As the world recovers from the devastating blow of Covid 19, another virus is shaping up to be a looming threat. We are talking about Adenovirus of the family Adenoviridae. This virus has been on the rise in India, especially in West Bengal. This life-threatening virus causes prolonged flu-like illness in children. As the cases rise, now is a better time than ever to understand the symptoms, causes, preventions and treatments of Adenovirus.  What is Adenovirus?  Adenovirus belongs to the wider Adenoviridae family. The virus itself is relatively small compared to its other family branches. What’s surprising here is that Adenovirus has over 50 different types of mutations which affect the human body, especially children in different ways.  Adenoviruses are non-enveloped with double-stranded DNA that acts as their genetic material. The non-enveloped structure helps them to survive outside a host body for an extended period.  Read More: Happiness Hormone: Ways to Boost Dopamine The most common illness caused by Adenovirus includes respiratory infections, conjunctivitis, and gastrointestinal infections. Sometimes the effect of Adenovirus can get compounded. A person with a weakened immune system like an HIV AIDS patient or someone undergoing chemotherapy might fall severely ill due to Adenovirus.  How Does Adenovirus Transmit?  Adenoviruses are highly contagious and can use several different means of contamination. It spreads from one person to another through bodily fluids like urine, saliva, and blood. The infected person needs to be quarantined as soon as they show symptoms of prolonged flu combined with a weakened immune system. There are several ways through which Adenovirus can get into a healthy person.  - If a carrier of Adenovirus sneezes or coughs in front of a healthy person, they might get infected with respiratory droplets.  - If a healthy person comes in contact with any surface previously used or touched by the contaminated person. - If there is any form of physical contact. Especially around the eyes, mouth, or nose.  - Sexual contact with an infected person can also cause Adenovirus to spread. It often leads to secondary genital infections.  - Using the same utensils as used by the infected person.  Read More: Workplace stress affecting women in Bangladesh needs attention Symptoms of Adenovirus  The symptoms of Adenovirus differ from variant to variant. Depending on the variant a person contracts, they might notice different symptoms which are completely unrelated to one another. Sometimes the symptoms can even get compounded.  The general symptoms include.  - Cough, fever, runny nose, and chills. These are signs of bronchitis-related Adenovirus infection.  - A sore throat, stuffy nose, and swollen glands might be indicators of respiratory Adenovirus infection.  - Barking cough, trouble, and noise while breathing - Otitis media  - Pneumonia  - Diarrhea, vomiting, headache, and stomach pain  - Meningitis - Infection of the urinary tract - Swelling around the eye  Read More: 11 Home Remedies for Cough in Kids Among these symptoms, persistent fever and swollen eyes are serious signs of aggravated Adenovirus infection in children. Contact the pediatrician as soon as possible in such cases.  How to Diagnose Adenovirus? Adenovirus infection can be diagnosed in several ways. All of these involve lab tests and some of which are pretty common due to the similar diagnostic procedure to Covid 19.  Viral culture Viral culture is the traditional way of detecting the presence of viruses in body fluids. A sample of the patient's bodily fluid, such as blood, urine, or respiratory secretions, can be collected and checked whether there is the presence of Adenovirus in the body.  Read More: Bonnell Vs Pocket Spring Mattress: Which is the Best for Good Sleep?

