ARVI disease is an insidious disease that can cause exacerbation of lung diseases and secondary bacterial pathologies. Medical professionals liken it to an outbreak and warn about it almost every winter. The disease causes many problems with the onset of cold weather, since there are currently more than two hundred types of its pathogens. Because of this diversity of bacteria, the pharmaceutical industry is constantly developing effective antiviral drugs.
With ARVI, adults are usually offered complex therapy, the role of which is to act directly on the provoking factor of the disease. To achieve the maximum result in treatment, it is important to determine the exact diagnosis. This material will consider in detail not only the causes and symptoms, but also the methods of treatment of respiratory diseases.infections.
How does the disease manifest itself?
What is popularly called the common cold, medical workers refer to as an acute respiratory viral infection - this is the decoding of SARS. In fact, the disease includes a number of clinical conditions associated with the respiratory system. Their provocateurs are pneumotropic viruses. Infections that cause inflammatory processes are divided into adenovirus, respiratory syncytial and rhinovirus. Against the background of the development of a viral disease, serious complications often occur, accompanied by bacterial lesions of the upper respiratory tract.
At the initial stage, the disease can manifest itself as pain in the eyes and tearing. The patient feels lethargic, his general he alth worsens, drowsiness increases. Unlike the flu, which occurs spontaneously, the common cold develops much more slowly. At first, the patient has a sore throat, then he begins to sneeze. If treatment is started immediately during this period, a person may not get sick. The main thing is to drink the medicine in a timely manner and observe bed rest. Can even help in this case, and non-traditional therapy. If the disease still progresses, then after a few days the patient begins to cough. As for the increase in temperature, everything is individual here, as well as the onset of SARS can proceed differently for everyone. It can fluctuate within 37, 1-38 degrees. Commonly recognized symptoms typically include:
- headache;
- runny nose;
- cough;
- sneeze;
- sore throat;
- sluggishness;
- chill.
If you have a viral infection on your feet, the symptoms can be more complicated, for example, pain in the area of the hearing aid or in the paranasal sinuses. In most cases, such inflammation occurs in people with weak immunity. If the throat with SARS is too swollen, then it is necessary to exclude other diseases that can begin along with a cold.
Sources and causes of infections
During the epidemic peak, the disease covers about 30% of the population. The nature or method of transmission and infection of SARS is airborne. Due to the high prevalence of the disease, it rages everywhere. You can get the virus not only from sick people. Breeding grounds for bacteria are often common household utensils. Touching doorknobs, railings and other objects in crowded places, educational institutions and transport increases the likelihood of transmission. It has been noted that infants and older children who are in relative isolation have fewer colds than those who attend kindergartens and schools. Most older people get sick less often due to the acquisition of special immunity after suffering a cold. Another prevalence of the disease is associated with the epidemic situation in a particular area.
With minimal symptoms of the disease, many people continue to lead an active, social lifestyle, which means they are a source of infection. The good news is that today the bacterial nature has been establishedalmost all types of pathogenic agents that provoke ARVI disease. It should be remembered that their sources can be not only people, but also domestic animals and birds. They pose a danger both after the incubation period and during the febrile state.
The difference between influenza and SARS
It is very important to learn to distinguish between these diseases - this is the only way to avoid serious consequences. The risk of various pathologies with influenza is much higher. Bed rest is simply necessary here - not only in order to defeat the disease, but in order not to become a source of infection for other people. Also, if the diagnosis of SARS is correctly diagnosed, the doctor will be able to prescribe suitable antiviral drugs. For influenza, antibiotics are recommended in most cases.
To understand the nature of diseases, you need to focus on the initial stage of the disease - how its symptoms manifest themselves. Severe malaise and too high a temperature signal a possible flu. Other characteristic conditions are added to these signs, in the aggregate they indicate a more dangerous ailment. Let's highlight the main symptoms of the flu:
- excessive headache;
- aches in joints, muscles and bones;
- too high readings on the thermometer;
- dry cough:
- general malaise.
The course of SARS is different. As already mentioned, there is a slight weakness, sore throat, not too high a temperature. These signs are markedboth in adenoviruses and in diseases caused by rhinoviruses. In some patients, a cold is accompanied by a hoarse voice. Runny nose with SARS is the most common symptom. The disease is characterized by a gradual decrease in symptoms, in total this period lasts from three to seven days. After that, full recovery occurs if there are no complications. Although colds develop pathological conditions much less frequently than flu.
