Cold and Flu Season in the Czech Republic

If you’re anything like me, by now you’ve already been struck down at least once by either a cold or the flu. And before long one of these acute respiratory ailments is likely to strike again. So what can you do to treat yourself if you’ve caught a bug? Or how can you protect yourself from one in the first place?

The flu has these symptoms, but can also include muscular aches and a fever, which is thought to begin at 37.7ºC (approx. 99.9ºF). Above 38.9ºC (approx. 102.2 ºF) a fever is considered serious. If using Celsius is a problem for you, you can buy electronic thermometers which give readings in both Celsius and Fahrenheit.

Another difference is duration. A cold can last up to seven days, or a week with a doctor’s certificate, as the saying here goes. The flu can persist much longer.

Yet, forewarned is forearmed and prevention is the best medicine, so there are a few things you can do.

If washing your hands after touching bank notes, door knobs, hand rails and any other regularly handled object seems a little like OCD, there are other ways to reduce infection.

The most important is to stay fit by getting adequate rest and exercise as well as eating enough fresh fruit and vegetables. Vitamin C has some role in the immune system – though experts are not entirely sure what. One thing is for certain, taking vitamin C before you get sick is more effective than taking it after.

To be on the safe side you may opt for a flu shot. 

The doctor will then give you a prescription for the vaccine. You take this prescription to your pharmacist, who will give you the vaccine to take back to your doctor, who will then administer the shot.

One dosage of the vaccine costs about 200 CZK. People who are over 65, have a chronic illness, or are in hospital, a nursing home, or some other treatment center can claim the vaccine on health insurance, providing they are eligible for public health insurance in the first place.

Pharmacies have plenty of types of medicines to fight the symptoms of both diseases. Their effectiveness will depend very much on the individual. What you can be sure of: these medicines are not covered by health insurance; they are available from the counter marked “volný prodej” and you don’t have to pay the regulation fee when purchasing them.

Czech pharmacies also sell a range of herbal teas with such names as “Chřipka a nachlazení” (flu and cold). These are also available from the “volný prodej” counter or from health stores.

Other popular remedies here include black tea with honey or hot water with what else but a shot of slivovice. One folk remedy calls for an onion to be boiled with sugar in water. You then take three teaspoons of this mixture per day to treat a sore throat. Another popular herbal remedy is to drink tea made from fresh ginger. A few places around town sell this. Look for “čerstvý zázvorový čaj”. Or simply buy ginger from the supermarket.

You shouldn’t take antibiotics to treat either a cold or the flu. Antibiotics do nothing for viral infections, though they might be used to treat secondary bacterial infections.

In comparison, the seasonal flu claims from 200 to 1500 lives here annually. Again, most of those are the elderly or people with chronic illnesses.

Symptoms of swine flu are similar to the seasonal flu, though diarrhea and vomiting are also reported along with the traditional symptoms.

So how do you deal with the sniffly season? Any tips or remedies for other sufferers?

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