Does getting a flu shot make you sick? Can exercise help you get over your cold faster? Our quiz will help you sort fact from fiction.

Cold and flu myths CSIRO

It's that time of year when the cold and flu runs rampant. So what's fact and what's fiction when it comes to these everyday illnesses? Take our quiz to find out - click through all of your responses and then press 'submit' to see the answers


 

Being cold gives you a cold


 

Zinc, Echinacea and vitamin C help to relieve cold symptoms


 

Getting the flu shot will give you a mild flu afterwards


 

Hot whiskey (or hot toddy) is a natural remedy when you’re sick


 

Exercise helps you get over your cold faster


 

The cold and the flu are the same thing


 

Taking cold and flu medicine helps to relieve cold symptoms


 

Mum’s chicken soup will make you feel better when you have a cold


 

Flying on a plane increases your risk of catching a cold or flu


 

There is an effective medical treatment for the flu


 

Being vaccinated every year means we will create a resistant super flu


 

Man flu exists


27 comments

  1. Leendert van Donk

    3rd August 2017 at 5:40 pm

    Never too old to learn something

  2. Lynn Evans

    3rd August 2017 at 3:16 pm

    Great I enjoyed completing this, but contrary to your experts say there is definitely “A MAN FLU’ especially if he know he can get extra attention!!

  3. Howard Wildman

    3rd August 2017 at 2:22 pm

    Relenza shortens the duration of symptoms of ‘the flu’ by about half a day according to the Cochrane Reviews library, which barely qualifies as a cure in my book.

    1. Ellen Singleton

      4th August 2017 at 3:54 pm

      Hi Howard,

      Thanks for your feedback! Relenza shortens the duration and severity of flu by a small amount in otherwise healthy adults. That’s the case for otherwise healthy adults exposed to a normal seasonal flu – so unless you have a time-pressure job (like a barrister who has to make a court appearance) it’s probably not worth taking Relenza. However, for the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and immune-compromised individuals (e.g. through AIDS or cancer medication), the flu can be life-threatening. In these cases Relenza is a good idea because it’s not just shortening the duration but possibly saving their life. Also for front-line health workers who come in contact with a new and dangerous influenza it’s very worthwhile to have a flu drug like Relenza available.

      We’ve updated the question in the quiz to make it clearer and provide more clarification.

      Cheers,
      Ellen
      CSIRO Social Media

  4. Marion

    3rd August 2017 at 2:10 pm

    Very interesting quiz! Are there any other old wive’s tales re catching a cold?

    1. Ellen Singleton

      4th August 2017 at 3:55 pm

      Hi there, thanks for your question and for taking the time to do our quiz! Some even say that 1 teaspoon of Manuka honey every morning is great, rub Vix on the chest and back, or putting onions in your socks! The list is never ending!

  5. Andy C

    3rd August 2017 at 1:14 pm

    How come I’ve never heard of Relenza, only the controversial Tamiflu.

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