Cold and Flu
Cold and Flu
If you’ve caught a bad cold or you’re suffering from flu, you may be experiencing a range of unpleasant symptoms, including a sore throat. With a cold, you may still be able to go about your everyday life to a certain point but your sore throat may make some of your usual activities very difficult. If you’re in the grip of the flu, you probably won’t be able to carry on with your normal routine but your throat pain could mean it’s difficult to sleep. Ultra Chloraseptic Anaesthetic Throat Spray can help to relieve the pain of a sore throat. Containing the active ingredient benzocaine, which is a local anaesthetic, this spray can target the site of pain in seconds. Suitable for both children and adults, Ultra Chloraseptic can soothe the pain of a sore throat while you’re suffering with a cold or flu.
What’s the difference between a cold and flu?
The common cold and flu are both infectious respiratory viral illnesses. They share many of the same symptoms so it can be difficult to tell them apart. However, these conditions are caused by different viruses and tend to differ in terms of how they appear, how severe they are and how long they last. There are also some differences in the symptoms you can experience.
Which is more severe: a cold or flu?
While you may experience some of the same symptoms, a cold tends to be a milder illness. You may feel unwell but you can often go about your everyday routine as usual. For example, you may find that you’re perfectly able to do your job or go to school when you have a cold. Flu, in contrast, often interferes with day-to-day life. If you have the flu, you’ll usually feel more tired and unwell than you would if you had a common cold. In fact, flu viruses usually mean you’re too exhausted and unwell to go to work or school as normal. On top of this, the flu is considered to be more serious because, unlike colds – which generally do not result in serious health problems – flu can be associated with very serious health complications, including bronchitis and pneumonia. High-risk groups, such as the elderly, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems and people with long term conditions, are particularly vulnerable to complications of flu and should be offered an annual flu vaccine free of charge on the NHS.
Which lasts longer: colds or flu?
Flu usually lasts longer than a cold. With a cold, You should begin to feel better in about a week or two.
This is also the case with the flu, however you might find that feelings of tiredness persist for much longer.
Symptoms of a cold vs symptoms of flu
A cold mainly affects your upper respiratory system (your nose and throat). Symptoms can include:
- A runny or stuffy nose
- A sore throat
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Headache
- A high temperature
- Loss of taste and smell
- Feelings of pressure in your ears and face
With the flu, you may experience all the same symptoms of a cold but also experience additional symptoms, such as:
- Loss of appetite
- Aching muscles
- Tiredness or exhaustion
- Diarrhoea or stomach pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Difficulty sleeping
When to Seek Expert Medical Help
Colds and flu generally clear up without the need for medical attention. You can usually speed up your recovery by getting plenty of sleep and rest, keeping warm and drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration. You can take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and ease aches and pains but if you do, be careful not to use cough or cold medicines that contain these ingredients too. A pharmacist should be able to give treatment advice and recommend remedies such as decongestants, nasal and throat sprays.
How Ultra Chloraseptic Can Help
Although our throat sprays do not act as a cold and flu treatment, they can help to stop a sore throat ruining your day. Helping to relieve your sore throat can also make it easier to get a good night’s sleep, which is what every cold or flu sufferer needs to feel better. For many sufferers, a sore throat that comes with colds and the flu can mean pain or discomfort when talking, swallowing, eating and drinking. In some cases, throat pain persists regularly throughout the day. While you wait for your body’s immune system to tackle your illness, use Ultra Chloraseptic for relief from your sore throat. This helps you to keep this painful symptom in check. Ultra Chloraseptic sprays use a local anaesthetic called benzocaine. Our products’ spray nozzles mean that this active ingredient can be delivered directly to the source of pain, providing a soothing and numbing effect. For adults, all it takes for fast relief from a sore throat is three quick sprays into the back of the throat. The affected area should start to numb in seconds. This can relieve the scratchy sore sensation of pain you’ve been feeling as a result of your cold or flu and can be repeated up to eight times a day. For children aged 6-12, only one spray is required per application. Our sprays can be used for up to three days.