Beneficial Botanicals

Phytoceuticals and Herbal Products

  • STORE
    • Shopping Cart
    • My Account
  • TINCTURES / EXTRACTS
    • Beneficial Botanicals Gold Label
    • Mushroom Extracts
    • Herbals for Lyme Disease
    • Potent Antiviral Herbal Tinctures
    • Products on Sale
    • Herbs for Men
  • BOOKS
    • Books on Sale
    • Do-It-Yourself
    • Lyme Disease
  • WILD BY NATURE
  • DRIED BOTANICALS
  • CAPSULE MAKING SUPPLIES
  • INFUSED OILS
  • OUR BLOG

Strep, Cold, or Flu?

So how do you know if you have Strep Throat, a Cold, or the Flu?  Knowing which it is may save you a trip to urgent care.  Here is a simple summary to help.

STREP THROAT
Streptococcus pyogenes : a bacteria, not a virus.
• No cough (key)
• Sudden sore throat
• Red swollen tonsils with white spots–not pus
• Pain when swallowing
• Fever
• Swollen neck glands
• Loss of appetite
• Headache
• Abdominal pain

 

COLD VIRUS
about 50% are rhinovirus
2 day incubation time 36~72 hrs
3-10 days duration
• Sneezing & Coughing (key)
• Slow onset
• Sore Throat
• Pus or exudate in back of throat
• Runny nose
• Red, itchy or watery eyes
• Usually no fever if caused by rhinovirus or corinavirus
FLU VIRUS (INFLUENZA)
2 day incubation time 36~72 hrs
5 days to 2 weeks duration
• Sudden onset “hits you like a ton of bricks” (key)
• Muscle / body aches
• Fever causing chills & sweats
• Fatigue
• Nasal congestion that follows a sore throat
• Congestion / stuffed up
• Headache
• Swollen glands

 



A FEW NOTES ABOUT VIRUSES
• Unlike bacteria, viruses cannot multiply or thrive on surfaces because they need living cells of a host, but may survive on a surface for about 3 hours.

• Cold viruses, i.e. rhinovirus, thrive in lower humidity.  If your house is too dry or the humidity outside is low, the lining of your nose is likely to be drier.
• Cold viruses live only in the nose of humans, not animals (except primates).
• Cold viruses reproduce every 8 hours.
• Cold virus can still be contagious 3 days after symptoms disappear.


sources for this article:

WebMD & Wikipedia
Understanding Colds http://www.commoncold.org/understand.htm
Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials
New York Times Health “The Claim: A Cold is Contagious Only Before Symptoms Emerge” By Anahad O’Connor March 15, 2005

Filed Under: Beneficial Botanicals Blog Tagged With: Beneficial Botanicals, Cold, Flu, Influenza, Strep Throat, Symptoms, Viruses

Reference Materials

  • Full Spectrum vs. Standardized
  • Drug Interactions
  • Equivalents Reference
  • Medical Definitions
  • Clinical Studies
  • Viruses & Influenza
  • The Role of Japanese Knotweed Root in Treating Bartonella Coinfection of Lyme Disease
  • Lyme Disease FAQ
  • Renowned Herbalists & Their Protocols for Lyme Disease

Recent Blog Posts

  • Cholesterol: The Good, The Bad, and The Winning Trifecta
  • When is the best time to take herbal medicine?
  • What’s the difference between an adaptogen, tonic, and alterative?
  • What should I stock in my medicine cabinet?
  • Into the Weeds: Tickborne Diseases in the U.S.
  • Strep, Cold, or Flu?
  • A Likable Lichen
  • Reusing Tincture Bottles: Sterilizing vs. Sanitizing
Beneficial Botanicals Tincture Group
paypal logo no account needed
Beneficial Botanicals Facebook
Home | Contact Us | About Us | Ordering Information | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Product FAQ | Help


Information and statements about the products on this site have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or for prescribing any medication. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.

Copyright © 2005-2020 Beneficial Botanicals • All Rights Reserved.