Combination cold and flu preparations: getting ready for winter

Abstract

The common cold is well named, as it is the most frequent acute illness in the industrialised world. A cold is generally a benign, self-limiting viral illness that exhibits a number of symptoms, including a runny nose, congestion, sneezing, a sore throat, a cough, a headache and malaise. These symptoms, while usually not serious, affect day-to-day-life, and prompt patients to purchase over-thecounter medication. Influenza or flu is a more serious illness. Flu symptoms include those of a cold with the addition of fever, muscle aches, pains and fatigue.