Cold, flu, cough, and virus, terms often used together, are usually used to refer to an infection caused by viruses. Cold and cough are usually symptoms of the flu caused by a virus and are accompanied by some other symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose, and congestion. Usually, to treat cold, flu, cough, and virus infections, over-the-counter medications are prescribed.

Treatment plans
There are no medications that can cure a cold or flu caused by viruses. Even antibiotics cannot help against cold-causing viruses and, hence, should not be taken until there are chances of a bacterial infection. Since there is no cure for the virus, the treatment usually aims at relieving the symptoms.

These include the following:

• Pain killers
  Sore throat, headache, and body ache are common symptoms of the flu caused by virus. Therefore, many people look for pain relievers while they are sick. However, there are a lot of precautions that you need to take while using pain relievers, especially when giving it to children or teenagers. They can cause side-effects and make the condition worse in some cases.
• Nasal sprays
  Nasal congestion is another common symptom experienced during flu. Therefore, many adults are prescribed nasal drops or sprays for five days to free the nasal passage from congestion. However, these decongestants should not be given to children who are below six years of age.

Home remedies and lifestyle changes
In addition to some over-the-counter medications to relieve the symptoms, thankfully there are several home remedies that you can adopt to get relief from cold and other flu symptoms. These include the following:

• Ginger
  The health benefits provided by ginger have been known for centuries. Its medicinal properties have been backed by scientific evidence, too. A couple of slices of ginger boiled in water can help you soothe your aching throat and cough. Flu symptoms often compromise of nausea, which can also be treated with some ginger as suggested by researchers.
• Honey
  It comes loaded with antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Therefore, it is one of the most effective home remedies to get relief from flu and its symptoms. You can drink honey mixed with lemon tea to ease your sore throat. Some research also suggests that honey can be an effective remedy in treating a cough. One of the studies showed how 10 grams of honey before bed could significantly lower the severity of cough in children. It helped children get some sound sleep at night, which also helped in curing their other symptoms.
• Garlic
  Allicin is a compound that contains antimicrobial properties, and it is found in garlic. You can add garlic or garlic supplements to your food to alleviate the symptoms of cold and flu. There have been studies that suggest that garlic can also protect your body from many types of diseases.