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News and Features Related to Cold & Flu

Zinc May Slightly Help Adults With Colds, Not Kids

May 7, 2012 -- Adults who take zinc supplements at the first sign of a cold may shave almost two days off of their sniffling, sneezing, and coughing, a new review study suggests. That said, the supplements didn't lessen the severity of these symptoms in adults, and had no effects on children, who ca
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Flu Risk Higher for Workers in Certain Industries

March 22, 2012 -- Although having a job offers some protection against the flu, a new report from the CDC shows that workers in some industries appear more flu-prone than workers in other industries. “[T]his information is needed for recognizing and responding to increased risks for infection among
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It's Flu Season, CDC Says

Feb. 24, 2012 -- Flu season is officially under way, the CDC says. It's the latest start in 24 years, Joseph Bresee, MD, chief of epidemiology and prevention at the CDC's flu branch, said at a news teleconference. The CDC declares a flu season when for three weeks in a row at least 10% of people see
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Cough Medicine: Should You or Shouldn’t You?

Coughs send more people to the doctor's office than any other specific symptom, according to experts. And Americans spend billions of dollars every year on over-the-counter medications to fight coughs, such as cough suppressants and expectorants. Clearly we're concerned about our coughs. Clearly w
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Where's the Flu? Get Ready

Dec. 29, 2011 -- Where is this flu season we keep hearing about? Brace yourself. Although it's seemed pretty quiet so far, flu season may already have arrived. Although official CDC data show little flu activity throughout the U.S., it takes about two weeks to compile that data. More timely data fro
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Germs in the School Room

The average American child has six to 10 colds a year. In fact, children's colds cause more doctor visits and missed school days than any other illness. And every parent knows how easily colds passed to other family members once one child gets sick. What can a parent do? Stopping cold germs where th
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Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Tied to Flu Survival

Dec. 14, 2011 -- Each year, thousands of Americans die from the flu. Now, a new study suggests that certain drugs that lower cholesterol may also reduce the flu’s severity and may prevent flu deaths. But don’t trade a prescription for statin pills for a flu shot or other protections just yet. Resear
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Flu Season Mild So Far, Says CDC

Dec. 8, 2011 -- The U.S. flu season is mild so far, according to the CDC. That is typical for this early in the season. Influenza activity was low in October and November, according to the latest CDC statistics. They are published in the Dec. 9 issue of the agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Re
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More People Getting Flu Shots This Year

Dec. 5, 2011 (Atlanta) -- New CDC numbers show that 36% of adults have already gotten flu shots as of early November -- months before the illness normally sweeps the nation. That means roughly 111 million adults have received flu shots or the spray flu vaccine so far, the CDC’s Anne Schuchat, MD, d
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What's Your Cold and Flu IQ?

Chances are your child will develop between eight and 12 colds every year during childhood, says Harley A. Rotbart, MD, pediatric infectious disease specialist at Children's Hospital Colorado and author of Germ Proof Your Kids: The Complete Guide to Protecting (Without Overprotecting) Your Family Fr
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