In the cool season, an acute respiratory disease may appear. ARI contributes to the deterioration of immunity, as well as frequent stress and overwork. If you notice the first signs of the disease, then you can eliminate it quickly, without complications.
ARI is an infectious disease that affects the mucous membranes of the respiratory system. Toxins from the respiratory tract enter the bloodstream and provoke intoxication of the body.
Sources of disease are divided into three groups:
- viruses;
- bacteria;
- mycoplasma.
Viruses or bacteria are transmitted by airborne droplets, in public places, if hands are not washed in time.
Pathogens enter the respiratory system, they multiply on the mucous membranes and release toxins.
Symptoms of disease
As a rule, the first signs of the disease develop two or three days after infection. It all starts with discomfort in the nasopharynx and throat. In addition, sneezing, rhinitis, general malaise, weakness, dizziness and headaches occur.pain.
In the first stages of the disease, the temperature remains within the normal range or rises slightly. The discharge of mucus from the nose occurs on the second or third day from the onset of the disease.
Symptoms of acute respiratory disease in adult patients are as follows:
- Weakness.
- Pain in the head.
- Chills.
- Aches.
- Temperature up to 37.5 degrees.
- Loss of appetite.
- Rhinitis.
- Sore throat, pain and cough.
Signs that indicate a severe course of the disease or the development of possible complications:
- Sickness persists for two weeks.
- Heat temperature. The use of antipyretics does not have a positive effect.
- Pain behind the sternum.
- Cough.
- Severe headaches.
- Confusion.
As a rule, conjunctivitis, inflammation of the lymph nodes, hoarseness or pain in the ears join these symptoms.
Feverish conditions with acute respiratory infections begin with chills. Body temperature reaches a maximum on the first day. The duration of the febrile state varies depending on the origin of the disease and the severity.
One of the types of acute respiratory infections is the flu. It is different from other diseases. The flu has an abrupt onset with the following symptoms:
- high temperature for three to four days;
- eye pain;
- hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating);
- dizziness;
- nasal congestion;
- sneeze.
As soon as the first symptoms of acute respiratory disease develop in adult patients, it is important to respond to them immediately. It is easier to deal with the problem at the very beginning than to eliminate complications from the infection later.
Usually, an acute respiratory infection lasts for six to eight days and passes without consequences if you know how to treat it.
What will happen if the disease is not treated in time
If the disease is not given a proper response, it can lead to various serious complications:
- Sinusitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of one or more paranasal sinuses).
- Otitis (a common disease related to otorhinolaryngology, which is an acute or chronic inflammatory process in various parts of the ear).
- Meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain resulting from a bacterial, viral or fungal infection).
- Tracheitis (a clinical syndrome characterized by inflammatory changes in the mucosa of the trachea, which is a manifestation of respiratory infections, occurring both acutely and chronically).
- Bronchitis (a disease of the respiratory system, in which the bronchi are involved in the inflammatory process).
- Pneumonia (inflammation of the lung tissue, usually of infectious origin, predominantly affecting the alveoli and interstitial tissue of the lung).
- Empyema of the pleura (inflammation of the pleural sheets, accompanied by the formation of purulent exudate in the pleural cavity).
- Neuritis(an inflammatory disease of the peripheral nerves, in which, along with pain, so-called prolapses are detected, that is, loss or decrease in sensitivity, as well as paralysis and paresis).
- Radiculoneuritis (damage to the spinal nerves and their roots; manifested by pain and sensory disturbance of a mixed radicular and neuritic type).
- Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle caused by infectious, toxic or allergic effects and accompanied by impaired heart function).
- Viral encephalitis (an inflammatory process of the brain, which is accompanied by damage to the membranes of the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system).
- Liver damage.
To prevent acute respiratory infections from developing into complications, it is necessary to consult a doctor in time to prescribe the necessary drugs.
How to treat acute respiratory infections in adults, what medications to take? For the treatment of adults who suffer from acute respiratory diseases, pharmacological, organizational, and hygienic measures are used to isolate the source of the disease, reduce the activity of pathogen reproduction, activate the patient's individual protective capabilities, and neutralize the main signs of the disease.
Nuances to be observed:
- Bed rest.
- If the body temperature is not more than 38 degrees, it is not necessary to bring it down.
- Do not use antibacterial drugs unless prescribed by a doctor.