During the winter season, many people suffer from colds and flu. Soups are always soothing and easy to consume for people of all ages. Healthy soups packed with immunity-boosting ingredients not only help fight colds, and congestion but also keep the body nourished and hydrated. Here are 5 healthy soups recipes to cure a cold and fight against the flu and virus. 5 Homemade Soups for Cold and Flue Season Coconut Ginger Carrot Soup Ingredients 2 tsp olive oil or water, 1 onion, diced, 3 cloves garlic, minced, 2 tbsp fresh ginger, minced, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp coriander, 5 cups peeled and chopped carrots, 3 cups vegetable stock, 1 cup canned full-fat coconut milk, salt, and pepper, as needed Instructions First, take a pan, put oil and fry the onion and the garlic. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and cook for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and soft. If you want to prepare oil-free soup, use water or broth in lieu of oil. Then add ginger, carrot, spices, and a pinch of salt and pepper again. Cook for 1 minute and stir constantly. Now add coconut milk and vegetable broth, uncovered for about 20 minutes, and cook as long as the carrots are tender.  When the carrots become tender, remove the soup from the stove and allow it cool. Now blend the soup and transfer it to the pan again. Season the soup with seasoning and serve warm.  Read More: Cold Remedies: Best, worst drinks to boost immune, fight sickness Immune-Boosting Vegetable Soup Ingredients  3 carrots, 1 medium/large sweet white onion, 1 medium/large onion; use white and pale green parts, 2 medium or 1 large sweet potatoes,  8 ounces white mushrooms, juice of 1 medium/large lemon,  2 to 3-inch piece peeled fresh ginger,  2 to 3 tablespoons coconut oil, 1 tablespoon ground turmeric,  1 tablespoon ground black pepper,  salt, to taste; about 6 quarts water Instructions First, take a large pot and put all ingredients and mix well with black pepper. Then pour water into the pot and cook for about 1 hour. Cook for more extra time if needed or until all vegetables are very soft. Add more water if required and boil properly after adding water. Now your vegetable soup is ready to serve. You can preserve it in the refrigerator for about 1 week and in the freezer for about 6 months. Read More: 7 Homemade Drinks for Sore Throat Healing Green Tea and Chickpea Soup Ingredients 2 cups chicken stock, 2 small carrots, 1/2 stick celery,1/2 can chickpeas, 1 tsp chopped basil, 1 bag green tea, black pepper, 1 wholemeal tortilla, 1 small clove garlic, coconut spray oil, salt Instructions Take a pan and put the broth into the pot. Then wait for the boiling. After boiling, add the carrots, celery, and chickpeas and cook for 8 minutes. Now add the basil and drop in the green tea bag. Cook for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, put away the tea bag, season the soup with black pepper let it cool.  Read More: Masala Tea Health Benefits: How Can It Improve Your Immunity Comforting Chicken Noodle Soup Ingredients 2 quarts water, 8 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules, 6-1/2 cups uncooked wide egg noodles, 2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup, 3 cups cubed cooked chicken, 1 cup sour cream, 1 cup fresh parsley Instructions First, take a large pot and pour water and bouillon into the pot. Then add noodles. Uncover the pot and cook for about 10 minutes or as long as the noodles become tender. Make sure you do not drain the noodles. Now add soup and chicken with cooked noodles and heat through. Take the pot away from the stove and mix the sour cream. Spread the minced parsley. Serve warm.  Read More: Immunity Booster Herbal Teas to Prevent Infection Beef Lentil Soup Ingredients 1 pound lean beef,  1 can tomato, 4 cups water, 1 cup dried lentils, 2 cups chopped cabbage, 1 cup sliced carrots, one cup sliced celery, 1 cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup diced green pepper, half teaspoon pepper, 1 bay leaf, 1 package frozen chopped spinach  Instructions First, take a large deep pan and cook beef over medium for about 5-7 minutes. Then disintegrate the meat and drain. Now add the tomato juice, water, lentils, cabbage, carrots, celery, onion, green pepper, pepper, and bay leaf. Let them boil together. After boiling minimize the heat and cook for 1-1/2 hours or as long as the lentils and vegetables are tender. Add spinach and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove bay leaf and serve warm.  Read More: How to Keep Kids Well During Flu Season

During flu season many viruses peak in activity and make children sick. It is frustrating and exhausting for parents, especially for working parents when one or more children are sick at home, and unable to attend childcare or school. It is necessary to focus on your doing to keep your kids healthier during cold and flu season. Check out here some proven tips to keep your lovely kids healthy during flu season.  Ways to prevent your children from catching cold, Flu Make kids wash hands frequently You can find a variety of great resources available to teach your children effective handwashing techniques. Remember that handwashing is still one of the most important practices that reduce the spread of the flu and other illnesses.  The earlier you can teach this skill and the faster you can impart how important it is to maintain a good hygiene routine the better!  Your children always follow you, so modeling this behavior is a great way to install good habits. Read Child Drowning Prevention: Water safety tips to save your kid from drowning Kids are habituated to often touching their mouths and faces. So you should make sure your kids wash their hands with soap and water to remove germs before eating, after using the bathroom, and when they come inside from playing.  