How does the common cold progress through its life cycle. What are the main stages of a cold. How long does each stage of a cold typically last. What are the most effective ways to treat cold symptoms at each stage. When should you seek medical attention for a cold.

Understanding the Stages of the Common Cold

The common cold is a viral infection that affects millions of people each year. While it’s often considered a minor inconvenience, understanding its life cycle can help you manage symptoms more effectively and potentially reduce the duration of your illness. Let’s explore the three main stages of the common cold and what you can expect during each phase.

Stage 1: Early Onset

The first stage of a cold typically lasts 1-3 days and is characterized by subtle symptoms that may be easy to overlook. During this phase, you might experience:

• A tingling or scratchy sensation in your throat
• Mild body aches
• Fatigue or general tiredness

It’s crucial to note that even at this early stage, you’re already contagious. Taking precautions to avoid spreading the virus is essential, such as washing your hands frequently and limiting close contact with others.

Stage 2: Peak Symptoms

The second stage is when cold symptoms reach their peak intensity, typically lasting 2-3 days. During this phase, you may experience:

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Mild fever (up to 100.4°F or 38°C)
• Headache
• Increased fatigue

This stage is when most people feel their worst, and it’s essential to focus on rest and symptom management.

Stage 3: Recovery

The final stage of a cold typically lasts 2-3 days as your body begins to overcome the virus. During this phase, you may notice:

• Gradual improvement in symptoms
• Lingering cough
• Decreased nasal congestion
• Return of energy levels

While you may feel better, it’s important to remember that you can still be contagious during this stage, so continue to practice good hygiene and limit close contact with others.

Effective Treatment Strategies for Each Stage of a Cold

Managing cold symptoms effectively can help alleviate discomfort and potentially shorten the duration of your illness. Here are some treatment strategies tailored to each stage of the common cold:

Early Onset Treatment

During the initial stage of a cold, focus on supporting your immune system and preventing the virus from taking hold:

• Increase your fluid intake, especially water and herbal teas
• Get plenty of rest to allow your body to fight the virus
• Consider taking zinc supplements, which may reduce the duration of symptoms if taken early
• Use over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to manage body aches

Peak Symptom Management

As symptoms intensify, your treatment strategy should focus on alleviating discomfort and supporting your body’s natural healing processes:

• Use saline nasal sprays or neti pots to clear nasal passages
• Try over-the-counter decongestants to relieve congestion
• Use cough suppressants for persistent coughs, especially at night
• Gargle with warm salt water to soothe a sore throat
• Continue to prioritize rest and hydration

Recovery Phase Support

As you enter the recovery stage, focus on supporting your body’s healing process and preventing complications:

• Gradually return to normal activities as energy levels improve
• Continue to stay hydrated and maintain a healthy diet
• Use a humidifier to keep air moist and soothe lingering respiratory symptoms
• Consider natural remedies like honey for persistent coughs

Distinguishing Between a Cold and the Flu

One common concern during cold and flu season is determining whether you’re dealing with a simple cold or the more severe influenza virus. While both are respiratory illnesses, they have distinct characteristics that can help you identify which you’re experiencing:

Cold Symptoms

• Gradual onset of symptoms
• Mild to moderate discomfort
• Rarely causes fever above 100.4°F (38°C)
• Primarily affects the upper respiratory tract
• Typically lasts 7-10 days

Flu Symptoms

• Sudden onset of symptoms
• More severe discomfort
• Often causes high fever (above 100.4°F or 38°C)
• Can affect both upper and lower respiratory tracts
• May last longer and lead to more serious complications

If you’re unsure whether you have a cold or the flu, it’s best to consult with a healthcare professional, especially if you’re in a high-risk group or experiencing severe symptoms.

Preventing the Spread of the Common Cold

While it’s not always possible to avoid catching a cold, there are several steps you can take to reduce your risk of infection and prevent spreading the virus to others:

1. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
2. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water aren’t available
3. Avoid touching your face, especially your nose, mouth, and eyes
4. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
5. Dispose of used tissues immediately and wash your hands afterward
6. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in your home and workplace
7. Stay home when you’re sick to avoid spreading the virus to others
8. Maintain a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition, exercise, and sleep to support your immune system

By following these preventive measures, you can significantly reduce your risk of catching or spreading the common cold virus.

Natural Remedies to Support Cold Recovery

In addition to over-the-counter medications, many people find relief from cold symptoms through natural remedies. While these treatments may not cure a cold, they can help alleviate symptoms and support your body’s healing process:

Herbal Teas

Certain herbal teas can help soothe cold symptoms and provide hydration:

• Chamomile tea: Known for its calming properties, it may help you rest better
• Ginger tea: Can help relieve congestion and soothe sore throats
• Echinacea tea: May boost the immune system and reduce the duration of cold symptoms
• Elderberry tea: Rich in antioxidants and may have antiviral properties

Honey

Honey is a natural antimicrobial and can help soothe sore throats and suppress coughs. Try adding a spoonful to warm tea or taking it directly for symptom relief.

