Word story Expand. Hypochondriac comes ultimately from the Greek word hypokhondria, which literally means âunder the cartilage (of the breastbone).â In the late 16th century, when hypochondriac first entered the English language, it referred to the upper abdomen.
Cold symptoms usually begin with a sore throat, which usually goes away after a day or two. Nasal symptoms, runny nose, and congestion follow, along with a cough by the fourth and fifth days. Fever is uncommon in adults, but a slight fever is possible.
Flu season typically starts in the fall and runs through the winter. A study published in the medical journal PLOS Pathogens suggested that flu viruses are most easily transmitted in winter, when the air is cold and dry. The flu is contagious a day before and five days to a week after its onset. Young children, people over 65, those with compromised immune systems, and people with a terminal illness are at risk of death from the flu. Pregnant women are also at greater risk. The flu can also cause premature birth.