeling well. So, whenever possible, avoid going into work when you're feeling unwell. Should I work from home? The COVID-19 pandemic normalised working from home. Since then, more people work from home when they're unwell, rather than taking sick leave. Some employees join Zoom or Teams meetings out of guilt, not wanting to let their co-workers down. Others — and in particular, some men — feel the need to maintain their performance at work, even if it's at the expense of their health. A downside of powering through is that workers may prolong their illness by not looking after themselves. Can you take leave when you need it? Employees in Australia can take either paid or unpaid time off when they are unwell. Most full-time employees get 10 days of paid sick leave per year, while part-time employees get the equivalent pro rata. Employers can ask for reasonable evidence from employees to show they are unwell, such as asking for a medical certificate from a pharmacy or GP, or a statutory declaration. The type of evidence required may differ from organisation to organisation, with some awards and enterprise agreements specifying the type of evidence needed. While taking a sick day helps many workers recuperate, a significant proportion of workers engaged in non-standard work arrangements do not receive these benefits. There are, for example, 2.6 million casual employees who don't have access to paid sick leave. Many workers, such as casual employees and self-employed people, often don't have much choice about whether or not to take a sick day. Source: Getty / FG Trade Similarly, most self-employed people, such as tradies and gig workers, do not have any paid leave entitlements. Although these workers can still take unpaid leave, they are sacrificing income when they call in sick. Research from the Australian Council of Trade Unions has found more than half of insecure workers don't take time off when injured or sick. So a significant proportion of workers in Australia simply cannot afford to call in sick. Why pushing through isn't the answer 'Presenteeism' is the phenomenon of people reporting for work even when they are unwell or not fully functioning, affecting their health and productivity. While exact figures are hard to determine, since most organisations don't systematically track it, estimates suggest 30 to 90 per cent of employees work while sick at least once a year. People work while sick for different reasons. Some choose to because they love their job or enjoy the social side of work — this is called voluntary presenteeism. But many don't have a real choice, facing financial pressure or job insecurity. That's involuntary presenteeism, and it's a much bigger problem. Research has found industry norms may be shaping the prevalence of 'involuntary presenteeism', with workers in the health and education sectors more likely to feel obligated to work when sick due to 'at work' caring responsibilities. What can organisations do about it? Leaders set the tone, especially around health and wellbeing. When they role-model healthy behaviour and support time off, it gives others permission to do the same. Supportive leaders can help reduce presenteeism, while pressure from demanding leaders can make it worse. Your co-workers matter too. When teams step up and share the load, it creates a culture where people feel safe to take leave. A supportive environment makes wellbeing a shared responsibility. But for some workers, leave isn't an option. Fixing this requires policy change across industries and society more broadly, not just inside the workplace.
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Daily Mail
I woke up in a police cell fearing I'd killed my daughter in a drunken rage. The truth was almost as bad... but I still denied I was an alcoholic. Don't make my mistake: SERENA PALMER
Slowly I slid into consciousness and blinked, confused, at the cold, grey room in which I found myself. Where was I? A hotel? A stranger's bedroom? I had no idea.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I Hate To Say It, But After Seeing These 32 Pictures I'm Convinced Americans Might Just Be The Dumbest People On The Planet
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