Steam Inhalation

Inhaling steam can help moisturize nasal passages and relieve congestion. Add a few drops of eucalyptus or peppermint essential oil to hot water for enhanced relief.

Garlic

Garlic contains allicin, a compound with antimicrobial properties. Incorporating fresh garlic into your diet or taking garlic supplements may help support your immune system during a cold.

Vitamin C

While vitamin C may not prevent colds, some studies suggest it could reduce the duration of symptoms. Consume vitamin C-rich foods or consider a supplement during your illness.

When to Seek Medical Attention for a Cold

While most colds resolve on their own without medical intervention, there are instances when you should consult a healthcare professional:

• Symptoms persist for more than 10 days without improvement
• You develop a high fever (above 103°F or 39.4°C)
• Your symptoms worsen suddenly after initially improving
• You experience severe sinus pain, headache, or ear pain
• You have difficulty breathing or chest pain
• You’re in a high-risk group (e.g., elderly, immunocompromised, or have chronic health conditions)

If you’re unsure whether your symptoms warrant medical attention, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and consult with a healthcare provider.

The Impact of Lifestyle Factors on Cold Recovery

Your overall health and lifestyle choices can significantly influence how your body responds to and recovers from a cold. Consider the following factors that may affect your cold recovery:

Sleep and Rest

Adequate sleep is crucial for immune function. During a cold, aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night and consider taking short naps during the day to support your body’s healing process.

Nutrition

A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins provides essential nutrients that support immune function. Consider incorporating immune-boosting foods like citrus fruits, leafy greens, and probiotic-rich yogurt into your diet during a cold.

Stress Management

Chronic stress can weaken your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off infections. Practice stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or gentle yoga to support your overall health and recovery.

Exercise

While it’s important to rest during a cold, light exercise like walking or stretching can help boost circulation and support immune function. Listen to your body and avoid intense workouts until you’ve fully recovered.

Hydration

Staying well-hydrated is crucial during a cold. Proper hydration helps thin mucus, making it easier to expel, and supports overall immune function. Aim for at least 8-10 glasses of water per day, and consider incorporating warm broths or herbal teas for added comfort and hydration.

By focusing on these lifestyle factors, you can create an environment that supports your body’s natural healing processes and potentially speed up your recovery from the common cold.

A Look at the Life Cycle of a Cold

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process.

Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:

• Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
• Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
• Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?

We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.

Read more about our vetting process.

Was this helpful?

The common cold typically has three stages, during which you may experience different symptoms. The cold can often spread to others as long as you have active symptoms.

You might think cold season is only active during the winter, but that’s not the case. According to the Mayo Clinic, though you have a higher chance of developing a cold in the fall and winter, you can get a cold anytime during the year.

The CDC reports that adults have an average of two to three colds each year, while children can have even more.

And while you might be familiar with the symptoms and effects of the common cold, there’s a chance you’re unaware of:

• how this upper respiratory virus progresses
• how to treat it
• when to call the doctor

While you can’t cure the common cold, there’s a lot to be said for prevention and self-care tips as your body works to rid itself of the virus.

If you’re concerned you might be at risk of catching a cold or you currently have one, we’ve got you covered. Below, we’ve compiled an overview of everything from stages and symptoms to recovery tips.

The tickle of an impending cold is all too familiar and can cause the desperate need to down glasses of orange juice and use lots of hand sanitizer.

Unfortunately, if your throat is already tingling or scratchy, it’s likely one of the 200 strains of the common cold virus — most commonly the rhinovirus — has already settled in for the next 7 to 10 days.

The most common symptoms to look out for during this stage are:

• tingling or scratchy throat
• body aches
• tiredness or fatigue

Dr. Doug Nunamaker, a family practice physician and chief medical officer forAtlas MD, explains that it’s in these first days of a cold that most people don’t do enough to care for their symptoms.

Though there are a number of over-the-counter (OTC) treatments and remedies that can ease the symptoms of a cold during this stage, Nunamaker also suggests reaching for one of the most common dishes for people with a cold or flu: chicken noodle soup.

“It’s easy on the stomach, soothes the throat, [and] provides fluid for hydration,” he explains. If you have a fever or are sweating, he adds, chicken soup can also help replenish some of the salt your body might lose.

In terms of contagion levels, Nunamaker says your cold is contagious if you present “active symptoms.” So, the tickle in your throat, runny nose, body aches, and even low-grade fever mean you’re at risk of spreading the bug to everyone around you.

Recovery tips

• Take decongestants and cough syrup but avoid mixing combination medications (e.g., don’t take ibuprofen separately if it’s also included in your cold medicine).
• Get plenty of sleep and rest.
• Stay hydrated.
• OTC Zinc supplements or lozenges have been shown to reduce the duration and severity of symptoms, when taken soon after the onset of symptoms. However, a side effect may be a bad taste or nausea.

Ways to avoid spreading the cold virus while you’re still contagious:

• Avoid public contact if at all possible by staying home from work and school.
• Avoid physical contact with other people, such as kissing or shaking hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water.
• Fully cover your cough and sneeze in your elbow or a tissue. Immediately dispose of the tissue and wash your hands.

Was this helpful?