- At temperatureabove 37.5 degrees thermal procedures are prohibited.
- Mucolytics and antitussives should not be used together.
So, we treat acute respiratory infections at home for an adult.
Antiviral treatment
How to treat acute respiratory infections in adults? Medicines for ARVI are used with antiviral action. They are also prescribed for prevention.
As a rule, the following inexpensive drugs are prescribed to an adult in the treatment of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections:
- "Kagocel".
- "Interferon".
- "Grippferon".
- "Amixin".
- "Rimantadine".
- "Arbidol".
All of them have antiviral and immunomodulatory effects. Let's take a closer look at the two most popular drugs.
Kagocel
How to treat acute respiratory infections in adults? The medicine for ARVI, which has antiviral activity, is Kagocel. It activates the production of its own interferon in the body.
It is used in the treatment and prevention of acute respiratory viral infections. The use of the drug is indicated to eliminate acute respiratory infections. This medicine is good for adults with acute respiratory infections without fever.
Pills are prohibited under certain conditions:
- Individual intolerance.
- Lactose intolerance.
- Glucose-galactose malabsorption.
- Pregnancy.
- Children under three.
Before treatment, it is necessaryread the summary and pay attention to the features:
- To achieve the necessary pharmacological effect, the use of the medication should be started no later than on the fourth day from the onset of the disease.
- Pills go well with other antiviral agents, as well as immunomodulators and antibacterial drugs.
- The drug has no effect on attention.
If you have questions or doubts, you should consult your doctor. How to treat acute respiratory infections in an adult without a temperature yet?
Arbidol
The drug has an antiviral and immunostimulating effect. It activates the production of interferon, stimulates the humoral and cellular defense of the body, and also enhances the phagocytic activity of macrophages.
As a result of treatment with the drug, ARI in adults is observed:
- Antiviral and immunostimulating effect.
- Reduce symptoms of toxic effects as the disease progresses.
The use of a drug to eliminate viral infections is considered most effective when given early.
How to treat acute respiratory infections in adults quickly? Prophylactic use of the drug greatly reduces the likelihood of infection, and in the situation of acute respiratory infections, it helps to ease its course and speedy recovery.
Heat temperature
When the temperature is above thirty-eight degrees, antipyretics are indispensable. It should be noted thatThe combined use of different types of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can provoke an increase in side effects, so you need to use medicines that contain either ibuprofen or paracetamol. The medical specialist will definitely select the right antipyretic, taking into account all individual restrictions, and determine when and how to use the medication.
How to treat acute respiratory infections in an adult? Medicines (drugs should be taken after consulting a doctor) that are prescribed for fever:
- "Butadion".
- "Aspirin".
- "Upsarin Upsa".
- "Paracetamol".
- "Ketorolac".
- "Perfalgan".
- "Cefekon N".
- "Askofen".
- "Faspic".
- "Nurofen".
- "Efferalgan".
Most often, doctors recommend Paracetamol and Aspirin.
Paracetamol
The drug belongs to the group of antipyretics. "Paracetamol" has a pronounced analgesic effect, as well as antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects. The drug is part of many painkillers and a number of drugs that are used to neutralize the signs of an acute respiratory viral infection.
"Paracetamol" is an effective and inexpensive drug for acute respiratory infections in an adult. The medicine is prescribed to patients under certain conditions:
- Headpain.
- Dysmenorrhea (a cyclic pathological process in which severe pains in the lower abdomen appear on the days of menstruation).
- Toothache.
- Neuralgia (a pathological condition that progresses due to damage to certain parts of the peripheral nerves).
- Feverish conditions.
- High temperature.
People who have a history of severe liver damage should consult a doctor before treatment and it is better to take blood tests.
If it is necessary to use Paracetamol for a long time, the patient needs to control blood counts.
Aspirin
The drug refers to anti-inflammatory drugs that have antipyretic and analgesic effects. "Aspirin" is used for the symptomatic elimination of pain of various origins and to reduce fever during fever.
The drug is prohibited for use under the following conditions:
- patients under fifteen;
- lactation;
- pregnancy;
- exacerbation of gastrointestinal ulcers;
- high sensitivity.
The drug is prescribed to patients as a symptomatic remedy to eliminate pain and feverish conditions.
Indications:
- Toothache and headache treatment.
