In the article we will consider the symptoms of influenza in adults. What is this pathology, why is it dangerous?
Influenza is an acute viral respiratory infection caused by viruses of types A, B and C. The disease manifests itself in the form of fever, intoxication and damage to the epithelial surfaces of the upper respiratory tract. Influenza was included in the category of acute otolaryngological infections. The patient infected with influenza poses the greatest danger in the first six days from the onset of the disease. The route of infection with influenza is aerosol. The duration of illness usually does not exceed one week. But various complications can be observed in the form of otitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, cystitis, myositis, pericarditis, in addition, hemorrhagic syndrome. Influenza is especially dangerous for expectant mothers, as it can lead to threats of abortion. Read more about flu symptoms, its diagnosis and prevention methods below.
Historydiseases
Influenza has long been known to mankind. The first epidemic of this disease occurred in the sixteenth century. At that time, people still did not know anything about the nature of the disease. The respiratory disease was called the Spanish flu, which was called the epidemic of severe influenza. Against the background of the disease in those days, there was a huge mortality rate, which occurred almost at lightning speed. It is worth noting that even young, he althy people developed pneumonia with pulmonary edema.
The viral nature of the disease was established only at the beginning of the last century. Then scientists realized that a specific virus could have an effect on the respiratory tract. At the beginning of the twentieth century, experiments were carried out on hamsters, which were specially infected with the flu. Then it became clear that the causative agent of the disease is a type A virus. A little later, two more varieties of influenza became known: "B" and "C".
Influenza virus is weakly resistant to chemical and physical factors. In just a few hours, it can break down at room temperature. But at low temperatures, for example, at -25 ° C, it can last for several years. It is usually killed by drying along with heat and exposure to ultraviolet light. Also, it does not withstand exposure to chlorine with ozone.
Flu symptoms can be very annoying. More on this below.
Basic concept and characteristics of the disease
Influenza A virus can infect humans and some animal species. Types "B" and "C" reproduce only in the human body. Influenza virus can be characterized by high levelsantigenic variability, which is more typical for type "A". The nature of antigenic polymorphism contributes to the emergence of frequent epidemics, and at the same time, multiple morbidity throughout the season, which makes it impossible to develop a sufficiently reliable group prevention. The influenza virus is unstable and dies quite easily if the temperature rises to sixty degrees. He also dies under the influence of chemical disinfectants. At a temperature of 4 degrees, the virus can remain viable for up to three weeks.
The immediate reservoir and source of infection is a sick person with obvious clinical manifestations or an erased type of infection. The maximum nature of the isolation of this virus is noted in the first six days of the disease. Contagiousness directly depends on the severity of catarrhal symptoms, in addition, the concentration of infection in the secretion of the respiratory mucosa.
Influenza A virus can also be isolated by sick pigs with horses and birds. One of the modern theories suggests that a certain role in the spread of the influenza virus on a global scale is played, first of all, by migratory birds with mammals. They serve as a reservoir of infection, contributing to the formation of strains that can further infect a person.
The mechanism of transmission of a disease such as influenza, as noted earlier, is aerosol. Thus, this virus can be spread by airborne droplets. Hisdirect excretion is carried out with saliva and sputum during coughing or sneezing, as well as against the background of a conversation. The infection, which looks like a fine aerosol, enters the air, after which it is inhaled by other people. In some situations, the implementation of a household method of transmitting the disease is not excluded. For example, this can happen through dishes or children's toys. Why do people get flu symptoms?
The natural susceptibility of people to this virus is extremely high, especially in relation to new serotypes. Babies who are breastfed can get harmful antibodies from their mother, and very often the immune system does not protect against further development of a dangerous infection. The prevalence of a virus such as the flu is ubiquitous and regularly breaks out. Emerging epidemics often reach global proportions. Let's now look at how flu symptoms manifest.
