Flu : Influenza, commonly called "the flu," is an illness caused by RNA viruses that infect the respiratory tract of many animals, birds, and humans. In most people, the infection results in the person getting fever, cough, headache, and malaise (tired, no energy); some people also may develop a sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The majority of individuals has symptoms for about one to two weeks and then recovers with no problems. However, compared with most other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, influenza (flu) infection can cause a more severe illness with a mortality rate (death rate) of about 0.1% of people who are infected with the virus.
Treatment
1. Antiviral drugs –
(a) Neuraminidase inhibitors - Zanamivir and Oseltamivir
(b) M2 viral protein inhibitors - Amantadine and Rimantadine
2. NSAIDS
Common cold : The common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract which primarily affects the nose. Symptoms include coughing, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, and fever which usually resolve in seven to ten days, with some symptoms lasting up to three weeks. Around 200 virus strains are implicated in the cause of the common cold; the rhinoviruses are the most common.
• Decongestants - Pseudoephedrine , Ipratropium
• Antihistamine - Diphenhydramine, Pheniramine, Chlorpheniramine Cetirizine, Loratadine, Terfenadine, Ketotifen
• Analgesics and Antipyretics – Ibuprofen and acetaminophen