What is a cold and what is
the flu?
A cold and the flu are viral infections. They both affect your respiratory system. This includes your throat, nose, airway and lungs. It is difficult to tell the two apart. The flu is generally worse than a cold. It is common to get a cold more than once a year. Most people get the flu only a few times every 10 years.
Symptoms of a cold or the flu
A cold and the flu have similar symptoms. However, they are two different conditions.
Cold symptoms include:
Fever up to 102°F
Runny or stuffy nose
Green or yellow nasal discharge
Sore throat
Cough
Sneezing
Feeling tired
Muscle aches
Headache
Watery eyes
Symptoms develop slowly
Symptoms are mild
Flu symptoms include:
Fever over 102°F
Stuffy nose
Nausea
Chills and sweats
Feeling tired
Muscle aches, especially in back, legs, and arms
Cough
Headache
Poor appetite
Symptoms appear suddenly
Symptoms are more intense
One particular type of flu is considered serious. It is called H1N1 flu. Some people call it swine flu. It is a respiratory infection. It is caused by a virus found in pigs. It can infect humans. Its symptoms are similar to other flu symptoms.
For a common cold or the flu, you don’t need to see your doctor. However, if your symptoms become serious, call or see your doctor. Serious symptoms for children include:
High fever (above 103°F)
Fever that lasts for more than 3 days
Trouble breathing, fast breathing, or wheezing
Bluish skin color
Earache or ear drainage
Difficulty waking up
Irritability
Seizures
Symptoms that improve and then return with a fever or worse cough
Worsening of chronic medical conditions (such as diabetes or heart disease)
Vomiting or stomach pain
Serious symptoms in adults include:
A high, prolonged fever (above 102°F) with fatigue and body aches
Symptoms that last longer than 10 days or get worse
Trouble breathing or shortness
of breath
Chest pain or pressure
Fainting or feeling like you are
going to faint
Confusion or disorientation
Severe or persistent vomiting
Severe sinus pain in your face or
forehead
Swollen gland in the neck or jaw
Cold and flu symptoms can last between 2 and 14 days.
What causes a cold or the flu?
Viruses cause colds and the flu. More than 200 different viruses can cause colds. Not as many viruses cause the flu. That’s why there’s a vaccine available for the flu and not for colds.
How is a cold or the flu
diagnosed?
There is no test to diagnose a cold. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and suggest treating the symptoms. If your doctor suspects you have the flu, he or she may test you. The test involves swabbing the inside of your nose or back of your throat. Results are available fairly quickly.
Can a cold or flu be prevented
or avoided?
There are things you can do to reduce your risks for colds and flu. They include:
Wash your hands frequently. Use soap. This stops the spread of germs.
Eat healthy, exercise, and get enough sleep. These things boost your immune system.
Cough and sneeze into the inside of your elbow (not your hands).
Clean common surfaces, such as tables, counters, toys, door handles and bathrooms. Use anti-bacterial disinfectants.
Get a flu vaccine (shot or nasal spray). It is available through flu season. The best time is October and November. The flu shot is safe for adults and all children 6 months of age and older. It is strongly recommended that all children 6 months of age to 59 months of age get a yearly flu shot. The nasal-spray vaccine contains live but weakened viruses. It is safe for adults and all children 2 years of age and older who do not have asthma or breathing problems. Talk to your doctor before getting the nasal spray vaccine. You cannot get the flu from the flu shot or the nasal-spray vaccine. Some people who get the vaccine will still get the flu. They usually get a milder case than people who aren’t vaccinated. The vaccine is recommended for people who are more likely to get really sick from flu-related complications.
Colds and the flu treatment
There’s no cure for the common cold or the flu. Antibiotics do not work against the viruses that cause colds and the flu. The illness has to run its course. You can do some things to ease your symptoms. For a low fever, mild aches, and pains, take products such as acetaminophen . Drink plenty of fluids. Get as much sleep as you can. Stay home to avoid spreading germs to others.
