We are in the middle of a busy cold and flu season. In addition to all the usual seasonal cold and flu viruses, we have the H1N1 virus, which has been circulating throughout the United States this fall.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that flu activity is already widespread in 46 states, and that flu-related hospitalizations and deaths are unseasonably high. Plus we still have more than 200 viruses that cause the common cold and the seasonal influenza viruses to look forward to this winter.

The cold and flu viruses cause a predominately respiratory illness, with a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, fever, body aches, headache and fatigue. In a healthy individual, these are temporary symptoms that last five to seven days. Individuals with heart or lung disease, such as asthma, often experience more severe symptoms.

While we have no vaccine against the common cold, the mainstay of preventing the seasonal flu has been the annual seasonal flu vaccine. This year we also have a vaccine against the H1N1 flu. Due to production delays and distribution problems, however, there is a nationwide shortage of both flu vaccines. So what else can we do to protect ourselves and our families against the flu?

Cold and flu viruses are spread from infected individuals in the droplets of a cough or sneeze, or in the discharge of a runny nose. If you are infected, you can help prevent spreading it to family and friends by doing the following:

• Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and then immediately dispose of the tissue after using it.
• If you have no tissue, avoid coughing or sneezing into your hand. Instead, cough or sneeze into your upper arm.
• If you do use your hand to cover a cough, wash immediately with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleanser.
• Do not carry a cloth handkerchief that you use repeatedly, because it is a haven for lurking germs. Use disposable tissue instead.
• If you get a fever, stay home until 24 hours after your fever is gone (without the aid of fever-reducing medications such as Tylenol) to avoid passing the virus to others. Keep warm, drink plenty of fluids and rest.

To best avoid getting infected with a cold or flu virus, remember the following:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, as these are the places where the viruses enter our bodies.
• If you need to rub your eyes or scratch your nose, either use a clean disposable tissue or wash your hands first.

If you are caring for a loved one with the flu, remind them of these tips to avoid passing the virus to family members. Follow the advice of public health authorities regarding school closures, and avoid crowded areas during the height of cold and flu season.

If you do get the flu-which is usually accompanied by a high fever, dry cough and body aches-there are prescription medicines to help reduce the duration and/or intensity of the illness. These work best if started within two days of the initial symptoms and are most often used for individuals with chronic illnesses who might have a more serious course. Your doctor may want to see you before prescribing these anti-flu medicines to assure you do not have pneumonia, a serious condition that may have symptoms similar to the flu but requires a very different type of treatment.

In general, avoiding colds and the flu involves following the advice we all received from our grandmothers-covering our coughs and sneezes and washing our hands. Follow this common-sense advice and the other tips outlined above, and have a happy, healthy holiday season.

Photo Caption: Dr. Bill Black is an internal medicine physician at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF).Endnote: The Palo Alto Medical Foundation and column editor Arian Dasmalchi provide this monthly column.

Preventing Spread of Colds and Flu

By Bill Black, M.D., Ph.D.

We are in the middle of a busy cold and flu season. In addition to all the usual seasonal cold and flu viruses, we have the H1N1 virus, which has been circulating throughout the United States this fall.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that flu activity is already widespread in 46 states, and that flu-related hospitalizations and deaths are unseasonably high. Plus we still have more than 200 viruses that cause the common cold and the seasonal influenza viruses to look forward to this winter.

The cold and flu viruses cause a predominately respiratory illness, with a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, fever, body aches, headache and fatigue. In a healthy individual, these are temporary symptoms that last five to seven days. Individuals with heart or lung disease, such as asthma, often experience more severe symptoms.

While we have no vaccine against the common cold, the mainstay of preventing the seasonal flu has been the annual seasonal flu vaccine. This year we also have a vaccine against the H1N1 flu. Due to production delays and distribution problems, however, there is a nationwide shortage of both flu vaccines. So what else can we do to protect ourselves and our families against the flu?

Cold and flu viruses are spread from infected individuals in the droplets of a cough or sneeze, or in the discharge of a runny nose. If you are infected, you can help prevent spreading it to family and friends by doing the following:

• Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and then immediately dispose of the tissue after using it.
• If you have no tissue, avoid coughing or sneezing into your hand. Instead, cough or sneeze into your upper arm.
• If you do use your hand to cover a cough, wash immediately with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleanser.
• Do not carry a cloth handkerchief that you use repeatedly, because it is a haven for lurking germs. Use disposable tissue instead.
• If you get a fever, stay home until 24 hours after your fever is gone (without the aid of fever-reducing medications such as Tylenol) to avoid passing the virus to others. Keep warm, drink plenty of fluids and rest.

To best avoid getting infected with a cold or flu virus, remember the following:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, as these are the places where the viruses enter our bodies.
• If you need to rub your eyes or scratch your nose, either use a clean disposable tissue or wash your hands first.

If you are caring for a loved one with the flu, remind them of these tips to avoid passing the virus to family members. Follow the advice of public health authorities regarding school closures, and avoid crowded areas during the height of cold and flu season.

If you do get the flu-which is usually accompanied by a high fever, dry cough and body aches-there are prescription medicines to help reduce the duration and/or intensity of the illness. These work best if started within two days of the initial symptoms and are most often used for individuals with chronic illnesses who might have a more serious course. Your doctor may want to see you before prescribing these anti-flu medicines to assure you do not have pneumonia, a serious condition that may have symptoms similar to the flu but requires a very different type of treatment.

In general, avoiding colds and the flu involves following the advice we all received from our grandmothers-covering our coughs and sneezes and washing our hands. Follow this common-sense advice and the other tips outlined above, and have a happy, healthy holiday season.

— By Bill Black, M.D., Ph.D.Endnote: The Palo Alto Medical Foundation and column editor Arian Dasmalchi provide this monthly column.