Cold, Flu & Cough

What is the Common Cold?

The common cold, also known as rhinopharyngitis, is a type of respiratory tract infection caused by a virus.

Does the 'Stomach Flu' Vaccine Prevent Type I Diabetes?

Walking Pneumonia Versus Common Cold

Influenza Infection in Animals

Walking Pneumonia Versus Common Cold

Risk Factors and Walking Pneumonia Prevention

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Tips for staying heart-safe during cold weather

While grocery store shelves may be empty, firewood piles filled and cell phones charged, there may be a few more items to check off on your prep list for the upcoming winter storms.

24 Jan 2026

Methionine: A dietary key to surviving infection

As soon as you are wounded-whether from grabbing a hot pan or contracting the flu-you begin a unique journey through variable symptoms toward either recovery or death.

22 Jan 2026

Medicare Advantage skews hospital readmission penalties

For more than a decade, hospitals have worked to help older adults avoid repeated inpatient stays, incentivized by a federal program that cuts Medicare reimbursements if hospitals have higher-than-expected rates of readmissions for people with certain conditions.

22 Jan 2026

High-dose inhaled nitric oxide could fight multidrug-resistant infections

Overuse of antibiotics has accelerated the development of bacterial resistance to conventional drugs, a global health crisis projected to result in more than 10 million deaths annually by 2050.

21 Jan 2026

Survey shows growing public familiarity with RSV vaccines and antibody injections

Amid a surprisingly severe flu season and a Covid-19 resurgence, those highly contagious respiratory illnesses are drawing the largest share of media coverage and public attention.

21 Jan 2026

Higher vitamin D levels tied to fewer hospitalization for respiratory tract infections

Severe vitamin D deficiency is associated with a higher rate of hospitalization for respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, according to a new study led by the University of Surrey.

21 Jan 2026

Analyzing bacterial enzymes in pikromycin synthesis

Macrolides are an important class of antibiotics that includes drugs such as azithromycin and erythromycin, which are widely used to treat a range of infections, including pneumonia and skin infections.

21 Jan 2026

Severe vitamin D deficiency linked to higher hospitalizations for respiratory tract infections

21 Jan 2026

Blood lipid–hormone ratios predict future asthma attacks years in advance

This study shows that specific ratios of circulating sphingolipids to steroids can predict the risk of future asthma exacerbations over five years with high discriminatory performance. By integrating metabolomics with longitudinal medical records, the research highlights lipid–hormone pathway imbalance as a key driver of asthma instability.

20 Jan 2026

High-dose flu shots lower hospitalization risk in older adults

High-dose influenza vaccines may lower serious hospitalization rates in older adults, particularly those with diabetes, according to a recent Danish trial.

20 Jan 2026

Shingles vaccination may slow biological aging in older adults

Shingles vaccination not only protects against the disease but may also contribute to slower biological aging in older adults, according to a new USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology study.

20 Jan 2026

Dr Adam Davenport appointed as CSO to strengthen leadership in integrated drug discovery

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Adam Davenport as Chief Scientific Officer to spearhead our integrated drug discovery offering for biotech and pharmaceutical partners.

From Concept Life Sciences 19 Jan 2026

Interferon response key to fighting rhinovirus infections in nasal passages

When a rhinovirus, the most frequent cause of the common cold, infects the lining of our nasal passages, our cells work together to fight the virus by triggering an arsenal of antiviral defenses.

19 Jan 2026

Canada's overburdened health systems may buckle with additional demand during FIFA World Cup

Excitement is building for FIFA World Cup soccer games in Toronto and Vancouver in June and July, yet Canada's overburdened health systems may buckle with any additional demand, cautions an editorial published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.252094.

19 Jan 2026

Researchers discover how Mycoplasma pneumoniae acquires cholesterol from human hosts

A multidisciplinary team has uncovered a key mechanism that allows the human bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae-responsible for atypical pneumonia and other respiratory infections-to obtain cholesterol and other essential lipids directly from the human body.

16 Jan 2026

What makes a run feel great or terrible, according to runners themselves

A qualitative analysis of Strava data highlights the impact of environment and social interactions on runner sentiment and mental health during the pandemic.

16 Jan 2026

Personal factors drive risky drinking at work more than job stress

The study identifies age, education, and smoking as critical factors in high-risk drinking among workers, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions.

15 Jan 2026

Age-tailored therapies needed for treating the young and old with sepsis

Dealing with an infection isn't as straightforward as simply killing the pathogen. The body also needs to carefully steer and monitor its immune response to prevent collateral damage.

14 Jan 2026

Vaccines are helping older people more than we knew

Let's be clear: The primary reason to be vaccinated against shingles is that two shots provide at least 90% protection against a painful, blistering disease that a third of Americans will suffer in their lifetimes, one that can cause lingering nerve pain and other nasty long-term consequences.

14 Jan 2026

Long-term study reveals shifting patterns in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy

Most COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is rooted in concerns that can be addressed and effectively reduced over time, according to a new study following more than 1.1 million people in England between January 2021 and March 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic, published in The Lancet.

13 Jan 2026