- Myalgia (a pathological condition characterized by muscle pain).
- Arthralgia (pain in the joints of a volatile nature in the absenceobjective symptoms of the lesion).
- Menstrual pains.
- Heat temperature.
Sore throat
How to treat acute respiratory infections in an adult with a sore throat? Usually recommended to use sprays, lozenges, lozenges:
- "Ingalipt".
- "Ambassador".
- "Pharingosept".
- "Kameton".
- "Strepsils".
- "Gexoral".
Some of them will be discussed below.
Ingalipt
The drug is a remedy that has antimicrobial, as well as anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. "Ingalipt" is widely used for inflammatory lesions of the oropharynx and upper respiratory organs.
When the drug gets on the mucous membranes, the patient feels relief from pain. Under the influence of the drug, edema is eliminated, an attack of dry cough is neutralized, microbes that cause inflammation are eliminated.
After irrigation with a spray, the patient must refrain from eating and drinking for thirty to forty minutes, otherwise the pharmacological effect of Ingalipt is significantly reduced.
Absorption of the drug into the blood is negligible, but since the drug contains ethanol, it is important to refrain from driving a car and operating mechanisms that require increased attention during treatment with a spray.
"Ingalipt" is notrecommended for use in patients under 12 years of age. People with diabetes need to be careful when using the drug, as the drug contains sugar.
Pharingosept
The medication is an antiseptic for local use. "Pharingosept" is used to eliminate the infectious and inflammatory pathological process of the respiratory system.
The use of tablets is indicated for the elimination and prevention of diseases of the oral mucosa, tonsils, gums. In addition, the medication is used to eliminate infectious and inflammatory processes after tooth extraction.
Before therapy, you need to carefully read the annotation to "Pharingosept". After resorption of the drug, it is necessary to refrain from eating and drinking for two hours, which will make it possible to obtain the most pronounced pharmacological effect.
The possibility of using Faringosept for women during pregnancy and lactation is determined by the doctor for strict medical reasons, if the probable benefit to the expectant mother outweighs the risks to the fetus or newborn.
The active ingredient "Pharingosept" has no effect on the functioning of the central nervous system.
Respiratory damage
Regardless of whether the throat is affected or not, you need to wash the nasopharyngeal mucosa from pathogens. A positive effect is given by rinsing with sea s alt. Half a glass of warm water take one third of a teaspoon of s alt. Then gargle three times a day.
In case of inflammation of the bronchi, lungs and larynx with the release of a pathological secret, mucolytic agents are prescribed for adults:
- "Ambrobene".
- "Ambroxol".
- "ACC".
- "Bromhexine".
- "Broncholithin".
Below, we describe the first two drugs from the list.
Ambroxol
Mucolytic drugs have expectorant, as well as secretolytic and secretomotor effects. The pharmacological effect occurs half an hour after the use of the drug. Duration varies from six to twelve hours.
Indications for use:
- Acute and chronic pathological processes of the respiratory system.
- Acute bronchitis (a form of diffuse inflammation of the bronchial tree, characterized by increased bronchial secretion and impaired bronchial patency).
- Chronic bronchitis (diffuse progressive inflammatory process in the bronchi, leading to morphological restructuring of the bronchial wall and peribronchial tissue).
- Bronchoectatic disease (a disease characterized by irreversible changes (expansion, deformation) of the bronchi).
- Bronchial asthma (a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract, characterized by asthma attacks of varying duration and frequency).
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(a progressive disease characterized by an inflammatory component, impaired bronchial patency at the level of the distal bronchi and structural changes in the lung tissue and blood vessels).
- Bacterial pneumonia (infection of the lungs with certain bacteria, such as Haemophilus influenzae or pneumococcus).
Ambrobene
An expectorant medicine has secretolytic, as well as secretomotor and mucolytic effects. Indications:
- Acute and chronic respiratory diseases.
- Acute bronchitis.
- Bronchiectasis.
- Asthma.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Bacterial pneumonia.
Restrictions on drug use:
- Increased sensitivity to components.
- Epileptic syndrome.
- Peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.
- Lactation.
- First trimester of pregnancy.
- Severe liver disease.
- Kidney dysfunction.
Side effects:
- Pain in the abdomen.
- Nausea.
- Gagging.
- Diarrhea.
- Constipation.
- Skin rashes.