This is when the virus is at its peak intensity. You might find during this time that everything hurts, and your face feels like a running faucet. You may even experience a fever, which can be alarming.

Because you have a virus, however, you have a compromised immune system. A fever, explains Nunamaker, is your body’s way of defending your immune system.

“[A fever is] nature’s antibiotic. Let it ride,” he explains.

Nunamaker adds that a fever isn’t a concern until it’s 102 to 103°F (39°C). In fact, up to 100.4°F (38°C), you’re considered to have an “elevated temperature,” not a fever.

Fevers with a cold can be easily confused with the flu. You should remember that the flu has radically different, and far more severe symptoms, which come on hard, fast, and usually include a headache.

The most common symptoms to look out for during this stage of a cold are:

• sore throat
• cough
• congestion or runny nose
• fatigue
• aches
• chills or low-grade fever

As was the case in stage 1, if your symptoms are still active, you’re still contagious. During this time, you should continue to be mindful about being around others and avoid physical interactions.

Recovery tips

• Avoid smoking, if you smoke, as it paralyzes the cilia in the lungs and takes longer to heal.
• Avoid asking your healthcare provider for an antibiotic. This is a viral infection and an antibiotic will not help. In fact, it could make things worse.
• Use a cough suppressant if you find it difficult to sleep.
• Take ibuprofen for body aches.
• Get your daily amount of vitamin C (1 to 2 grams per day) via fresh fruit or supplements.
• Gargle with salt water.
• Use a humidifier, or take a steam bath or shower.
• Use Chloraseptic or Cepacol lozenges. The benzocaine is a topical numbing agent and can help soothe sore throats.
• Continue to take zinc supplements or lozenges.

While your body fights the cold virus, it’s vital to stay hydrated throughout all three stages of your cold.

A cold typically wraps up around day 10. There are, of course, exceptions. If you’re still feeling the effects, your symptoms worsen, or your fever increases then it’s time to re-evaluate and think about a different course of treatment.

When should I call a doctor?

1. While it’s tempting to call the doctor when you’re feeling crummy for a couple of days, it’s best to avoid doing so until after your symptoms have persisted for longer than 10. Call a doctor if your symptoms worsen after this time.

Was this helpful?

Some people might also experience what’s known as the post-infectious cough, which is a nagging cough that can last an average of 18 days after your cold subsides. If, however, all your other symptoms have ended, you can consider yourself free and clear.

If the other “active” symptoms are still present, you’re still contagious and should continue to follow the tips to prevent spreading the virus.

The most common symptoms to look out for during this stage are the following:

• cough
• congestion
• runny nose
• fatigue

Recovery tips

• Continue to cover your cough with your sleeve at the elbow or with a tissue, and wash your hands.
• Continue taking an OTC ibuprofen, decongestant, cough suppressant, or antihistamine, as needed.

Here’s a list of cold remedies you can buy now:

• ibuprofen
• Chloraseptic or Cepacol lozenges
• OTC zinc supplements or lozenges
• decongestants
• cough syrup
• vitamin C
• antihistamine

You can also shop online for humidifiers and hand sanitizers.

Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider before adding any treatment options to your current healthcare regimen to avoid any potential negative interactions.

When it comes to a cold, you’ve got to accept that it’s happening and ride it out. The very best thing you can do is take actions to prevent a cold by:

• washing your hands frequently with soap and water
• avoiding any unnecessary physical contact where you could contract the virus
• staying hydrated and well-rested

Finally, be mindful of how your health affects other people, especially those with compromised immune systems, and stay home when you’re contagious.

Brandi Koskie is the founder of Banter Strategy, where she serves as a content strategist and health journalist for dynamic clients. She’s got a wanderlust spirit, believes in the power of kindness, and works and plays in the foothills of Denver with her family.

A Look at the Life Cycle of a Cold

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process.

Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:

• Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
• Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
• Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?

We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.

Read more about our vetting process.

Was this helpful?

The common cold typically has three stages, during which you may experience different symptoms. The cold can often spread to others as long as you have active symptoms.

You might think cold season is only active during the winter, but that’s not the case. According to the Mayo Clinic, though you have a higher chance of developing a cold in the fall and winter, you can get a cold anytime during the year.

The CDC reports that adults have an average of two to three colds each year, while children can have even more.

And while you might be familiar with the symptoms and effects of the common cold, there’s a chance you’re unaware of:

• how this upper respiratory virus progresses
• how to treat it
• when to call the doctor

While you can’t cure the common cold, there’s a lot to be said for prevention and self-care tips as your body works to rid itself of the virus.

If you’re concerned you might be at risk of catching a cold or you currently have one, we’ve got you covered. Below, we’ve compiled an overview of everything from stages and symptoms to recovery tips.

The tickle of an impending cold is all too familiar and can cause the desperate need to down glasses of orange juice and use lots of hand sanitizer.

Unfortunately, if your throat is already tingling or scratchy, it’s likely one of the 200 strains of the common cold virus — most commonly the rhinovirus — has already settled in for the next 7 to 10 days.

