This was going to be the flu season from hell.
Added to the usual confusion about colds vs. influenza was the lurking fear of anthrax - a deadly illness that starts out with "flu-like symptoms."
But since the Nov. 21 death of Ottilie Lundgren, 94, of Oxford, there have been no known cases of inhalation anthrax. Bioterror-related telephone calls to the state Department of Public Health have dropped significantly since Christmas.
Dr. Michael Steinberg, assistant professor of internal medicine and practicing internist at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, says anthrax-related calls and patient comments have dropped in recent weeks. Dr. Eugene Fantl, a pediatrician with UConn Health Partners group in West Hartford, East Hartford and Rocky Hill, said he has had no calls from parents worried about anthrax.
And even the flu season has been unremarkable so far, although it can be expected to take off now that the winter holidays have passed.
Most who get sick - whether it's a cold or actual flu - will get better no matter what they do. For some - mainly the elderly and the chronically ill - flu and its complications can kill. Steinberg said it is especially helpful to diagnose flu among high-risk individuals, but that even otherwise healthy adults can benefit from telling flu from a cold, because flu medications - if taken as soon as symptoms arrive - may help.
One major difference between colds and flu is that influenza symptoms seem to appear quickly, while a cold tends to build more slowly. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases notes that influenza's menu of memories is worse than the usual collection of cold symptoms.
While flu usually packs a high fever (102 to 104 degrees), colds rarely come with high temperatures. The same is true of long-lasting, extreme fatigue. Both cold and flu can cause headaches, although the flu headache typically comes on suddenly and can be severe. Experts at the institute note that the flu doesn't always feature the stuffy nose, sneezing and sore throat that are common with colds, but that a cough is common with both illnesses, and chest discomfort can be part of either pain package.
Flu can lead to such serious complications as bronchitis and pneumonia. Such ailments are less likely to follow colds, though ear infections and blocked sinuses can.
There are drugs that can prevent and treat the flu, but no such drugs - yet - to combat cold viruses. The annual flu vaccine is the best bet for preventing or reducing the severity of influenza. There also are anti-viral drugs - oseltamivir (Tamiflu), rimantadine (Flumadine) and amantadine (Symmetrel) - that can help prevent the flu if taken for at least two weeks while the virus is circulating. These same drugs and a fourth - zanamivir (Relenza) - can shave a day or two off the misery and reduce the intensity of symptoms if taken within two days of the onset of the illness.
For colds, there are many over-the-counter drugs for temporary relief of symptoms, but fluids (including hot soup and tea) and rest seem to be the mainstays of recovery.Copyright © 2015, Hartford Courant