Symptoms of pathology
The incubation period of this disease is usually from several hours to four days, the onset of the pathology is mostly acute, and its immediate course can be mild, moderate or severe with or without complications. The clinical picture of influenza is represented by three main symptomatic complexes: intoxication, catarrh and hemorrhage.
The manifestation of intoxication syndrome occurs from the first hours of illness, the temperature can rise up to forty degrees, while there will be chills with headaches, dizziness and general weakness. Other flu symptoms may also occur -moderate myalgia and arthralgia with convulsions and impaired consciousness. The degree of intensity of the intoxication syndrome usually forms the severity of the course of an uncomplicated form of influenza and can vary over a very wide range, ranging from the appearance of moderate malaise to intense febrile reactions, vomiting, convulsions and confusion, delirium. Flu symptoms and treatment are interrelated.
Fever often resolves in stages, and symptoms usually begin to subside by the seventh day of illness. During the examination during the febrile period, patients note flushing of the face along with hyperthermia and dry skin, tachycardia is found, and some decrease in pressure is also likely. The catarrhal nature of the symptoms manifests itself some time after the development of intoxication (such a condition may be mild or completely absent). Patients may complain of the appearance of a dry cough with discomfort and soreness in the throat, and, in addition, in the nasopharynx. At the same time, a runny nose also appears. It is not excluded the manifestation of a clinic of laryngitis or bronchitis, which will be expressed in hoarseness of voice and squeezing behind the sternum against the background of a dry, growing in intensity, straining cough. As part of the examination, slight hyperemia of the pharynx is sometimes noted. But the main symptom of the flu is fever.
In ten percent of cases, the flu contributes to the development of hemorrhagic symptoms. Against this background, small hemorrhages in the region of the oropharyngeal mucosa along with bleeding from the nose, with the development of severe hemorrhage, join the catarrhal manifestations.progression to acute pulmonary edema is not excluded. Influenza, as a rule, is not accompanied by symptoms from the activity of the pelvic organs and the abdominal cavity. But in the event that such a clinic still takes place, it will be predominantly neurogenic in nature. The symptoms of swine flu in humans are discussed below.
Intestinal disorders against the background of influenza in children at an early age are associated with the development of intoxication syndrome. The appearance of diarrhea with influenza in adult patients will most likely indicate the presence of a chronic disease of the digestive system, which was provoked by an exacerbation of the infection. The total duration of this disease on average does not exceed five days. In the subsequent period, sometimes general asthenia may persist for several days. In medical practice, there have been cases of the appearance of an atypical course of influenza. Next, find out what complications are possible against the background of this pathology.
Signs of different types of flu
First consider swine flu symptoms:
- Different by severe intoxication of the body, which manifests itself suddenly.
- Hyperthermia - high body temperature.
- Headache of a sharp nature, intense.
What other swine flu symptoms are possible?
- Problems in the respiratory system - the patient suffers from a dry cough.
- General weakness, accompanied by aching throughout the body.
- Feeling of squeezing the lungs - severe pain behind the sternum, inability to dodeep breath in and out.
The symptoms of bird flu are similar to regular flu. It is characterized by fever, intoxication, catarrhal phenomena. In the case of the hypertoxic form of influenza, not only the lungs suffer, but an infectious-toxic shock can occur, which is fraught with cerebral edema, damage to the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract (diarrhea, vomiting).
Symptoms and treatment of intestinal flu in adults are of interest to many.
Manifested by a sharp rise in temperature, diarrhea, vomiting. But a gradual onset is also possible - weakness, malaise. The next day, intestinal manifestations join. Also, the symptoms of intestinal flu in adults can be erased: abdominal pain, rumbling, loss of appetite, unexpressed weakness.
Diarrhea with intestinal flu almost always occurs. The feces will be plentiful, liquid or mushy, yellow in color, with an unpleasant odor, frothy. In severe cases, the stool loses its fecal character, its portions decrease, it becomes green. The body loses large amounts of water and electrolytes, which can lead to dehydration in a short time. Symptoms of the intestinal flu in children can manifest themselves in this way.