The most common symptoms to look out for during this stage are:

• tingling or scratchy throat
• body aches
• tiredness or fatigue

Dr. Doug Nunamaker, a family practice physician and chief medical officer forAtlas MD, explains that it’s in these first days of a cold that most people don’t do enough to care for their symptoms.

Though there are a number of over-the-counter (OTC) treatments and remedies that can ease the symptoms of a cold during this stage, Nunamaker also suggests reaching for one of the most common dishes for people with a cold or flu: chicken noodle soup.

“It’s easy on the stomach, soothes the throat, [and] provides fluid for hydration,” he explains. If you have a fever or are sweating, he adds, chicken soup can also help replenish some of the salt your body might lose.

In terms of contagion levels, Nunamaker says your cold is contagious if you present “active symptoms.” So, the tickle in your throat, runny nose, body aches, and even low-grade fever mean you’re at risk of spreading the bug to everyone around you.

Recovery tips

• Take decongestants and cough syrup but avoid mixing combination medications (e.g., don’t take ibuprofen separately if it’s also included in your cold medicine).
• Get plenty of sleep and rest.
• Stay hydrated.
• OTC Zinc supplements or lozenges have been shown to reduce the duration and severity of symptoms, when taken soon after the onset of symptoms. However, a side effect may be a bad taste or nausea.

Ways to avoid spreading the cold virus while you’re still contagious:

• Avoid public contact if at all possible by staying home from work and school.
• Avoid physical contact with other people, such as kissing or shaking hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water.
• Fully cover your cough and sneeze in your elbow or a tissue. Immediately dispose of the tissue and wash your hands.

Was this helpful?

This is when the virus is at its peak intensity. You might find during this time that everything hurts, and your face feels like a running faucet. You may even experience a fever, which can be alarming.

Because you have a virus, however, you have a compromised immune system. A fever, explains Nunamaker, is your body’s way of defending your immune system.

“[A fever is] nature’s antibiotic. Let it ride,” he explains.

Nunamaker adds that a fever isn’t a concern until it’s 102 to 103°F (39°C). In fact, up to 100.4°F (38°C), you’re considered to have an “elevated temperature,” not a fever.

Fevers with a cold can be easily confused with the flu. You should remember that the flu has radically different, and far more severe symptoms, which come on hard, fast, and usually include a headache.

The most common symptoms to look out for during this stage of a cold are:

• sore throat
• cough
• congestion or runny nose
• fatigue
• aches
• chills or low-grade fever

As was the case in stage 1, if your symptoms are still active, you’re still contagious. During this time, you should continue to be mindful about being around others and avoid physical interactions.

Recovery tips

• Avoid smoking, if you smoke, as it paralyzes the cilia in the lungs and takes longer to heal.
• Avoid asking your healthcare provider for an antibiotic. This is a viral infection and an antibiotic will not help. In fact, it could make things worse.
• Use a cough suppressant if you find it difficult to sleep.
• Take ibuprofen for body aches.
• Get your daily amount of vitamin C (1 to 2 grams per day) via fresh fruit or supplements.
• Gargle with salt water.
• Use a humidifier, or take a steam bath or shower.
• Use Chloraseptic or Cepacol lozenges. The benzocaine is a topical numbing agent and can help soothe sore throats.
• Continue to take zinc supplements or lozenges.

While your body fights the cold virus, it’s vital to stay hydrated throughout all three stages of your cold.

A cold typically wraps up around day 10. There are, of course, exceptions. If you’re still feeling the effects, your symptoms worsen, or your fever increases then it’s time to re-evaluate and think about a different course of treatment.

When should I call a doctor?

1. While it’s tempting to call the doctor when you’re feeling crummy for a couple of days, it’s best to avoid doing so until after your symptoms have persisted for longer than 10. Call a doctor if your symptoms worsen after this time.

Was this helpful?

Some people might also experience what’s known as the post-infectious cough, which is a nagging cough that can last an average of 18 days after your cold subsides. If, however, all your other symptoms have ended, you can consider yourself free and clear.

If the other “active” symptoms are still present, you’re still contagious and should continue to follow the tips to prevent spreading the virus.

The most common symptoms to look out for during this stage are the following:

• cough
• congestion
• runny nose
• fatigue

Recovery tips

• Continue to cover your cough with your sleeve at the elbow or with a tissue, and wash your hands.
• Continue taking an OTC ibuprofen, decongestant, cough suppressant, or antihistamine, as needed.

Here’s a list of cold remedies you can buy now:

• ibuprofen
• Chloraseptic or Cepacol lozenges
• OTC zinc supplements or lozenges
• decongestants
• cough syrup
• vitamin C
• antihistamine

You can also shop online for humidifiers and hand sanitizers.

Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider before adding any treatment options to your current healthcare regimen to avoid any potential negative interactions.

When it comes to a cold, you’ve got to accept that it’s happening and ride it out. The very best thing you can do is take actions to prevent a cold by:

• washing your hands frequently with soap and water
• avoiding any unnecessary physical contact where you could contract the virus
• staying hydrated and well-rested

Finally, be mindful of how your health affects other people, especially those with compromised immune systems, and stay home when you’re contagious.