Plenty of Sleep If you want to stay well, take enough and proper sleep. It is true for adults and children as well. Lack of sleep generally weakens the immune system and at the same time increases the risk of getting sick. Children need at least 9 to 14 hours of sleep a day depending on their age.  Without enough proper sleep, children become exhausted which means their body doesn’t have the energy to devote to fighting off infection. So, maintain a normal sleep schedule for your children to improve their overall mood and alertness. Besides, it can be instrumental in keeping your children well during the flu season.  Read Child Proof Kitchen: How to Keep Your Kitchen Safe for Kids Get Moving Staying active is as important as sleep. It is also a good wellness routine. Regular and moderate exercise boosts children’s immune systems. So, always inspire and ask your children to get up and get moving.  Some research has shown that activeness can help reduce cold and flu episodes.  Make sure your kids keep continuing playing. For older kids, sports can be a great way to burn energy and boost their immune systems.  However, if you think sports aren’t an option for your kid, tell them just simply get up and move around both indoors and outdoors. This is also beneficial.   Nutrition Eating nutritious food keeps us healthy and fit along with enabling our immune system to function properly.  By providing plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables, you can help boost children’s immune systems. Although getting your kids to choose healthy snacks over chips or sugary foods can be difficult, even small changes can help.  Read Stranger Danger: How to teach children safety rules for unknown, unsafe people Taking a well-balanced diet is another area of health that your children replicate when they see you doing it.  Give them foods high in vitamin C and D and avoid foods high in additives, preservatives, and sugars. Mindful You need to remember that stress is also related to staying well.  Generally, when we’re stressed for a long time, our overall immunity decreases.  That’s why it is important to encourage your kids to rest and relax. In this regard, creative play can be a way to unwind.  As sometimes children cannot learn how to interact with their surroundings, things can get a little overwhelming for them.  So, make them practice mindfulness to keep stress down. Teach them how to cope with complex situations. Read Habit of Saving: How to teach your child good saving habit Stay Home During flu season as cold or flu symptoms are available outside, it’s best to keep them home.  If you can keep your kids free of major symptoms means they’re in the clear, but you know your kids better than anyone else.  Avoid germy sharing Undoubtedly, sharing is good for kids and they should learn it from the early stage of life.  But make sure they don’t share common items like straws, cups, scarves, or anything that comes in contact with their mouths and faces with others, especially if they are attracted by the flu as these items can be breeding grounds for germs.  Most importantly, tell them to Wear a Mask in commonplace because a mask is a practical way to prevent the spread of the flu.   Read Effects of Domestic Violence on Children Vaccinations Up To Date Make sure that your children and other family members are up to date on their vaccinations. Special Tips for newborns/ infants First two months The first two months are the most crucial moments. So, be on high alert this time and keep the baby away from crowded places such as shopping malls and grocery stores. Covered when in public places Cover your baby with a thin blanket when you are in a public place to avoid a worse touch. Read Newborn Baby, Infant Care Tips during Summer Always carry disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer Use disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer every time before touching the baby.  Breastfeed frequently if possible Breastfeeding gives antibodies to your baby which gives your little one an extra line of defense.  Get your shots As babies can't get the flu vaccine until they're six months old, so you are urged to get vaccines for flu and pertussis. Read Postpartum Depression, Mood Swings: How can new moms deal with these issues? Special tips for toddlers   - Stay on top of routine vaccines. - Keep little hands clean. - Tips to encourage good hand hygiene. - Consult with your family doctor. - Stay prepared with a sick kit. - Ways to help stop the spread. Special tips for school-going children - Get your child's flu shot - Prevent the spread of germs by Uing a tissue at the time of cough or sneeze. - Make them wash their hands with soap and clean water. - Reminding children to avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. - Provide sanitizers to your child’s classroom. - Keep away from sick people and stay home if you are sick - Reinforce healthy habits at home and school. Read Creative Toys for Children to Foster Creativity Staying Away from Electronics Bottom Line During the season of Flu kids may catch cold easily through contraction with sick people or transmission of virus. The parents, caregivers as well as older members of the family should stay cautious. Prevention is better than cure. So far, we have mentioned some practical and effective tips to keep children away from flu and cold. Follow this measures to protect your children from catching colds, and flu. However, if the child still gets affected, consult with a doctor without delay.