Your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medicine for the flu. This only shortens the length of time you are sick. These medicines come as pills, syrup or in an inhaler. The inhaled type may cause problems for some people who have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Some antiviral medicines can cause nausea and vomiting.
When easing a child’s symptoms, acetaminophen can help ease pain and lower a fever. Be sure you are giving your child the correct dose according to his or her age and weight.
Nasal sprays and decongestants are not recommended for young children. They may cause side effects. Cough and cold medicines are not recommended for children. This is especially true for those younger than 2. There is little evidence that cough and cold medicines and nasal decongestants are effective in treating children.
To treat your child’s cold or the flu, make sure that your child rests. Give him or her plenty of fluids. Use a humidifier to moisten the air in your child’s bedroom. This will help with nasal congestion. Use a saline nasal spray to thin nasal mucus. Use a bulb syringe to suction mucus out of your baby or child’s nose.
Living with a cold or the flu
Cold and flu symptoms are uncomfortable. You will not feel well for the time it takes your cold and flu to run its course. Ease your symptoms with rest, fluids, and blowing your nose.
The Writer is Microbiologist Certified infection control Auditor
Kidney Hospital Srinagar [email protected]
In recent months, the stories of many Ph. D. scholars from various regions of our valley selling dry fruits, juices and other commodities on carts have surfaced and made waves in various circles, especially in the media and on social platforms. These cases have been portrayed as tales of resilience and hard work, framing the young scholars’ choices as an inspiration. However, beneath the veil of this heroism lies a sobering reality: a stark failure of the government to harness and utilize human resources effectively as these scholars have not opted for such menial services by their choices but due to certain compulsions. Instead of becoming a parable of individual determination, this situation raises critical questions about systemic inefficiencies, economic mismanagement, and the lack of opportunities for educated youth especially people with research background and expertise in teaching at higher level for many years.
When Ph.D. scholars, individuals who have spent years mastering a specialized field of knowledge, are seen selling dry fruits and other commodities on carts for their survival, the initial public reaction often oscillates between surprise and misplaced admiration. Many laud the perseverance and grit of such scholars, labelling them as inspirational for not giving up despite the odds. However, the true narrative is far more disconcerting. The stories of academic scholars forced into menial works are not inspirational but rather a glaring failure of the system that has wasted valuable human resources and failed to provide opportunities to its most educated citizens.
Pursuing a doctorate degree is no small feat. It demands rigorous academic commitment, years of research, and an unrelenting dedication to the pursuit of knowledge. The scholar often works in a highly specialized field, producing original research that adds to the collective understanding of a discipline. In many cases, Ph.D. scholars make significant sacrifices—financial and personal—delaying family life, accumulating student debt, and enduring the uncertainty of academic research.
Given this backdrop, the expectation is that these scholars, once equipped with their hard earned expertise, will contribute significantly to the society. They could become researchers expanding the boundaries of innovation, policy analysts, government decision makers, professors educating future generations, or skilled experts working in diverse sectors like healthcare, technology, or social sciences. The investment a nation makes in these scholars—often in the form of subsidized education or research grants—should ideally yield economic and social returns. However, when Ph.D. holders are found selling dry fruits, juices and other commodities on carts, it exposes a grim reality: the system has failed to integrate them meaningfully into the workforce.
