Cold & Flu

Germs on a plane: Can you get sick flying?

Staying healthy during a flight requires a few precautions.

What is a midwife and what to know about choosing one

Considering a midwife to deliver your baby? There are three different kinds of midwives, and it's important to know how their roles vary.

5 things you still may not know about colds and the flu

Cold and flu season is here. Do you know how to prevent getting sick?

Chickenpox parties return? Doctors say it's a bad idea to skip the vaccine

Doctors say it's a bad idea to expose an unvaccinated child to the Varicella-zoster virus.

Why the flu shot can't give you the flu and why you might think it does

Experts say it's impossible to get the flu from the flu shot. But here are some reasons people think the shot makes them sick.

'Allergy explosion' caused by record-levels of pollen

The pollen count is high across much of the country. Here's how to get rid of seasonal allergies.

What's a good cure for a hoarse voice? Hoda needs help!

Hoda Kotb has returned after taking a sick day, and she shared an odd remedy a doctor recommended for her raspy throat. So we crowdsourced some other options....

Is there a 'second wave' of the flu coming? What you need to know

As overall flu activity continues to decrease, officials are seeing more cases of a strain that's worse for younger children.

Needle-free flu vaccine FluMist is coming back next fall

FluMist, the needle-free, nasal spray flu vaccine, won the endorsement of federal vaccine advisers for next falls' flu season

A pediatrician offers 7 ways to protect kids from the flu

With the flu season breaking records, a pediatrician offers tips for parents on how to protect children.

This flu season is breaking records and there are still weeks to go

It's not time to panic about a new pandemic —but it's one that's unusual because it is hitting the whole country at once instead of in waves.

Can hives be a flu warning sign? What to know about unusual symptoms

This deadly flu season, you're already on the lookout for fever, cough, sore throat and fatigue, but could hives also signal the disease?

Should I take Tamiflu? Worries raised about drug used to fight the flu

Should I take Tamiflu? The antiviral medication is used to keep influenza from getting worse in high-risk people.

What’s going on with this year’s flu season? Here's what you need to know

Flu virus is still causing misery, and there's more to come. But it's not too late the get a flu vaccine -- shots protect against four strains of influenza....

What NOT to do while sick with the flu

As flu season continues, people struggle to treat it. Doctors share advice on what flu treatments provide little help.

When is a cold most contagious? Hoda and Jenna play ‘Myth vs. Fact’

Board-certified internist Bojana Jankovic Weatherly emcees a game in which Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager try to separate myths from facts about how to prevent...

Here’s how the flu kills some people so quickly

Every year, flu kills perfectly healthy young adults and children, and tens of thousands of people over 65. Why does it happen?

Afraid of catching the flu? 7 cleaning tips to keep it from spreading

Keep the flu from taking over your home with these easy steps.

Why is flu season so bad this year? Family physician offers tips

On Megyn Kelly TODAY, Megyn looks at just how bad this season's flu outbreak has gotten, with hospitals overflowing and at least 42 people under 65 dead of...

21-year-old fitness buff's death from flu a reminder how quickly it can kill

The young and seemingly healthy Pennsylvania bodybuilder, who did not get a flu shot, came down with symptoms shortly before Christmas.

You don't have to catch a cold: 3 basic precautions to keep you healthy

Feeling your throat getting sore? A cough coming on? You can prevent a cold with a few simple steps.

Feel a cold coming on? Here's which remedies work and which don't

It's cold and flu germ season. Before you try your favorite home remedy, here's what works and what may be a waste of time and money.

17 immune-boosting foods to get you through cold and flu season

One of the best ways to keep yourself from getting sick is by getting your flu shot, but fortifying your immune system doesn't end at the doctor's office.

Flu shot safe for people with egg allergies, experts say

People with egg allergies used to be told to avoid the flu shot, but a national panel of experts now says vaccine is safe

Flu spreading even faster in the last week — and the season has just started

This year's flu season is off to a fast start and early indications suggest that it may be more severe than the previous season.

After newborn's life-threatening illness, mom warns about common virus

Shanisty Ireland had never heard of RSV until her infant son caught it.

Cold and flu sufferers: Here’s how to buy a product that will actually help

Navigating the cold and flu medicine aisle can be dizzying, especially when a bug already has you feeling miserable. Here's what you need to know.

1 surprising factor that could make a flu shot more effective

Doing this on the day you get your flu shot may boost the effectiveness of the vaccine, a new study suggests.

5 foods that could help you fight the cold and flu

These foods and supplements may make a difference in your immunity. Should you pop a pill or prepare a strategic meal?

Signs point to a bad flu season for the U.S. this year

The U.S. may be in for a bad flu season, if Australia is anything to go by.

Study linking early miscarriage to flu vaccine puzzles doctors

Vaccine experts are puzzling over a study that appears to link one particular flu vaccine with early miscarriages.

Summer catch: Is a common cold worse during the warmest days?

Is a cold's misery really magnified during the summer? The answer may blow your mind as you blow your nose.

Ear infections are way down and this vaccine may be the reason

Rates of ear infections have fallen sharply since two new vaccines hit the market, researchers reported Monday.

'Completing the course' of antibiotics not always necessary, new report says

Patients with a bacterial infection may not need to complete a full course of antibiotics, a new report says.

What's the right water temperature to wash your hands?

A new study reinforces what experts have known for a long time about hand washing.

Tiny dancer, 6, recovers after losing part of leg to rare infection

The Puma family thought daughter Tessa had a nasty flu, but it turned out to be a rare infection that caused her to lose part of her leg.

Battling a cold? It may feel worse if you're lonely

The findings likely apply to other stressful scenarios, like losing a job or getting a divorce.

Is it safe to use a neti pot every day?

Many people with colds, the flu or allergies swear by neti pots to flush away nasal congestion and banish post-nasal drip. But are

Teen athlete's death a reminder that flu kills, as cases spread nationwide

Kayla Linton was a healthy, all-around athlete, but being fit did not protect her from the flu.

Is double dipping bad for your health?

Whether you're at the office, on a plane or at a party, it may feel like you have to choose between being polite and staying healthy.

Can you really strengthen your immune system?

Can you really boost your immune system? Here are five things that the science shows do work.

That nasty cold is finally over. What do I need to toss to stay healthy?

After weeks of feeling miserable, you've finally kicked that cold. You don't want to feel icky again so you toss out your toothbrush. Is it necessary?

Cold and Flu Video