Brandi Koskie is the founder of Banter Strategy, where she serves as a content strategist and health journalist for dynamic clients. She’s got a wanderlust spirit, believes in the power of kindness, and works and plays in the foothills of Denver with her family.

History: Science and technology: Lenta.ru

Almost every person has had the flu, and many more than once. Headache, muscle aches, fever… bed rest. If treated, the disease will pass in a week, if not, in seven days. The saying perfectly illustrates our attitude to the flu as something almost ordinary, not serious and not dangerous. Meanwhile, more people have died from the flu and its complications in the history of mankind than from any other infection. The Spanish flu pandemic that broke out at the end of World War I claimed more lives than the war itself, and by some estimates even more than both world wars combined. Lenta.ru talks about the flu, a disease that adapts perfectly to any changes in civilization and for which there is no cure.

Dinosaurs and influenza

Influenza is one of the most ancient and widespread diseases. To date, more than two thousand different variants of the influenza virus are known. Apparently, the virus that causes an acute respiratory illness, which is commonly called the flu, appeared on earth long before Homo sapiens.

A wide variety of animals suffer from the flu, and are seriously ill. Many people have heard about wild bats, dolphins, birds and domestic pigs, but not everyone knows about epidemics among horses. Meanwhile, in England, during the influenza epidemic of 1732, an epidemic among horses was observed and described, accompanied by catarrh of the respiratory tract with a large amount of discharge – two or three buckets of purulent excrement stood out from the horse per day. In America, during the influenza epidemic of 1871-1872, up to 90 percent of horses, and during the flu pandemic of 1889-1890 in England, due to the massive disease of horses, all horse-drawn transport stopped.

Characteristically, an epidemic among horses begins simultaneously with an epidemic of influenza among humans, but not vice versa. Horse flu has not yet been contagious for humans, and therefore cavalrymen at all times have had the flu no more often than infantrymen.

However, it is animals that are the reservoir of influenza viruses, which, under certain circumstances, mutate and become virulent for humans. Latest COVID-19 pandemicwas no exception. Based on this, we can make a bold assumption that the dinosaurs could well have died out from the flu.

False bacillus

Despite the fact that people and animals have always had the flu, as a separate disease with its specific etiology and pathogenesis, influenza began to be distinguished quite recently. This is what modern sources tell about medieval influenza epidemics, and then pandemics that occurred every 30 years were not connected with each other, hence the various names of the same disease. Even the famous pandemic 19The years 18-1920 were called the Spanish flu for a long time, and not the Spanish flu, as it is now customary to write on the Internet.

Related materials:

There is a logical explanation for this delusion. The causative agent of influenza was isolated only by the mid-1930s – before that, technical possibilities did not allow detecting a tiny virus. Moreover, for a long time it was believed that the causative agent of influenza is the Pfeifer bacillus, discovered by a German bacteriologist in 1892. In Soviet literature, it is called the Afanasiev-Pfeifer wand, insisting that the Russian scientist Mikhail Ivanovich Afanasiev discovered it before his German counterpart.

So, after 1892, the scientific world was sure that the aforementioned bacillus was the influenza pathogen, but in 1918 it began to be found (or not found) in both sick and healthy people. And if so, it means that she is not the culprit of the pandemic, but the Spaniard is some new disease, even despite the clinic very similar to the flu.

Much later it was proved that the Afanasiev-Pfeiffer bacillus was never the causative agent of influenza, but participated, along with many other microbes, in the occurrence of influenza complications.

Disease of electricity and soaked apples

It is believed that the first description of influenza infection was given by the father of medicine Hippocrates in 412 BC, calling the new disease “perinthian cough”. The description, in addition to cough, included an acute onset of the disease, accompanied by headache, muscle aches, profuse sweat and high fever.

Later, Titus Livius and Diodorus left records of the disease with similar symptoms. In the 6th-10th centuries of our era, a description of a very similar disease appears more than once in the annals under the name “Italian fever”, in 1173 – “peasant fever”, and in 1387, without any doubt, it was the epidemic flu that savagely dealt with the inhabitants of Montpellier where it got sick 9/10 population and all the old people died.

A good description can be found in the memoirs of Étienne Pasquier (1403), who observed “fever, inappetence, cough, bloody nose and throat, quick recovery”. At this time, the whole of Europe was covered by the epidemic, more than 100 thousand people fell ill in Paris.

In 1580, the spread of the disease was first described: it began in Asia, then through Constantinople penetrated into Europe and from there to the New World, moving from east to west and from north to south. More than 8 thousand people died in Rome, 9 in Paristhousand, Madrid was depopulated.

The “comatose fever” pandemic was described by Sydenham in 1675:

“The comatose fever began in July, affecting the head and entrails. This continued in the autumn, but towards the end of October the weather changed and became damp and cold, bringing on coughs and catarrhs ​​which were more numerous than ever, affecting the lungs and pleura. At the end of November, the cough and catarrh suddenly ceased, but the fever remained as before. All patients first of all had a headache, back, limbs “

This description is strikingly reminiscent of the two-wave Spanish flu epidemic of 1918-1919.