Such a process for babies is very dangerous, since the volume of fluid in their body is less than that of adults.
The basis of treatment is the replenishment of fluid and s alt balance.
Australian flu symptoms H3N2 mostly:
- Weakness, chills, low grade fever.
- Increased fever in the evening.
- Pain in the stomach,nausea, in some cases vomiting.
- Loss of appetite, throat discomfort, trouble swallowing.
Consider also the Hong Kong flu. Its symptoms are similar to other types.
Patients have weakness, nausea, frontal headache, eye movement pain, insomnia, dry mouth, cough, sneezing, hyperhidrosis, general malaise and chills. Body temperature is difficult to bring down with antipyretic drugs. Myalgia and arthralgia are present, which worsens the condition of patients. Patients have lower back pain, eye pain.
Influenza and its complications
Influenza can be complicated by a variety of diseases in the early period (in this case they are often caused by bacterial infections that have joined), as well as in the late period. The severe nature of the complicated course of the disease usually occurs among young children, in addition, in elderly or debilitated patients who suffer from certain chronic pathologies of various organs.
Extremely rarely, in the presence of severe intoxication, this disease can be complicated by a life-threatening condition. We are talking about acute hemorrhagic pulmonary edema. At the same time, doctors note a sharp increase in shortness of breath along with cyanosis. It may also produce frothy, bloody sputum. The result of the development of acute pulmonary edema is the progressive nature of respiratory failure with hypoxic coma, often leading to death.
The addition of infections against the background of the flu often contributes tothe formation of pneumonia. In this case, the lungs are mainly affected by the streptococcal or staphylococcal form of infection. Pneumonia of a similar etiology may occur with a tendency to destruction of lung tissue, they may also be complicated by bleeding and edema. Pneumonia can provoke the development of infectious-toxic shock in the body. After pneumonia, patients often have residual symptoms in the form of bronchiectasis and pneumosclerosis.
Influenza can contribute to otitis media. Often this insidious disease is complicated by sinusitis, sinusitis or frontal sinusitis. On the part of other organs, nephritis can be noted along with pyelocystitis, myositis, and inflammation of the heart bag. Complications from the work of the heart against the background of influenza are considered the main reason for the increase in the frequency of heart attacks during the epidemic. Also, as part of the complications of influenza, the development of acute heart failure is likely. Influenza is especially dangerous for women in position, as it can cause abortion along with intrauterine fetal death.
Diagnosis of influenza
Preliminary diagnostics is carried out based on the clinical picture and test data. At the same time, procedures are carried out aimed at identifying influenza virus antigens in a patient's swab, which is taken in the nasal cavity. A reliable confirmation of this diagnosis is the method of serological diagnosis, in which the increase in antibody titers is determined using enzyme immunoassay. At the same time, more thanquadruple magnification.
If pneumonia is suspected, patients with influenza may need to see a pulmonologist along with an x-ray of the lungs. In the event of the development of any complications from the activities of the otolaryngological organs, an examination of the ENT with rhinoscopy will be required.
Next, we will find out how the flu is treated and what medications doctors consider appropriate for prescribing as part of the treatment of this disease.
As noted, flu symptoms and treatment are closely related.
Treating influenza
Influenza is treated primarily on an outpatient basis. Only patients with severe or complicated infection are hospitalized. In addition, patients from orphanages and boarding schools are subject to mandatory hospitalization.
During a fever, bed rest is recommended along with plenty of fluids, a balanced wholesome diet and, of course, vitamins. As part of the means of etiotropic treatment in the first days of the disease, the well-known "Remantadin" is prescribed. True, this drug has some contraindications, which include the age of patients up to fourteen years, pregnancy and kidney pathology. Late administration of antiviral therapy is ineffective. Patients may be prescribed interferons. In addition to the main antiviral treatment, patients need to prescribe vitamin C, calcium gluconate, rutin, variousantipyretics and antihistamines.
