The cold and flu quiz: Myths busted

Can being out in the cold give you a cold? Does herbal tea with honey actually help ward off a cold?

This year has been described as one of the ‘worst years in over a decade’ for colds and flu by one of Australia’s leading experts.

CSIRO’s Dr Paul Savage joined Neil Mitchell to deliver some truths on common cold and flu myths.

Neil put a series of true or false statements to Dr Savage on the show this morning.

1.If you’ve had the flu vaccination it might moderate the symptoms

True

What it is essentially is doing is exposing your immune system to a deactivated version of that virus and then your immune system can make antibodies.

2. Parents of small children are more susceptible to the cold or flu

True

Parents of small children are actually more likely to get a cold, and that’s because colds are highly contagious and small children don’t practise good hygiene very well.

3. Being out in the cold can give you a cold

False

4. If I have cold and flu symptoms it means I’m not contagious any more

False

Contagious periods for colds and flu run from about a day before you show symptoms to about two weeks after you show symptoms.

5. You can sweat out a cold or flu through exercise

False

Rest rather than exercise, you need to give your body the best chance you possibly have to fight off the virus, keeping warm, drinking lots of fluids, eat well and bed rest.

6. Having hot herbal tea with honey helps ward off a cold

False

Those things don’t actually help clear the virus at all, the only thing that can do that is your immune system but it’s true to say they are soothing.

7. It’s possible to re-infect yourself

False

You’ll likely have picked up a different cold. If you get another virus your body has to create new antibodies.

You can complete the full CSIRO quiz here.

Click PLAY below to hear the full quiz with Dr Savage.