Despite the rapid spread, the infectious nature of the disease remained unobvious for a very long time.

The seasonality of the incidence was attributed to bad weather, colds, the influence of stars, the electric field of the earth, and even … to pickled apples that were eaten in autumn and winter

influence”), that is, a disease caused by some external influence (stars, weather, pickled apples). Around the same time, the disease began to be called the flu (from the French gripper – “cover”).

The biggest pandemic of the 18th century swept the world in 1781-1782. Starting in China, it spread through Tobolsk and Astrakhan to the Volga region, and from there to Moscow, St. Petersburg and further to the west. In Russia, the disease was called “Chinese”, and in Europe – “Russian”. The historian reports that on one of the January days in St. Petersburg there was a frost of minus 35 degrees, and the next day there was a thaw, and the temperature rose to plus 5. A day later, more than 40 thousand people fell ill in the city out of 192,846 according to the last population census.

As you can see, there is nothing particularly unique about the 2020 pandemic or the current weather changes. It has happened before, and it has happened more than once. We just need to delve a little into history.

You have to pay for everything

The 19th century brought several severe pandemics, the most deadly of which occurred in 1889-1890.

The first cases of the disease were noted in Bukhara, from where the flu began to spread throughout Russia. In October, the first patients appeared in St. Petersburg, where 150,000 people fell ill in exceptionally mild weather. In November, an epidemic began in Moscow. In December – in Paris, Lisbon, then in New York. February 1890 year the disease spread to India, China, Japan and Australia.

In Paris alone, about 40 thousand people died. Postal workers (75 percent), railway workers and employees of large stores gave the highest percentage of diseases. At the same time, children, the elderly and those weakened by chronic diseases died more often than others.

The paradox was that it was the rapid development of civilization, scientific progress, the development of industry and transport that had the most direct impact on the spread of influenza.

Two interesting facts. In 1780, the infection took a month to get from Kazan to Moscow, and it came to Madrid only nine months later. With the same direction from east to west in 1889, the infection spent only two months on the same path. 30 years later, in 1918, with the direction of the spread of the disease from west to east, all European countries were covered by a pandemic in two months, and the flu spread around the world in just six months.

Related materials:

And the second. Outbreaks of the disease were now so widespread that they resembled an explosion. So, in 1889 in Paris at the beginning of the epidemic, more than 50 thousand people fell ill in one day. There is a simple explanation for this.

Let’s imagine that in the city, until then absolutely sterile, only one patient appeared. With an incubation period of six hours to two days, after 24 hours there will already be five patients who have become infected as a result of contact with a source of infection. If the disease continues to spread at the same rate, which cannot be taken as an exaggeration, then every day the number of patients will increase in the form of a progression – 1, 5, 25, 125, 625, 3125 … In a huge metropolis, such numbers are unlikely to be turned attention (in 18892.5 million people lived in Paris in the next two days), but in the next two days the number of new cases will be determined by the numbers 15,625 and 78,125 – doctors and residents of the city will already pay attention to this. However, this fact will be perceived as a completely unexpected phenomenon.

Due to the great crowding of people in factories, factories and places of mass events, the disease now covered much larger masses of the population and spread from country to country with the speed of rail transport.

Millions died

All of this came to full effect during the next influenza pandemic in 1918-1920. The Spanish flu has become the deadliest epidemic in human history. In terms of the number of victims, it surpassed both the medieval Black Death and the two world wars.

How many people died from influenza during the 1918-1920 epidemic is almost impossible to establish. In scientific articles and monographs published in the next 20 years after the pandemic, the figure is usually 20 million, or about 1.2 percent of all the inhabitants of the Earth. However, later works already speak of 40-50 million (2.5 percent), and now there is a figure of 100 million dead on the Internet.

Moreover, 17-50 million (!) dead in India and more than a million in Russia roam from note to note in the media. The last figures cause great mistrust. In 1918-1919, there was a civil war in Russia, famine raged, epidemics of typhoid, dysentery, cholera, and tuberculosis raged. There were enough reasons to die without the flu. The medical, epidemiological and sanitary services of tsarist Russia were destroyed, and new ones were only being created. There was practically no communication between the individual parts of the country; it took months to get from Petrograd to Odessa. There was no account of morbidity, lethality and mortality and could not be.

At the same time, according to eyewitnesses, in Odessa…

All day long, a continuous flow of funeral processions along the two-kilometer road that separated the city from the cemetery did not stop. The bodies were transported by all modes of transport, up to handcarts

Mortality figures vary considerably in different countries. For example, in Germany it was 293 people per 100 thousand of the population, in England – 336, in Spain – 710, and in Italy – 777. influenza and comorbidities.

While the data on deaths from the Spanish flu in different countries differ significantly, in relation to the age of the dead they more often coincide. At the same time, a particularly high mortality rate at the age of 20-40 years attracts attention. This is usually explained by the influence of the war – the massive concentration of men of these ages in the army.

However, even in neutral Switzerland, the mortality rate in the age group of 20-30 years was almost eight times higher than among 5-15 year olds (respectively 1125 and 140 deaths per 100 thousand of the population), and in the group of 30-40 years, 7. 3 times higher (1034/140). That is, children and the elderly from the Spanish flu died much less frequently than people in their prime.

