Why do you get A cold, but THE Flu or THE diarrhea? Is there not more than one tyoe of flu or diarrhea?
2007-02-25 15:10:55 · 3 answers · asked by pennymaelane 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
Sorry-I know what they are, I was wondering why we call it A cold and THE flu instead of THE cold or A flu.
2007-02-25 15:28:38 · update #1
A cold is a cold. it usually lasts about a week and resolves on its own and since it is caused by a virus there is usually no need for an antibiotic. If you run a high temp, cough so much you can't breathe and keep getting worse instead of better see a DR.
Diarrhea, and upset stomach and vomiting is NOT the flu. This is viral gastroenteritis. Note VIRAL, this usually is self limiting to about 24-48 hours. Seek medical help if you are unable to hold anything down, run a temp, have signs of bleeding (dark stool, blood in stool, blood in throw up). or get worse instead of better. One of the best things to do with the stomach bug is to not eat or drink anything for about 6 hours to let the stomach have time to rest.
the FLU, is the flu. Body aches, muscle pain, cough, temp. A true case of the flu and what we get flu shots for ( and why we had an epidemic in the early 1900 that kiled thousands) is a respiratory infection. It can cause severe resp difficulty and require hospitalization. In most cases, drink lots of hot tea, hot showers, tylenol, cough syrup. If you continue to get worse, have trouble breathing, run a high temp for over 24 hours see a Dr. Most cases of the flu resolve themselves in about a week.
I spent part of last week in the hospital due to the flu. I got so short of breath that I needed breathing treatments and oxygen and IV antibiotics because it truned into pneumonia. So there is a reason to see a Dr. if you don't get better.
2007-02-25 15:24:11 · answer #1 · answered by sweet sue 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Someone started saying it years and years ago and it caught on just like everything else with speach. It's just the way people talk.
By the way, I've never heard anyone call it THE diarrhea before.
2007-02-25 23:16:20 · answer #2 · answered by sa7914 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
these are terms for the general public only. common terms for medically trained people include upper respiratory infection, influenza, gastroenteritis, diarrhea.
the general public needs to have terms simplified, hence A COLD and THE FLU.
2007-02-26 00:19:54 · answer #3 · answered by KitKat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