Acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI) is a disease that affects the human respiratory system. The main cause of the development of the disease is contact with viruses. The route of transmission of viruses is airborne.
Prevalence of SARS
SARS disease is widespread everywhere, especially in kindergartens and schools, work groups. Young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are at increased risk of infection.
The source of infection is an infected person. The high susceptibility of people to viruses leads to the rapid spread of the disease, the SARS epidemic is a fairly common occurrence throughout the world. Delayed treatment of the disease can lead to various complications.
Outbreaks of respiratory viral infections occur all year round, but the SARS epidemic is more often observed in autumn and winter, especially in the absence of high-quality prevention and quarantine measures to detect cases of infection.
Causes of SARS
The cause of the disease is respiratory viruses, which are characterized by a short incubation period and rapid spread. The source of infection is a sick person.
The SARS virus is afraid of disinfectants, ultraviolet rays.
Development mechanism
Entering the body through the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract or the conjunctiva of the eyes, viruses, having penetrated the epithelial cells, begin to multiply and destroy them. Inflammation occurs at the sites of introduction of viruses.
Through damaged vessels, getting into the bloodstream, viruses spread throughout the body. In this case, the body releases protective substances, the manifestation of which are signs of intoxication. If the immune system is weakened, a bacterial infection is possible.
Symptomatics
All respiratory viral diseases have similar symptoms. At the beginning of the disease, a person develops a runny nose, sneezing, perspiration in the throat, body aches, the temperature rises, appetite disappears, loose stools appear.
Symptoms of SARS in a child can develop at lightning speed. Intoxication is rapidly growing, the baby is shivering, vomiting appears, and hyperthermia is pronounced. Treatment must begin immediately to avoid possible complications.
Signs of individual viral infections
You can identify parainfluenza by mucous discharge from the nose, the appearance of a dry “barking” cough, and hoarseness. The temperature is not higher than 38 С⁰.
Adenoviral infection is accompanied by conjunctivitis. In addition, the patient may experience rhinitis, laryngitis, tracheitis.
With rhinovirus infection, symptoms are pronouncedintoxication, the temperature may not rise. The disease is accompanied by abundant mucous discharge from the nose.
Respiratory syncytial virus infection is not characterized by pronounced catarrhal symptoms or bronchitis, severe intoxication. Body temperature remains normal.
What is the difference between flu and SARS?
SARS begins gradually, the development of influenza is rapid, a person can even indicate the time when he felt sick.
With ARVI, the body temperature rises slightly, not higher than 38.5 C⁰. Flu is characterized by a sharp rise in temperature to 39-40 C⁰. The temperature in this case remains for three to four days.
In acute respiratory viral infections, there are practically no symptoms of intoxication, a person does not shiver and does not sweat, there is no severe headache, eye pain, photophobia, dizziness, body aches, working capacity is maintained.
With the flu, a runny nose and nasal congestion are absent, this is the main symptom of SARS. The disease is accompanied by reddening of the throat, with the flu, this symptom is not always observed.
With SARS cough, chest discomfort occur at the very beginning of the disease, may be mild or moderate. Influenza is characterized by a painful cough and chest pain, which appear on the second day of the disease.
Sneezing is typical of a cold, with the flu this symptom is not observed, but redness of the eyes is present.
After the flu, a person can still two to three weeksfeel weakness, headache, get tired quickly, after SARS, such symptoms do not persist.
Knowledge of how the flu differs from SARS will help a person assess their condition and take the necessary measures in time to help quickly get rid of the disease and avoid complications.
What symptoms of SARS should alert
You should immediately consult a doctor if the temperature rises to 40C⁰ or more, which is not brought down by antipyretic drugs, with impaired consciousness, intense headache and inability to bend the neck, rashes on the body, shortness of breath, cough with colored sputum (especially mixed with blood), prolonged fever, edema.
A visit to the doctor is also necessary if the signs of SARS do not disappear after 7-10 days. Symptoms of SARS in a child require special attention. Seek immediate medical attention if any suspicious signs occur.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is made by the attending physician after examining the nasopharynx and examining the symptoms. In some cases, complications may require additional testing, such as a chest x-ray. This helps rule out pneumonia.