Cold and flu season is upon us. In fact, it starts as early as October!  Sometimes people think they have the "flu", but it can be really a bad chest cold or other respiratory illness. If anyone is coughing so hard that they throw up from the deep expelling of air, if the fever is 100 with a sign of breaking through ibuprofen/ Tylenol or the person can't stop sneezing then the person might have attacked with flu and cold. If anyone catches one of these viruses and before it turns into something worse that can land a patient in the hospital, the person may seek remedies as soon as possible. Further, there are natural ways to prevent such colds and flu in the winter. The Common Natural Ways to Prevent Cold and Flu in the Winter The following part of this article will show you some effective natural ways to avoid catching a cold or getting ill with flu in the cold season. If you read on, you will find out which foods can help boost your immune system and fight off the nasty germs that spread when temperatures start to fall. Vitamin C It is probably known by everyone that vitamin C is good for boosting our immune system, but not all of us know that it has an antiviral effect too! Vitamin C helps our body to produce white blood cells more quickly, which is the main part of the immune system. According to researches, people with low level of vitamin C are more likely to get upper respiratory tract infections (like cold or flu) than those who have enough vitamin C in their body. Oranges, limes, leafy greens, grapefruits and vegetables are an excellent source of Vitamin C. Read How to Bathe Babies during Winter? Zinc This mineral boosts the immune system in a variety of ways. First of all, it helps white blood cells fight against viruses, bacteria and fungi. Secondly, zinc increases the number of interferons produced in our body, these are proteins which help us fight off infections more quickly. Thirdly, zinc is believed to block receptors in the nose or airways which are responsible for influenza virus entering inside of our bodies while we breathe. Taking 8-11mg of zinc per day is recommended for the immune system during cold months, but be careful if you take too much - it can cause nausea and vomiting. Garlic An herb that boosts the immune system since it contains powerful ingredients called allicin, which stimulate production of white blood cells. It's also good to eat raw garlic because cooking may destroy its healing properties. Hence, adding garlic in the diet will reduce the severity of cold. Read Breast Cancer Prevention: How to Cut Your Risk?

COVID-19 has now killed about as many Americans as the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic did — approximately 675,000. The U.S. population a century ago was just one-third of what it is today, meaning the flu cut a much bigger, more lethal swath through the country. But the COVID-19 crisis is by any measure a colossal tragedy in its own right, especially given the incredible advances in scientific knowledge since then and the failure to take maximum advantage of the vaccines available this time. “Big pockets of American society — and, worse, their leaders — have thrown this away,” medical historian Dr. Howard Markel of the University of Michigan said of the opportunity to vaccinate everyone eligible by now. Like the Spanish flu, the coronavirus may never entirely disappear from our midst. Instead, scientists hope it becomes a mild seasonal bug as human immunity strengthens through vaccination and repeated infection. That could take time. “We hope it will be like getting a cold, but there’s no guarantee,” said Emory University biologist Rustom Antia, who suggests an optimistic scenario in which this could happen over a few years. For now, the pandemic still has the United States and other parts of the world firmly in its jaws. Read: Global Covid update: Vaccines put the brakes on pandemic's advance While the delta-fueled surge in infections may have peaked, U.S. deaths are running at over 1,900 a day on average, the highest level since early March, and the country’s overall toll topped 675,000 Monday, according to the count kept by Johns Hopkins University, though the real number is believed to be higher. Winter may bring a new surge, with the University of Washington’s influential model projecting an additional 100,000 or so Americans will die of COVID-19 by Jan. 1, which would bring the overall U.S. toll to 776,000. The 1918-19 influenza pandemic killed 50 million victims globally at a time when the world had one-quarter the population it does now. Global deaths from COVID-19 now stand at more than 4.6 million. The Spanish flu’s U.S. death toll is a rough guess, given the incomplete records of the era and the poor scientific understanding of what caused the illness. The 675,000 figure comes from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The ebbing of COVID-19 could happen if the virus progressively weakens as it mutates and more and more humans’ immune systems learn to attack it. Vaccination and surviving infection are the main ways