This situation underscores several critical issues. It shows that unemployment crisis has been a persistent and chronic problem in Jammu and Kashmir from a long time and its rate is rising with every passing day. According to various reports, the unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir has consistently remained among the highest in India. The latest Periodic Labour Force Survey has revealed that J&K has a 32 percent unemployment rate among youth and a heart-stopping 53.6 percent joblessness among females – both unemployment rates are the highest in India. It is estimated that 25 lakh youngsters are seeking jobs in the UT. The promises of economic development and job creation has not materialized for many. Instead, the reality is different, with thousands of well educated individuals either underemployed or entirely unemployed. The most troubling aspect of this story is the paradox of education without opportunity. The number of Ph.D. scholars being churned out far exceeds the available positions in academia and other government departments. This scenario raises a question mark on the system which fails to provide employment opportunities to highly educated individuals. Education, especially at the doctoral level, is intended to foster skills that can advance society, whether through research, development, or teaching. When those skills are not utilized or supported, society as a whole suffers. Regions that waste their human resources in this manner also risk brain drain. The case of these Ph.D. scholars is a stark reminder of a system that is misaligned and inadequate for meeting the needs of its most capable individuals and the basic reason for this crisis is the lack of strategic investment in employment generating sectors. There has been little effort to create industries that can absorb the educated workforce of our UT. Though the local and central government has, on multiple occasions, promised a new era of development for Jammu and Kashmir. But unfortunately these promises are yet to be fulfilled and the ground reality remains bleak. Job schemes and employment initiatives have either been too few or poorly implemented, though there are thousands of posts lying vacant in the various departments of the UT. We are yet to see any mega recruitment drive by the local government though it was promised to common masses before the assembly elections of 2024 that they will be provided with many job opportunities after the formation of government. This situation is also a broader reflection that Kashmir is aggravated by decades of conflict, which has made development and employment opportunities more challenging. Further, it is pertinent to mention here that our universities and research institutions often focus on theoretical knowledge and academic publications while neglecting the need to align research with industry requirements. As a result, many Ph.D. holders find themselves with expertise that does not translate into employability outside of academia.
The stories of these Ph.D. scholars on the streets are cautionary tales which warn us that this loss is not limited to these individual scholars only but It is a collective failure that affects society at large. Each Ph.D. scholar represents an opportunity to innovate, improve governance, or advance scientific understanding. When these scholars are reduced to menial jobs, society loses out on the potential innovations they could have driven, the policies they could have shaped, or the students they could have mentored. Besides the economic argument, there may be psychological and social consequences of this alarming situation. It can lead to frustration, disillusionment, and mental health challenges among the highly educated individuals in our society when they will find their aspirations unmet. It can also discourage our younger generation from pursuing higher education especially research, seeing that it may not lead to better job prospects and in the near future we may find the dearth of research scholars in our society. Socially, the phenomenon can create a sense of collective disillusionment. When our society will find its brightest and most hardworking individuals end up in struggles despite their efforts, it may lead to distrustfulness in institutions and authorities.
Looking at the aforementioned ill effects of this phenomena, the crisis needs to be addressed with multidimensional approach. First and foremost, there needs to be a focus on creating quality jobs in Kashmir which can be achieved by encouraging the establishment of industries that can absorb the educated workforce and the government should encourage the companies willing to invest in the region by offering tax subsidies and other incentives. Local government should also develop various sectors which can absorb these highly educated individuals especially research scholars. Secondly, there should also be stronger collaboration between universities and industries to align academic research with market needs, creating a pathway for Ph.D. holders to transition into industry roles. Thirdly, creating an ecosystem of entrepreneurship suitable to the skill set of highly educated individuals could be transformative. While selling dry fruits or juices on a cart might be a last resort, entrepreneurship rooted in research and development has the potential to create jobs and foster economic growth. Fourthly, looking at the weak and impotent economic setup and high unemployment rate in our UT, our research scholars should try to find job prospects and avenues in other developed regions of the country and abroad. Fifthly, as most of these scholars have already spent many years in teaching in various colleges and higher secondary schools of the UT and gained a vast experience in teaching, government should frame a suitable job policy for these scholars to end up their struggles for survival. Lastly, there needs to be a cultural shift in our perspective towards our scholars and how our society views education and labour. Valuing all types of work is important, but equally, our society should have a practical understanding regarding the fact that an individual’s educational investment must yield proportionate job opportunities to him and our highly educated youth especially our scholars should not have to fight for their survival in a society that should be rewarding their hard work, steadfastness, dedication and advancing human knowledge.
(The author can be reached at [email protected])