Non-Spanish flu

Despite the name, the Spanish influenza did not start and spread around the world from Spain at all. The first signs of the epidemic came at the height of the First World War. Of course, its main participants – Germany, Austria, France, Great Britain, Russia – sought to hide the extent of the spread of the disease so as not to sow panic among their own and not inspire hope in enemies. Spain, in the First World War, maintained neutrality and therefore did not feel the need to hush up the problem. As a result, it was neutral Spain that was the first European country to publicly declare a pandemic of the disease.

In May 1918, eight million people, or 39 percent of the population, were already infected in Spain, including King Alfonso XIII. Headlines about the numerous victims of the deadly disease did not leave the pages of local newspapers. The government introduced a special regime: all schools were closed, any public gatherings were banned, entry into public transport without a gauze bandage was not allowed.

But in Spain, as in most countries of the world, they did not yet know that hundreds of British, French, German and American soldiers with symptoms of exactly the same disease were already in front-line hospitals.

Today it is considered proven that the disease began at the US military base in Kansas. Even the exact date of the beginning of the pandemic and the name of the “zero” patient are known. However, in pre-war literature, China was often referred to as the primary source of infection. In addition, there are indications of local epidemics of the disease with a similar clinic that occurred in different European countries in 1917.

However, for doctors of that time, such relationships were still incomprehensible. They believed that Pyrexia unknown origin (a fever of unknown origin discovered on the English front in the early 1918), “purple death”, “flu”, “mosquito fever” are different diseases, and they are caused by pathogenic bacteria, but not by the influenza virus.

American Patient

According to the generally accepted version, the “null” patient, who became the source of the infection that went around the globe three times, was an ordinary American cook from the Funston military training camp, located in Kansas, a white Anglo-Saxon Protestant Albert Gitchell (Albert Gitchell ).

On the morning of 11 March 19At the age of 18, he felt a sore throat, aching muscles, weakness and headache. In the first-aid post, they measured the temperature – 40! The patient was sent to isolation. By noon, there were already 107 patients in the hospital suffering from sore throats, chills and coughs. Probably they were all infected by Gitchell, who sneezed into the dinner prepared the day before.

The cook himself, according to the canonical version, became infected while butchering a pig whose meat contained a strain of the h2N1 virus that became the causative agent of the Spanish flu. By the way, Gitchell soon recovered.

In March 1918, there were 30,000 troops at Funston camp. In five hundred of them, the disease was severe, several people died. However, at the beginning of the 20th century, this was quite common. All recovering and even slightly coughing soldiers were sent to other military units, and then to Europe to the fronts of the First World War.

Collective unconscious on the verge of living nature

And now the most interesting. The World War and the flu not only influenced each other, but were most closely related. Without a pandemic, the war could have continued for some time. The disease finally exhausted the forces of the belligerents on the fronts and especially in the rear: hundreds of thousands of sick people, tens of thousands of dead, deserted cities, stopped plants and factories . ..

The pandemic seriously affected the course of the war, but the war affected the development of the pandemic to an even greater extent. The war, without exaggeration, has become the most important factor in the pathogenesis of the disease, changing its course.

The movement of huge masses of people between cities and countries, crowding and overcrowding in barracks, dugouts and dugouts, physical and mental exhaustion, hunger, hypothermia and stress, lack of timely medical care – all this contributed to the rapid development of the disease.

Soldiers mobilized from different parts of the world fought on the fronts of the First World War: Americans, Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders, Indians…

Only in the French troops there were more than 800 thousand people from Africa. When the hostilities ended, they began to go home, carrying trophies, awards and influenza with them

But this is only part of the problem. The Spanish flu went down in history not only with a huge number of cases, but also with an exceptionally high mortality rate. In the trenches and barracks of World War II, the virus quickly mutated, so that the disease acquired a particularly malignant form.

For a virus, an infected person is the “host”. In human cells, it goes through its life cycle, gains strength, multiplies. Under normal conditions, the influenza virus spreads slowly and tries not to injure the carrier too much so that he can safely go to work and visit, study, live a normal life, gradually infecting others. In order not to disappear, the virus must move on, repeating the whole cycle over and over again. He is not interested in the death of the “owner” – in this case, his own path will also be interrupted. But if the possibility of moving to another “host” is practically unlimited, then in order to get the maximum number of new “hosts” and capture new territories, the virus must multiply with maximum intensity, and in this case, the life or death of an infected person does not matter to him. special significance. A person turns into a reservoir, and then into a waste material.

In other words, in 1918, what a virus needed to survive was not a stubborn defense against the body’s defenses, but a maximum reproduction rate and infectivity. This is exactly how the Spaniard acted, demonstrating the ideal collective unconscious on the verge of animate and inanimate nature.

The faces of the victims of the Spanish flu resembled the faces of the hanged

The clinic of severe cases of the Spanish flu developed at lightning speed and was terrifying: in the morning the person felt healthy, and by the evening he was already choking on his own blood. Only two days passed from infection to death.

