Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with colds

Ddifferences between colds in adults and children

graventy — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:25:17 -0800

Are there differences in the symptoms of a common cold with age? Are cold symptoms worse in adults than children? When I was a kid, the extent of my colds seemed to be a runny nose and maybe a cough. Nowadays, at 29, colds seem to completely sap my energy and give me body aches. I live in the same location, so I should be exposed to the same general cold virii. Are tiredness and body aches just more common in adults than children?

What's Going Around?

jragon — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:43:06 -0800

I thought I had heard of a website that tracks current viruses, called What's Going Around or something similar. I'm finding tons of local tv stations with special pages for their community, but nothing that ties them all together into one website. Anyone know of a site like this?

What's causing the yucky taste?

Melismata — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:29:50 -0800

I have a cold, and my mouth tastes yucky. What specifically is happening? While having this mild chest cold, my mouth tastes like sour dirty socks, with a flavor of what's coming up in my chest and very magnified by whatever I've just eaten. (Throat a bit sore, but not too bad; no other symptoms.) What is the connection between the virus causing the cold and the taste buds/olfactory nerves acting weird? What is going on here physiologically/anatomically?

(With some colds I get a metallic taste, but not this one; the sourness seems to be the overriding distinction.)

What does having multiple colds without symptoms except fatigue mean?

damn dirty ape — Sun, 13 May 2007 21:18:53 -0800

What does having multiple colds without symptoms except fatigue mean? I've talked about this with my doctor and haven't gotten any kind of answer about this other than "Its a cold, so I'm not going to give you any medicine." About two years ago I got a winter cold that gave me, for the first time in my life, very severe fatigue and little else. It lasted 10 days or so. I couldnt work for 3+ days. All I could do is sleep.

This winter I got a cold a month that had very few symptoms other than moderate to severe fatigue. I felt slightly feverish and maybe some sniffles or throat pain. In 7-10 days this cold would go away and then I would get another roughly 3-4 weeks later. Cold medicine or just advil would help with the symptoms (even the fatigue sometimes) but I would have to wait a few days for the virus to pass. I usually do not get a fever, but feel hot. My temperature is usually a little below the norm.

I'm a bit worried that I'm no longer getting the classic cold symptoms like coughing, dripping nose, etc. Just getting this fatigue with light (or no) cold symptoms worries me and my doctor's attitude of telling me is nothing isn't really helping. A full blood test and physical examination didn't find anything wrong with me. I also still have my tonsils in my late 20's.

Now that things have warmed over I'm not getting these colds anymore, but I feel like I should do something just in case this is a sign of a serious development. I occasionally wake up feeling feverish and fatigued but it clears up the same day.

I'm considering seeing a specialist, but not sure who to see. An ENT? Or perhaps another GP? Does this just happen to some people as they grow older? No one in my family gets this kind of cold. Thanks.

To Dose Or Not To Dose?

the sobsister — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 09:29:05 -0800

A twist on the question "is it better to let a cold run its course or is it better to medicate?". There have already been AskMeFi threads to this regard but I repeat the question because of something a doctor told me: if you dry up the runny nose/postnasal drainage, you prevent the mucus from going into your upper respiratory tract, thereby precluding the chest-clearing cough. Is this sound medicine? I've gone through four Kleenex just typing this question.

Can I possibly still have the same cold virus 5, 6 months later?

AthenaPolias — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 22:09:02 -0800

Round about this past April, I developed a nasty, hacking cough that hit only in the mornings. Can my icky, phlegmy self still have this same cold virus, months upon months later? I still had this cough through June, though not badly enough to send me to the doctor (I was also writing my thesis at the time, so no money or time for a checkup). It's mostly gone now, though appears every now and again - no hacking, though. I do, however, still have this nasty bit of mild post-nasal drip and a constant congestion in my head (nose, really - you can't hear it when I speak, no headaches, etc). This can't *possibly* be the same cold from April, can it?? Any ideas on why I can't kick this thing? My diet is fine, and I *never* get sick otherwise.

What cases colds, exactly?

borkingchikapa — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 18:07:36 -0800

Does being cold/wet actually have any affect on the contraction of the common cold? Everybody "knows" that the common cold is caused by a virus. Yet it also seems like everybody "knows" that's it's also caused by being out in the cold or rain, going to sleep with wet hair, whatever.