All parents should know the symptoms and treatment of influenza in children.
The severe nature of the pathology in a child often requires the adoption of detoxification measures. In this case, an infusion of Hemodez and Reopoliglyukin solutions is prescribed. Eufillin is often added to detoxification solutions along with ascorbic acid and Dimedrol. With the emerging pulmonary edema, the dosage of saluretics should be increased, thus, Prednisolone is prescribed intravenously, in addition, the necessary intensive treatment measures are taken. In the event of the development of heart failure, thiamine pyrophosphates with sulfocamphoric acid should be prescribed, potassium and magnesium preparations are also required. In parallel, the necessary correction of internal acidic and basic homeostasis is carried out, the overall airway patency is controlled.
Forecast and prevention of influenza
Mostly, the prognosis of this pathology is favorable, and immediate recovery usually occurs within six days. A worse prognosis can cause a severe course of the disease in young children and the elderly. For these categories of patients, the development of extremely dangerous complications is not excluded. The prognosis during pregnancy is unfavorable, since the flu quite often provokes its interruption.
Measures for the specific prevention of this pathology are currently being developed. Scientists are researching the most common strains of the disease. The multiantigenic nature of epidemics makes it impossible to fully eliminate the possibility of influenza infection with the help of vaccination. It is worth noting that a sensitized organism can carry the infection much more easily, and the risk of developing a severe complication among immunized children is much lower. As for vaccinations, it is advisable to do them a couple of weeks before the expected epidemic period. It must be emphasized that anti-influenza immunity is short-term, in connection with this, it is desirable to carry out immunization of the body every year.
General Prevention
General prevention during a mass epidemic involves the implementation of the usual measures aimed at preventing the subsequent spread of infection, which is transmitted by airborne droplets. As for personal prevention, it should consist in avoiding contact with patients. It is also advisable to avoid crowded places. An excellent measure is to wear gauze masks that cover the airways and prevent the penetration of infection. It will not be superfluous to use prophylactic antiviral drugs if there is a threat of infection. And, of course, regular activities are required, which should be aimed at strengthening the immune forces.
To do this, you need to have information about the symptoms and treatment of influenza in adults.
Treatment and prevention of influenza at home
Many people prefer treatment with proven folk recipes. One of them is flu therapy with pine cone jam. For this young coneswashed and immersed whole in a saucepan, then they need to be poured with cold water. At the same time, you need to check that the water completely covers the cones by no less than a couple of centimeters. Then the mixture is heated on fire until boiling, after which sugar is added. Take a kilogram of sugar per liter of water. Then the whole mass is boiled for several hours until the cones turn purple.
In the process of using jam, it must be remembered that the concentration of active biological substances in the cones is extremely high, so you can’t eat a lot of this natural medicine, no matter how tasty it may have. For the treatment of influenza, it is enough to eat only three tablespoons a day. In this case, eat one spoonful before meals. This recipe is also suitable for the prevention of this disease.
One of the most popular treatments is honey, which is rich in active biological substances. It contains a wide vitamin and mineral complex that replenishes the body's losses against the background of a weakened immune system.
Another useful product for influenza is ginger, which is very rich in various vitamins, in addition, it contains a large amino acid complex with phytoncides. Against the background of the disease, ginger will help strengthen the immune system, warm the body and increase its tone. The diaphoretic property of the product helps to accelerate the elimination of toxins that produce influenza viruses. The direct anti-inflammatory effect of ginger will greatly alleviate the patient's condition.human.
With the help of these products, you can make an excellent cure for the flu. To do this, grind a lemon in a blender, add 150 grams of honey and the same amount of grated ginger root, then everything is mixed in a glass container, which is left in a cold place, tightly closed with a lid. The resulting mixture should be taken one spoon per day. Such a medicine will be an excellent way not only to treat the flu, but also to prevent it regularly.
We looked at flu symptoms in adults and children.