The pathologists who performed the autopsies reported that the disease affected almost all organs, which became inflamed and stopped working. The heaviest blow fell on the lungs. The decaying lungs could not saturate the blood with oxygen, which is why the faces of the victims of the Spanish flu resembled those of the hanged.

Related materials:

The most likely cause of the high mortality was that the Spanish flu strain caused a powerful autoimmune reaction in the patient’s body (today it is commonly called a cytokine storm), which led to the rapid destruction of inflamed lung tissues and filling them with fluid. This explains both the lightning-fast course of the disease and the extremely high mortality among young people with strong immunity.

From February 1918 to the spring of 1920 there were three waves of Spanish flu. Russia suffered the most from the second wave. The first one almost did not reach us, and the third was already significantly weakened.

Lucy in permafrost with diamonds

Another interesting fact. In 1951, American bacteriologist Johan Hultin attempted to extract the Spanish influenza virus from a permafrost burial near Brevig Mission, Alaska, where 72 out of 80 residents died during the 1918 pandemic. He did not manage to find whole viruses then.

In 1997, 73-year-old Haltin returned to Alaska and tried again. This time, he discovered the body of a very obese woman, whom he named Lucy, after the Beatles’ Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds. Due to the dense fatty tissue, the lungs of women were well preserved, and enough material was isolated from them to establish the structure of the Spanish flu virus. As it turned out, the virus that caused the 1918-1920 pandemic was a mutated bird flu virus.

From Spanish flu to coronavirus

The Spanish Flu became the largest pandemic in human history. After that, major influenza epidemics occurred in 1924-1926, 1933-1935, 1943, 1949, 1976. The epidemics of 1957 (Asian flu), 1968/69 (Hong Kong flu), 1995-1996 and 2009 were recognized as pandemics. According to some reports, the Asian and Hong Kong flu claimed a million lives worldwide. How many people will get sick and how many will die as a result of the current Covid-19 epidemic is still unknown.

Laboratory diagnosis of SARS. Dialine 9 clinic news0001

02/06/2020

Upper respiratory tract infections are characterized by polyetiology and similarity of clinical manifestations with a wide range of severity.

Infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract are classified as follows :
• Infections caused by viruses (influenza, ARVI, herpesviruses – cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus), chlamydia, mycoplasmas, bacteria
• Associated infections (viral-bacterial, viral-mycoplasmal, etc. )

A significant place belongs to respiratory diseases of viral and mycoplasmal etiology, which is due to the ubiquitous spread of their pathogens Dialine Laboratory performs research:
• MP70 ARVI Comprehensive determination of pathogens of acute respiratory viral infections in humans (scraping)
SARS in most cases occur without serious complications, but they can contribute to the formation of:
• Otorhinolaryngological diseases (sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis media)
• Allergic pathologies of the upper respiratory tract (rhinitis, rhinoconjunctivitis, rhinosinusitis, etc.) • Chronic bronchopulmonary diseases (bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, etc.)

It is impossible to detect viruses using bacteriological studies, since viruses do not grow on artificial nutrient media.

Viruses exhibit the properties of living organisms only inside the cell (viruses reproduce only intracellularly).

The life cycle of viruses is a series of successive stages of their interaction with the target cell. PCR is the most sensitive and specific method for diagnosing ARVI
• The causative agents of SARS are: bocaviruses, adenoviruses, Parainfluenza viruses 1, 2, 3, 4 types, coronaviruses, metapneumoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinoviruses
• Due to the similar clinical picture of acute respiratory viral infections, reliable detection of the pathogen is possible only by laboratory methods
• At the same time, traditional diagnostic methods (immunological, serological, microbiological) have significant drawbacks (insufficient sensitivity, poor reproducibility and long-term availability of results)
• PCR has high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of ARVI pathogens

Biomaterial for PCR diagnostics of ARVI:
• Scraping from the mucous membrane of the nose, pharynx, oral cavity, pharynx, nasopharynx, oropharynx

Rules for preparing for taking biomaterial:
• 3 hours before taking a scraping, it is recommended not to eat, drink, rinse your mouth, do not chew chewing gum no smoking
• 24 hours before taking a scraping from the nasal mucosa, it is recommended not to drip into the nose and not rinse the nose
• It is recommended to take biomaterial before starting the use of antiviral drugs
• In order to control the effectiveness of therapy, it is recommended to take samples for PCR-studies no earlier than 10-14 days after the end of the course of antiviral drugs

Format of providing the result:
» (qualitative test)
Interpretation of results:
Reason for “detected” result: • Detection of nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) of the virus in biomaterial
Possible reasons for the “not found” result:
• A small amount of DNA / RNA (below the analytical sensitivity of the test system), or the absence of the nucleic acid of the virus in the biomaterial
• Antiviral therapy
• Sample contamination (getting into the sample of substances – PCR inhibitors) – leads to false negative results

Interpretation of the results of PCR studies is carried out by an otorhinolaryngologist, therapist, pediatrician, infectious disease specialist, pulmonologist in conjunction with the data of additional laboratory and instrumental studies, the clinical picture and anamnestic data of the patient.