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Every year at about this point in the rains, the same sequence plays out. Outpatient departments fill with feverish patients, a city announces a jump in confirmed cases, television rediscovers the phrase “swine flu," and within a fortnight the anxiety has moved on to something else
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Why H3N2 Flu Can Be Riskier Than a Common Cold?
Why H3N2 Flu Can Be Riskier Than a Common Cold?
Most of us have experienced a “common cold", sneezing, mild fever, blocked nose, and cough that usually resolves in a few days. But not all fevers and coughs are this simple. For example, H3N2 influenza can cause far more severe illness than an ordinary cold.
Dr. Muhammed Niyas, Consultant, Department of Infectious Diseases, KIMSHEALTH Thiruvananthapuram, shares all you need to know:
How Is H3N2 Different from a Common Cold?
The common cold is generally mild. People may feel unwell for a few days, but serious complications are rare. H3N2 influenza, on the other hand, can cause high fever, intense body aches, severe cough, and weakness. Many patients require medical care, and some even need hospitalization.
Common cold viruses usually settle on their own without affecting vital organs. H3N2 flu, however, can spread deeper into the lungs, leading to pneumonia. In some patients, especially those with pre-existing health problems, it may cause breathing difficulties that require oxygen or ventilatory support. Rarely, it can affect the brain and cause seizures or confusion in children.
Cold symptoms typically fade within 3–7 days. H3N2 flu often lasts longer, and patients may continue to feel weak or tired even after the fever subsides.
Elderly people, especially those above 65 years
Young children, particularly infants
Pregnant women
People with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, kidney disease, or heart problems
Individuals with weakened immunity, such as patients on long-term steroids or undergoing cancer treatment
For these groups, what starts like an ordinary viral fever can quickly become serious.
Like the common cold, H3N2 spreads through tiny droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or even talks. Because of its ability to change and adapt, this flu virus reappears in different forms every few years, which is why outbreaks keep recurring.
Get vaccinated annually: The flu vaccine is updated regularly to match circulating strains like H3N2. Even if it doesn't completely prevent infection, it reduces severity and complications.
Practice good hygiene: Wash hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or elbows, and avoid close contact with sick people.
Wear masks in crowded places: Especially during peak flu season or outbreaks.
Seek medical help early: High fever, breathing difficulties, chest pain, or prolonged illness should not be ignored.
The common cold may be annoying but usually harmless. H3N2 influenza, however, can be dangerous especially for the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and those with other health problems. It causes long-lasting illness, may lead to pneumonia or other serious complications, and sometimes requires hospitalization.
Source: News18
Related Posts: H3N2, common flu, Common Cold,
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