Cold Cold And Cold Cold Cold Cough OCCURs, Recognize Differences Between Influenza And Common Cold

JAKARTA Entering transitions, cough and runny noses often arise, especially in children. However, in Indonesia, people still have a lot of misunderstandings by considering coughing colds as influenza or flu.

Hospitals in various regions reported a surge in patients with the same complaints, coughs and runny noses. This condition makes a number of treatment rooms full so patients have to wait in line.

And, when an examination is carried out by a doctor, the patient's parents usually say that their child has the flu. According to the doctor, not all cough and runny nose can be categorized as flu or influenza.

What parents complain about is usually only common cold or selesmic, generally lighter than influenza.

Unite Kerja Koordinasi (UKK) Respirologi Ikatan Dokter Anak Indonesia (IDAI) Dr dr. Nastiti Kaswandani, SpA, Subs Respi (K) explained that people need to be careful using this term because not all cough colds mean influenza.

"Often the words of influenza are shortened to the flu. The word flu is often used inappropriately. In fact, it is true that the flu (influenza) is an infectious disease, especially regarding the respiratory tract caused by the influenza virus," he said in a virtual Media Briefing with the theme "Recognizing Influenza A and B in Children with IDAI, Tuesday (30/9/2025).

Doctor Nastiti explained, in Indonesia there are still many who often use the term flu carelessly. All symptoms of cough, runny nose, sneezing, and nasal congestion are immediately labeled flu'.

Most of the so-called 'flu' diseases are only caused by mild viruses called common cold or selesmic.

Di luar negeri, yang banyak kasus influenzanya, flu memiliki gejala yang lebih seryanya dibanding komon cold, jelas dr. Nastiti.

Both influenza and common cold or selesmah both attack the respiratory tract, but have different symptoms. In alesm, the sufferer usually has a cold, sneezing, sore throat, and a mild cough. These symptoms tend to disappear in just a few days.

However, influenza can cause high fever, severe headache, severe muscle pain, which makes patients lie in bed for more than a week.

Doctor Nastiti explained that common cold is often milder and rarely causes serious complications. While influenza can develop into serious conditions such as pneumonia, kidney failure, it can even be life-threatening.

Influencenza patients may experience pneumonia, kidney failure, and liver failure if not handled properly. This condition is primarily at risk for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and people with comorbidities.

Common cold and influenza can be transmitted by coughing, sneezing, or conversation. In addition, the virus can also be transmitted through droplets, aerosols, and direct contact with airways. But influenza transmission is faster and more risky.

Influenza itself is divided into three types, namely influenza A, B, and C. influenza A, said dr. Nastiti, is the most dangerous type. This virus has many subtypes, for example H1N1 and H3N2, which often experience changes.

It is this genetic housing that makes the need for flu waksin to be updated almost every year. Doctor Nastiti said that transmission of type A influenza can occur very quickly and cause many victims.

While influenza B causes local outbreaks more often and scales less than a pandemic. However, severe cases can still occur, especially in children.

Finally, influenza C is considered the lightest among the three types. Symptoms are also similar to common colds such as colds or mild coughs, and do not cause an outbreak.

Doctor Nastiti also said that influenza is open as a seasonal disease. In Indonesia itself, influenza cases are recorded throughout the year, and reach their peak in the rainy season.

One of the concerns is that children are more at risk of being exposed to influenza than adults. According to data, children are twice as likely to be higher than adults to be treated at home as a result of influenza.

"For children, it turns out that reports found that the child had a higher risk of up to twice than other age groups for treatment at the hospital if he was exposed to the flu", explained Dr. Nastiti.

For prevention, it is recommended to get influenza vaccines once a year. Unfortunately, in Indonesia influenza vaccines are not included in national programs, so they must be carried out independently. Therefore, public awareness for vaccination, especially risk groups such as toddlers, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with chronic diseases, becomes very important.