A cough is a respiratory reaction that helps protect the lungs from irritating or damage substances. Coughing is a reflex action and involves rapid inhalation, closing off of the throat, increase in internal pressure in the chest, and forceful exhalation.

Coughing sometimes serves an important protective function by expelling materials from the airways so they do not reach the lungs. However, a cough is also a troubling symptom and represents one of the most common reasons why patients seek a physician's help.

Scrapes occur when you come into contact with an object forcefully enough to remove part of the top layer of skin. Scrapes can easily become infected, as the source of a scrape is rarely a clean object.

A sinus infection occurs when the walls of the sinus cavity become inflamed, trapping mucus within the cavity, causing infection to set in, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most sinus infections are the result of seasonal allergies or the common cold.

The stomach flu, also called viral gastroenteritis, is an infection that causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Young children typically contract this infection by coming in contact with an infected person or contaminated food or water.

Coughing is one of the most recognizable symptoms of illness. It can also be one of the most annoying. Frequent coughing can irritate the throat, make the ribs sore and even be embarrassing.

Breastfeeding has a range of health benefits for both mother and baby, but when a mom gets sick, she might be afraid that her breast milk will carry that illness to the baby. Fortunately, your baby cannot catch the stomach flu from you through your breast milk.

Skin occlusion occurs when something, usually a topical medication, is trapped on and, as a result, gets absorbed by your skin. If you have ever applied an antibacterial ointment to a cut, then covered that cut with a bandage, you have used skin occlusion to prevent infection and speed the healing process.

Vomiting and rapid breathing in your two-year-old are alarming and troublesome. Although they are not always cause for alarm, these symptoms sometimes signal a serious condition or infection that requires a doctor’s treatment.

If you think taking vitamin C can help prevent getting the stomach flu, you’re mistaken. While vitamin C contains antioxidant properties that may help strengthen the immune system, the only way to prevent the stomach flu is to avoid acquiring the virus that causes it.

Not only may over-the-counter medications (OTCs) for cold and cough have undesirable side effects such as nervousness, drowsiness and nausea, but their effectiveness is increasingly being called into question. Many studies, in fact, have found certain OTCs to be no more effective than placebo.

The herpes simplex virus is incurable -- once you’re infected, it stays with you for life. That may be a downer, but many people turn to lifestyle changes to help manage the condition and prevent outbreaks of the two types of herpes -- one that brings on cold sores and one that results in genital blisters.