the immune system improves. Breast-fed infants also gain some immunity from their mothers. Under that optimistic scenario, schoolchildren would get mild illness that trains their immune systems. As they grow up, the children would carry the immune response memory, so that when they are old and vulnerable, the coronavirus would be no more dangerous than cold viruses. The same goes for today’s vaccinated teens: Their immune systems would get stronger through the shots and mild infections. “We will all get infected,” Antia predicted. “What’s important is whether the infections are severe.” Something similar happened with the H1N1 flu virus, the culprit in the 1918-19 pandemic. It encountered too many people who were immune, and it also eventually weakened through mutation. H1N1 still circulates today, but immunity acquired through infection and vaccination has triumphed. Read: US panel backs COVID-19 boosters only for seniors, high-risk Getting an annual flu shot now protects against H1N1 and several other strains of flu. To be sure, flu kills between 12,000 and 61,000 Americans each year, but on average, it is a seasonal problem and a manageable one. Before COVID-19, the 1918-19 flu was universally considered the worst pandemic disease in human history. Whether the current scourge ultimately proves deadlier is unclear. In many ways, the 1918-19 flu — which was wrongly named Spanish flu because it first received widespread news coverage in Spain — was worse. Spread by the mobility of World War I, it killed young, healthy adults in vast numbers. No vaccine existed to slow it, and there were no antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections. And, of course, the world was much smaller. Yet jet travel and mass migrations threaten to increase the toll of the current pandemic. Much of the world is unvaccinated. And the coronavirus has been full of surprises. Markel said he is continually astounded by the magnitude of the disruption the pandemic has brought to the planet. “I was gobsmacked by the size of the quarantines” the Chinese government undertook initially, Markel said, “and I’ve since been gob-gob-gob-smacked to the nth degree.” The lagging pace of U.S. vaccinations is the latest source of his astonishment. Just under 64% of the U.S. population has received as least one dose of the vaccine, with state rates ranging from a high of approximately 77% in Vermont and Massachusetts to lows around 46% to 49% in Idaho, Wyoming, West Virginia and Mississippi. Globally, about 43% of the population has received at least one dose, according to Our World in Data, with some African countries just beginning to give their first shots. “We know that all pandemics come to an end,” said Dr. Jeremy Brown, director of emergency care research at the National Institutes of Health, who wrote a book on influenza. “They can do terrible things while they’re raging.” COVID-19 could have been far less lethal in the U.S. if more people had gotten vaccinated faster, “and we still have an opportunity to turn it around,” Brown said. “We often lose sight of how lucky we are to take these things for granted.” The current vaccines work extremely well in preventing severe disease and death from the variants of the virus that have emerged so far. Read: Washington Post editorial on COVID-19 origins distorts facts: Chinese embassy It will be crucial for scientists to make sure the ever-mutating virus hasn’t changed enough to evade vaccines or to cause severe illness in unvaccinated children, Antia said. If the virus changes significantly, a new vaccine using the technology behind the Pfizer and Moderna shots could be produced in 110 days, a Pfizer executive said Wednesday. The company is studying whether annual shots with the current vaccine will be required to keep immunity high. One plus: The coronavirus mutates at a slower pace than flu viruses, making it a more stable target for vaccination, said Ann Marie Kimball, a retired University of Washington professor of epidemiology. So, will the current pandemic unseat the 1918-19 flu pandemic as the worst in human history? “You’d like to say no. We have a lot more infection control, a lot more ability to support people who are sick. We have modern medicine,” Kimball said. “But we have a lot more people and a lot more mobility. ... The fear is eventually a new strain gets around a particular vaccine target.” To those unvaccinated individuals who are counting on infection rather than vaccination for immune protection, Kimball said, “The trouble is, you have to survive infection to acquire the immunity.” It’s easier, she said, to go to the drugstore and get a shot.

Influenza and COVID-19 have similar symptoms that people may need to get tested to know what’s making them miserable.

It’s impossible to tell without a test. Influenza and COVID-19 have such similar symptoms, you may need to get tested to know what's making you miserable.

The number of people infected with a new virus in China tripled over the weekend, with the outbreak spreading from Wuhan to other major cities, reports BBC.