As you can see, the flu starts sharply and suddenly. It is characterized by such consequences as bacterial bronchitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis. The appearance of the latter is signaled by yellow-green discharge from the nasal cavities. If there are such manifestations, there is a possibility that the maxillary sinuses have become inflamed. There is another type of pathological complication in clinical practice - frontal sinusitis. This disease is characterized by inflammation of the frontal sinuses. With bronchitis, the patient begins to feel pain in the chest, and the cough turns into a wet form. It is imperative to contact a specialist to identify the presence of wheezing and exclude pneumonia.
So, to summarize the comparative analysis of diseases:
- ARVI disease develops slowly, as palpable symptoms increase. Influenza is a spontaneous illness accompanied by fever and inflammation in the respiratory tract. It is included in the group of respiratory acute diseases caused by viruses.
- A cold is characterized by a low temperature, which, as a rule, is not higher than 37-37.2 oC. For acute illnesscritical conditions are observed when the indicators are from 39 to 41 degrees and last for three days.
- The diagnosis of SARS is made if symptoms such as sore throat, nasal congestion and cough appear in the first days of the disease. With the flu, these signs make themselves felt on the 3-4th day and are less intense.
- Discomfort and excessive fatigue appear more with acute infections (flu). Lethargy can accompany the patient for 2-3 weeks even after the therapeutic course. As a rule, recovery is always followed by a long recovery period. Weakness after SARS passes much faster. With proper and timely treatment, patients usually recover within 7-10 days.
- Pain in the body, aching muscles, fever are typical of the flu and can be quite pronounced. With a cold, such symptoms are usually insignificant, proceeding in the form of a slight chill.
Why a cold should be treated in a timely manner
In addition to the general clinical picture, ARVI disease can manifest itself in different ways, depending on what type of pathogen it was caused by. For example, against the background of a cold, negative changes in the liver can occur, intestinal disorders can be observed, and sometimes conjunctivitis. Timely treatment is necessary, since the fight against viruses significantly affects the functioning of the immune system.
As mentioned above, pathogens of various infections existhuge multitude. Pathogenic microorganisms gradually adapted and began to suppress the protective reactions of the human body. Often the danger is not the virus itself, but the pathological conditions provoked by it. If the patient's natural defenses cope with foreign agents, the cold passes quickly. When immunity is weakened, fertile ground is created for the development of various diseases. That is why doctors often prescribe general tonic medicines that ensure the fight against the disease. Such drugs support the protective reactions of the body. The drug "Amixin", which is often prescribed for weak immunity, copes with this task perfectly.
Some mistakenly believe that serious complications can only occur after a severe viral infection. However, the so-called common cold is sometimes fraught with dangerous consequences. It can be joined by a bacterial infection, manifested in the form of pneumonia, sinusitis, bronchitis.
Diagnosis
The real nature of the virus can be revealed through laboratory testing. Diagnostics helps to determine the presence of antibodies in the patient's blood, which are considered specific for a particular virus. However, in medical practice, the clinical picture of the disease is more often used to make the correct diagnosis. If after five days the symptoms of the disease increase, then doctors recommend conducting a deeper study in order to exclude negative consequences. This includes:
- complete blood count;
- chest diagnostics;
- radiological examination of the paranasal sinuses.
Treatment
The quick recovery of a person largely depends on the normal functioning of their own immunity. To support the patient's body during illness, the doctor usually prescribes a comprehensive treatment. The regular use of ascorbic acid or fruits containing vitamin C helps to shorten the duration of the disease and reduce the severity of its course. This valuable organic compound is present in immunostimulating complexes. The chances of a quick recovery of the body are increased by quitting smoking and alcohol, enhanced drinking regimen and complete rest.
Therapy includes antiviral drugs that can have a negative impact on foreign agents at different stages of their development. Assign antipyretic anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs. The long-proven drug "Paracetamol" has not yet lost its popularity. However, it is gradually being replaced by a fairly effective modern drug - Ibuprofen. Mostly with the help of such drugs, symptomatic therapy is carried out. They also prescribe drugs for the common cold, antipyretics and expectorants.
To eliminate unwanted symptoms of a cold, some people use over-the-counter medications containing antihistamines, decongestants, and analgesics. As for the elimination of acute signs of the disease and the restoration of the state as a whole, suchmethod experts find somewhat useful. The maximum therapeutic effect is achieved through a combination of decongestants and antihistamines. However, these combinations may have side effects.
Usually, patients after taking the mentioned drugs feel dry mouth, excessive drowsiness or, conversely, asomnia, slight dizziness. For the prevention and treatment of viral infections, experts recommend taking "Amizon", which has a number of therapeutic effects: antipyretic, immunostimulating, anti-inflammatory, analgesic.
