Main Page [2] | Risk Factors [3] | Symptoms [4] | Diagnosis [5] | Treatment | Screening [6] | Reducing Your Risk [7] | Talking to Your Doctor [8] | Resource Guide [9]
The treatment and management of colds and influenza mainly involves alleviating your symptoms, though they ordinarily resolve on their own. If you have a chronic health [10] condition, a cold or influenza can worsen whatever condition you have, particularly diabetes [11] and chronic heart [12] and lung diseases. Occasionally viral upper respiratory [13] infections develop into complications like ear or sinus infections or pneumonia.
The goals of treatment are threefold:
Treatment involves the following:
Lifestyle changes [14]
Medications [15]
Alternative and complementary therapies [16]
There are no surgical procedures for the treatment of colds and influenza.
References
Beers MH, Berkow R. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy . 17th ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons; 1999.
Fauci AS, Braunwald E, Isselbacher KJ, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine . 14th ed. New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2000.
Last reviewed January 2007 by Kari Kassir, MD [17]
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical [18] advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health [10] provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical [18] condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.
Links:
[1] http://www.thirdage.com/health-wellness/editorial-staff-and-contributors#RickerP
[2] http://www.thirdage.com/health-wellness/conditions-indepth-viral-upper-respiratory-infections-colds-and-influenza-0
[3] http://www.thirdage.com/encyclopedia/risk-factors-for-viral-upper-respiratory-infections-colds-and-influenza
[4] http://www.thirdage.com/encyclopedia/symptoms-of-viral-upper-respiratory-infections-colds-and-influenza
[5] http://www.thirdage.com/encyclopedia/diagnosis-of-viral-upper-respiratory-infections-colds-and-influenza
[6] http://www.thirdage.com/encyclopedia/screening-for-viral-upper-respiratory-infections-colds-and-influenza
[7] http://www.thirdage.com/encyclopedia/reducing-your-risk-of-viral-upper-respiratory-infections-colds-and-influenza
[8] http://www.thirdage.com/encyclopedia/talking-to-your-healthcare-provider-about-viral-upper-respiratory-infections-colds-a
[9] http://www.thirdage.com/encyclopedia/resource-guide-for-viral-upper-respiratory-infections-colds-and-influenza
[10] http://www.thirdage.com/health-wellness
[11] http://www.thirdage.com/diabetes
[12] http://www.thirdage.com/heart-health
[13] http://www.thirdage.com/respiratory-health
[14] http://www.thirdage.com/health-wellness/lifestyle-changes-to-manage-viral-upper-respiratory-infections-colds-and-influenza-0
[15] http://www.thirdage.com/health-wellness/medications-for-viral-upper-respiratory-infections-colds-and-influenza-0
[16] http://www.thirdage.com/healthguide/colds-and-flus
[17] http://www.thirdage.com/health-wellness/ebsco-publishings-medical-review-board-0#Kassir
[18] http://www.thirdage.com/medical-care