Understanding Colds and Flu

Bookmark and Share
Colds and Flu have been humanity's miserable enigma at least since written history began. In English-speaking countries we have come to call them the common cold and the flu.

Ancient civilizations knew colds as katarrhein. from the Greek meaning "to flo down". In English catarrh refers to an inflammation of the mucous membrane in the nose and throat. But in the last century, "cold" was the moniker anointed in Great Britain because aquiring mucus-filled congestion ~ or "catching cold" ~ was blamed on England's cold. damp weather.

We adapted the term influenza, or the flu, from fourteenth-century Italy, when an unusual conjuction of planets was thought to "influenze" a rash of colds, fever, and coughs in earthbound humans. Several hundred years later, during the european epidemic of 1743, Latin writers penned influenza into the history books.

It wasn't until 1954 that researchers identified the actual viruses that cause colds and flu. We're still finding out about specific strains of these viruses. We know that colds and flu come from viruses. We also know neither has a cure. if you're determined to combat them - or st least to reduce their meserable effect on you when they do strike - you'll need to have the answers to the following questions.

{ 0 comments... Views All / Send Comment! }

Post a Comment

 
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...