I'm tempted to believe that this is one of those folktales that's been passed down for so long that everyone still believes it, but would being cold or out in the rain lower your immune response to the virus? Or is it just that the times when that's likely to happen are coincidentally cold season? I, personally, have never gotten a cold from anything of the sort, and I'm not very judicious about wearing warm clothing or bringing along umbrellas.

'Health is not valued till sickness comes.' - Thomas Fuller

anastasiav — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 20:54:36 -0800

I need to strengthen my immune system. Due to a chronic condition, I've always been prone to respiratory illness, and since I've become pregnant I've had at least three bouts of moderate-to-serious cold/flu/sniffle type things, with the latest being spending the last week in bed with what turns out to be viral bronchitis. This is not my first bout with bronchitis, but is, by far, the most serious and debilitating that I've had in several years.

I'm being treated for the bronchitis, that's not the issue. The issue is that my immune system seems to have taken a nose-dive while I'm pregnant (not unusal, everyone agrees), and I'm looking for thoughts on ways to beef it up now, and in general for the future.

Part of the problem is that while pregnant, I'm not able to dose up as high on Vitamin C and Zinc as I would normally do.

I've already gotten some suggestions from my midwife and my regular MD, but no two sources seem to agree on what really works, and I'm wondering what tips and tricks you swear by to ward off respratory illnesses and in general boost up your immune system.

why do colds like the cold

zeoslap — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 10:44:39 -0800

I have a question about colds. Why do folks get them when the weather gets colder? Don't germs and viruses and what not typically thrive in the heat? Do other illnesses thrive when it gets cold?

Your best sickness prevention methods:

nitsuj — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 10:02:51 -0800

Let's hear your method for preventing colds and other sicknesses! Hello there. I have a set of rules I try to follow this time of year to prevent myself from becoming sick. They are as follows:

1) Drink 64oz of h2o per day.
2) Wash hands on an overly regular basis, plus anytime you are about to eat.
3) Take a multivitamin daily.
4) Keep hands away from all northern orifices (mouth, nose, eyes, etc.)

Question: What else should I be doing to prevent myself from becoming sick? I'm looking for at-home, over-the-counter methods - nothing involving a doctor or medicine that would require a prescription (three cheers for lack of health insurance!)

How to evict a chest cold before it finishes moving in.

Karmakaze — Sat, 09 Jul 2005 17:24:56 -0800

I love medical advice from strangers on the internet: favorite chest cold remedies. I've just 80% kicked a head cold only to wake up this morning hacking up phlegm bunnies (just tiny yellow flecks so far). I'm generally prone to bronchitis and this is a really bad sign. What do people generally do to head off a chest cold that's trying to set up residence? Mega doses of Vitamic C? Hot lemonade? Steam baths? Prayer? I've got the rest and fluids things down (which has made me have to cancel some weekend plans, darnit), but am wondering what works for other people.

(Disclaimer: yes, I realize the only reliable source of medical advice is an actual MD, and believe me, the second the phlem bunnies turn bright yellow or get larger, I've got my GP on speed-dial - I'm trying to head this thing off before it gets to that point.)

How does the immune system work?

small_ruminant — Wed, 11 May 2005 13:27:20 -0800

The silver lining to colds and flus has always been that at least my immune system is better for it, and I’ll be less likely to catch the next thing. However, I’ve caught 3 colds (or something- they were all different, and none were serious) this year and it’s only May! In the past I’ve caught maybe one thing a year. Does your immune system stop improving as you get older? Why do old people get sick more easily? And how old are you when that starts? And how possible IS it to reinfect yourself with the exact same virus or bacteria? Once you’ve had something, wouldn’t your immune system just whomp it the next time it came by?

Why do I get sick so often and what can I do to get sick less often?

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Feb 2005 20:20:14 -0800

I catch colds with alarming frequency- five or six times a year. If I make any sort of contact with somebody else who is sick, I can expect to have what they have within a day or two. I'm 21, HIV negative (recently tested and long abstinent), a vegetarian with a healthy diet, I excercise frequently and I take vitamins. I'm also currently taking Lexapro for depression. My question is twofold: first, what's wrong with me? Doctors insist that I'm fine. Second, what can I do to keep from getting sick so often in the future?

What's the best nighttime cold remedy?

grumblebee — Wed, 28 Apr 2004 08:52:55 -0800

Tylenol? Contact? Advil? Who makes the best nighttime cold remedy? I haven't slept for three nights because of my running nose and cough. UGH!