- Itching.
- Nettle rash.
- Angioneurotic edema of the face (acute condition, which is characterized by the rapid development of local swelling of the mucous membrane, subcutaneous tissue and the skin itself).
- Migraine (a neurological disease characterized by periodic or regular attacks of headachepain).
- Weakness.
- Feverish conditions.
- Rhinorrhea (a special condition in which an increased amount of mucus is formed in the nose and subsequently expires from the sinuses).
- Drying of the mucous membrane of the mouth and respiratory organs.
- Dysuric disorders (impaired urination, cramps and pain during it).
- Exanthema (skin rash that looks like spots, papules, vesicles).
In case of drug poisoning, no signs of intoxication were detected. In this situation, in the first two hours after application, the patient must do a gastric lavage, and, if necessary, use other methods of intensive treatment. In the future, symptomatic therapy is prescribed to the person.
Antibiotics
Antibacterial drugs are prescribed to eliminate bacterial as well as mycoplasmal infections. In severe condition and the possibility of complications, the patient is subject to hospitalization. Basically, with acute respiratory infections, they prescribe:
- Penicillins ("Augmentin", "Ampicillin", "Amoxil"). They fight staphylococcal, pneumococcal, streptococcal infections.
- Cephalosporins ("Cefuroxime", "Cefixime", "Supraks"). They are prescribed for complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, pleurisy.
- Macrolides ("Macropen", "Erythromycin", "Frolimid"). Prescribed for complications of ENT organs.
- Fluoroquinolones ("Ofloxacin", "Levofloxacin"). Fight mycoplasma.
Treat ARI at home for an adult: nutrition
The diet of a sick person should be light - it is not recommended to starve, as well as to overload the body with food. The diet must be complete.
To increase the body's resistance to the infectious process and restore the concentration of vitamins, you must consume the following products:
- citrus fruits, rosehip decoction;
- eggs, chicken, vegetables, cottage cheese, butter.
When you lose your appetite, you can not force the sick person to take food against his will. During this period, all forces are aimed at fighting an infectious disease, so food should be light. As soon as the person gets better, the appetite will be restored, you can return to the previous diet.
In addition, vitamin-mineral complexes are prescribed: "Revit", "Undevit" - two tablets each, "Dekamevit" - one tablet three times a day.
Plentiful drink
The patient needs to consume fluids as much as possible, since the disease is almost always accompanied by intoxication of the body.
But you can not drink any drinks, but best of all:
- Morses.
- Weak tea with lemon.
- Mineral water.
- Juices.
Traditional medicine
As a rule, the treatment of acute respiratory diseases in adults is carried out at home. In this situation, folk remedies are often used:
- From inflammatory lesions of the tonsils, rinsing with decoctions of sage, as well as chamomile and calendula (2 tablespoons per200 ml water).
- Eggnog is effective for hoarseness - two egg yolks should be ground white with sugar, taken between meals.
- Cough helps radish with honey. They take a black radish, cut off its lower part, leaving the upper (with a tail) untouched. Then a deepening is made with a knife in the root crop, filled with honey. The cut part is covered with a hole on top and give time for the formation of healing juice inside the fruit. Take a tablespoon of juice three times a day.
- Inhalations with chamomile. One spoon with grass must be poured with a glass of hot water. Then you should cool the solution a little and breathe over the steam for twenty-five minutes. Also inhalations can be done with potatoes.
- Raspberries and oregano should be mixed in a ratio of two to one and brewed with boiling water. The infusion should be consumed hot three times a day for half a cup.
- Infusion of lime flowers - pour two tablespoons of the plant into two glasses of hot water. The drink should be infused for thirty minutes, then strain and drink half a glass after meals, up to five times a day.
- Averin tea is an effective tool in the fight against pathogens. For its manufacture, it is necessary to pour 30 grams of a string and a tricolor violet with a half of a stem of black nightshade into hot water. Then take a tablespoon four times a day.
Conclusion
Of course, the doctor should choose the right therapy and tell in detail how to treat acute respiratory infections in adults. With pronounced signs of acute respiratory diseases, self-medication is impossibleexercise, as this can aggravate the course of the disease and cause certain complications.
To avoid infection, adults must take care of prevention. Proper nutrition, an active lifestyle, airing the room, he althy sleep and giving up bad habits are the key to he alth.