Effective antivirals
In SARS, adults are prescribed medications that can act directly on infectious agents. There are drugs that do not allow pathogens to enter the cells. Some of the drugs act as blockers and affect their enzyme systems. The most popular means are:
- Arbidol.
- Rebetol.
- Relenza.
- Orvirem.
- "Virazole".
- "Influcein".
- Midantan.
- Tamiflu.
- "Virazole".
Despite the fact that the pharmaceutical market is rich in a wide range of products, there is a reservation from experts that there are no medicines that can completely defeat viruses yet. This is due to the fact that disease-causing agents have already developed sufficient resistance to rimantadine and amantadine. However, doctors recommend taking antiviral drugsfor the reason that they significantly reduce the risk of serious complications.
Immunomodulating drugs
Such funds stimulate the immune system, help to cope with its natural functions, connecting specific biological structures of the body. For example, with ARVI, Ingavirin tablets increase the sensitivity of cells to endogenous natural interferon. Amiksin enhances the production of these special proteins that act as antiviral agents. "Polyoxidonium" activates phagocytes, which eliminate cells affected by pathogens.
Treatment of colds in children
Immunoglobulins that babies receive with mother's milk protect them from bacteria and viruses. Only by the age of 4 do babies develop antibodies to infectious agents. To do this, their body must face various viruses. Therefore, SARS affects children much more often than adults. By visiting children's institutions, babies adapt to viruses, at this stage of life they begin to get sick and to some extent this trend is considered normal.
However, this does not mean that a cold should not be treated. Timely therapy will protect the child from negative consequences. For example, inflammation of the larynx or pharynx often leads to pharyngitis or laryngitis. In weak children, against the background of a cold, a sore throat can develop, which gives complications to the kidneys, heart and joints.
Symptoms of SARS inchildren are the same as adults. Diarrhea and conjunctivitis may also join. High temperature and plaque on the tonsils indicate the occurrence of a sore throat. You should not put a presumptive diagnosis on a child and self-medicate. You should definitely visit a pediatrician.
In view of the above, it is worth considering clinical guidelines for the treatment of SARS in children. Therapy for young patients begins with an examination and the correct prescription of medications.
In addition, it is recommended to drink plenty of water. Doctors advise giving babies warm milk, compotes, herbal teas, cocoa and various fruit drinks. You can not bring down a low temperature, indicators of 37-37.5 indicate that the child's immune system is fighting the disease.
Runny nose with SARS in children is often treated with drugs such as Nazivin or Tizin. These are vasodilators that need to be dripped into the baby's nasal cavities. It is also allowed to wash the nose with saline solution.
An effective antiviral agent in the form of a powder for inhalation is Relenza, a drug in the form of tablets for ARVI - Theraflu. The first drug is prescribed after 5 years, the second - for babies from a year. Miramistin is used to treat the throat. Antibacterial spray will ease the painful condition of the baby. As a folk remedy, you can use a soda solution for gargling.
After a few days, when the cough turns into a productive state, the list of medicines for the treatment of a small patient can be replenished. If sputum does not come out well, they are dischargedthinning expectorants: Ambrobene, Doctor MOM, Lazolvan.
Prevention of influenza and SARS
Most of the medicines offered by the pharmaceutical market are suitable not only for the treatment of respiratory viral infections, but also for the prevention of diseases. However, for the prevention of influenza, experts recommend vaccination. Its principle is that the body tolerates the disease in advance, thereby acquiring special antibodies. The World He alth Organization works every year to identify dominant strains of pathogens and make recommendations for the most effective vaccines.
If you have been vaccinated against the flu, this does not mean that you can no longer worry about viral infections entering the body. In fact, this preventive measure does not provide complete protection against this insidious disease. There are a lot of viruses of similar diseases, so it is important to be careful.
Experts recommend following a number of measures to prevent SARS: wash your hands regularly with antibacterial soap, wear a disposable mask during epidemics, and avoid contact with patients. The protective bandage should be changed every 2 hours. For the purpose of prevention, it is advised to use the ointment - "Viferon". Hand washing is considered a fairly effective protective method, since a large number of germs enter the human body through these parts of the body.
In the midst of epidemics, one should not use public transport without special need, visitpublic events. It is important to observe a sleep schedule and take care of a nutritious diet. A he althy lifestyle to some extent protects against colds. You need to play sports and often be in the fresh air. Also take vitamin complexes and rinse the nasal cavities with saline.
