Coughs, Colds and Flu

Mother presiding over sick daughter in bed, suffering from the flu and cough
A virus causes a cold or the flu, and both are also usually accompanied by a cough. 

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HOW DO YOU GET A COLD OR THE FLU?
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  • cold (the common cold) or the flu (influenza) is caused by a virus
  • You can spread the virus by coughing and sneezing
  • Another person can breathe in the virus from drops or even from touching things

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COLD AND THE FLU
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  • The viruses that cause a cold or the flu are not the same
  • Consequently, your symptoms will be different
  • You will feel sicker with the flu than a cold, with a fever 2,11

FLU SYMPTOMS VS. COLD SYMPTOMS
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Infographic of a lady showing the different symptoms of a flu and a cold

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE A COLD OR THE FLU?
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Infographic showing what to do when suffering from a cold or the flu

TREATMENT FOR A COLD OR THE FLU
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The medicine that you will get from the clinic sister, doctor or pharmacist will help you feel better. This medicine can also be bought directly from a pharmacy.

Different medicines can help to:

  • Take away the pain and fever.
    There are syrups for children or older people who may struggle to swallow tablets, as well as tablets for adults.
  • Open your blocked or stuffy nose or help to stop a runny nose so you can breathe better.
    Some of these medicines are tablets that you can drink with water, and some are sprays that you spray into your nose. There are also syrups for children.

Important: Antibiotics will not help to cure a viral infection like a cold or the flu.

WHAT IS A COUGH?
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You cough sometimes when you are healthy, as this keeps your throat and lungs clean. 3

When you are sick, you cough a lot more because there is a lot of mucus in your throat, and your body is trying to make you better.15

CAUSES OF A COUGH
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Besides a virus causing mucus to drip down the back of your throat, you can also cough when:

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A COUGH
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There are different types of coughs that need different medicines. Therefore you will need to explain what you are experiencing.

 

 

a Table showing the differences between a wet cough and a dry cough and a combination cough

 

 

HEALTHY TIPS WHEN YOU COUGH
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You can’t stop yourself from coughing. However, you can avoid some of the things that cause it, or you can lessen it by:

 

Infographic showing some tips on tips do aid with a cough

TREATMENT
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You don’t always need to go to your doctor or clinic for the medicines  you need to use when you cough.

Most cough medicines you can buy from the pharmacy.16,18

Wet cough:

  • There are cough syrups that loosen the mucus or phlegm irritating or dripping down your throat.

Dry cough:

  • When you have an irritating cough and cannot sleep at night, you can take cough syrup or a lozenge to stop.

Combination:

  • When you have phlegm and cough a lot, you can get cough syrup or suck on a lozenge to loosen the phlegm and reduce the coughing simultaneously.

TREATMENT OF COUGH AS SYMPTOM OF COLD AND FLU
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Don’t let a cough get in the way; start treatment from day 1.

Benefits of a Benylin Wet Cough range:

  • Benylin Wet Cough Mucus Relief thins and loosens mucus, thus making it easier for you to get rid of thick, stubborn phlegm.
  • It starts to work Quickly to Combat your Cough
  • The range is available in Adult, Adult Menthol and Children’s variants
  • Alongside our cough products for adults and children, we’ve also developed an effective range of products to help relieve the symptoms of colds and flu. Ask your pharmacists for the Benylin®Solution best suitable for you and your family.
  • DOKTOR MOM®Herbal Cough Lozenges work to relieve your cough and soothe your throat when you are on the go. Alcohol-free and Tartrazine-free. It can be taken day and night.

Benylin and doktor mom inside packaging

Please refer to the Professional Information approved by the medicines regulatory authority for complete prescribing information.

Benylin and Doktor Mom logos




Flu, Cold and cough medical references 1 Flu, Cold and cough medical references 2 Flu, Cold and cough medical references 3

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