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Influenza is a viral respiratory infection that causes an acute febrile illness with myalgia, headache and cough, and can result in high morbidity and mortality rates during an epidemic. Annual epidemics are thought to result in between three and five million cases of severe influenza and between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths worldwide. Currently, annual ...

Gastroenteritis and respiratory infections (particularly pneumonia) are the two most common causes of death in low-income countries. Preventive zinc supplementation may correct any deficiency leading to immunodeficiency and indeed some evidence suggests that preventive zinc supplementation may reduce child mortality and morbidity from infectious diseases, ...

The common cold is a major cause of visits to a doctor in high-income countries and of absenteeism from work and school. There are over 200 viruses which can cause the common cold symptoms including runny nose, congestion, sneezing, sore throat, cough, and sometimes headache, fever and red eyes. Symptoms vary from person to person and cold to cold. ...

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an acute respiratory disease, characterised by influenza-like (flu-like) symptoms, which first appeared in 2002. SARS is a rapidly progressive, acute, community-acquired respiratory illness, which spreads to all contacts. Integrated Chinese and Western medicines played an important role in the treatment of ...

Acupuncture has been used to treat children with mumps for hundreds of years in China. Benefits attributed to acupuncture include decreased swelling and pain, and shortening of the disease duration. According to traditional Chinese medicine, health is achieved by maintaining an uninterrupted flow of Qi, or energy, along 14 meridians. Mumps is caused ...

Mumps (epidemic parotitis) is an infection caused by the multiplication of the mumps virus in the upper respiratory tract. It can range from a mild upper respiratory disease to serious complications. Herbal medicines have been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as the main therapy to prevent and treat mumps for thousands of years. Many Chinese ...

Young children experience an average of six to eight colds per year. Out of every 10 children with a cold, one develops sinusitis. Sinusitis occurs when the sinuses, which do not drain properly during a cold, become secondarily infected with bacteria. Instead of getting better, children with sinusitis often have worsening or persistent cold symptoms. ...

The common cold is often caused by the rhinovirus. It is one of the most widespread illnesses and is a leading cause of visits to the doctor and absenteeism from school and work. Complications of the common cold include otitis media (middle ear infection), sinusitis and exacerbations of reactive airway diseases. There is no proven treatment for the ...

Middle ear infections are common, especially among young children, usually causing earache and some temporary (occasionally permanent) hearing loss. Zinc is an essential micronutrient, which has a role in the optimal functioning of the immune system and resistance to infection. Some people, especially children in low- and middle-income countries, may ...

Sore throat is a widespread acute respiratory tract illness which affects all age groups. In China, many Chinese herbal medicines are used to treat this illness. Because the majority of clinical research into traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a treatment for sore throat failed to meet world standards of clinical research reporting, the authors could ...