Complications
A frequent complication of SARS is the addition of a bacterial infection, which provokes the development of inflammatory processes: bronchitis, otitis media, sinusitis, pneumonia. The disease can be complicated by urinary tract infection, pancreatitis, cholangitis.
Ifthe disease proceeds with pronounced intoxication, the result may be the development of convulsive or meningeal syndromes, myocarditis. Possible neurological problems such as meningitis, neuritis, meningoencephalitis. After suffering from acute respiratory viral infections, complications can manifest themselves as an exacerbation of chronic diseases.
False croup is a common complication in children.
To minimize the risk of complications, treatment should be started on time, following all doctor's orders.
How to treat
Treatment is mostly done at home. The patient should adhere to a semi-bed rest, observe a milk and vegetable fortified diet, drink plenty of fluids to thin sputum, stimulate sweating, and reduce the level of toxins.
But at a frantic modern pace, few people follow this rule, preferring to endure a cold “on their feet”, and relieve unpleasant symptoms with symptomatic means. The danger of this approach to treatment is that often symptomatic cold preparations contain phenylephrine, a substance that increases blood pressure and makes the heart work hard. In order to avoid the complications of a cold, you need to choose medicines without components of this kind. For example, "AntiGrippin" (better from "Natur-Product") is a cold drug without phenylephrine, which eliminates the unpleasant symptoms of SARS without provoking an increase in pressure and without harming the heart muscle.
In the treatment, antiviral drugs are used, means forincrease immunity, antipyretics, antihistamines, drugs that promote sputum discharge, vitamins. Locally used vasoconstrictors that prevent the reproduction of the virus on the nasopharyngeal mucosa. Such treatment is important to carry out at the initial stage of the disease.
Drugs for the treatment of SARS
In the fight against the causative agent of the disease, the use of antiviral agents is effective: Remantadin, Amizon, Arbidol, Amiksin.
The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is necessary to reduce body temperature and reduce pain. These drugs include Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Panadol. It must be remembered that temperatures below 38 Cº do not go astray, since at such a temperature the body activates its defenses.
Antihistamines are needed to reduce signs of inflammation: nasal congestion, swelling of the mucous membranes. It is recommended to take "Loratidin", "Fenistil", "Zirtek". Unlike first-generation drugs, they do not cause drowsiness.
Nose drops are needed to reduce swelling, eliminate nasal congestion. It is worth remembering that it is impossible to use such drops for a long time, as this can provoke the development of chronic rhinitis. Drops are used no more than 7 days, 2-3 times a day. For long-term treatment, you can use preparations based on essential oils.
Remedy for sore throat. Gargling is best in this case.using disinfectant solutions. For these purposes, you can use sage, chamomile. Rinse often, every two hours. Effective use of disinfectant sprays - "Gexoral", "Bioparox" and others.
Cough medicines are needed to loosen phlegm. This helps the use of "ACC", "Muk altin", "Bronholitin", etc. It is important to use plenty of fluids, which also helps to thin the sputum. Cough suppressants should not be used without a doctor's prescription.
Antibiotics are not used in the treatment of SARS, this is necessary only when a bacterial infection is attached.
In addition to drugs, the use of physiotherapy, inhalation, massage techniques, foot baths is effective.
Folk remedies
Folk remedies are very effective in the treatment of SARS. This can be an addition to the main treatment and helps to quickly cope with the disease. You can use the following recipes.
An infusion of viburnum fruits and linden flowers, which must be crushed and mixed, helps quite well. Two tablespoons of the collection should be poured with 500 ml of boiling water, insist for an hour. The resulting infusion is consumed before going to bed in a glass.
Onions and garlic, which you can just eat, cope well with the disease. Both in prevention and in treatment, such a remedy is useful: a few cloves of garlic and half a teaspoon of juice are consumed after meals. You can put chopped onions and garlic in the room and inhaletheir couples.
Very effective remedy made from honey and lemon juice. To prepare it, bee honey (100 g) is mixed with the juice of one lemon and diluted with boiled water (800 ml). The resulting remedy must be drunk throughout the day.
Prevention
What is the prevention of SARS in adults and children? To strengthen the body's defenses, you need to harden, lead an active lifestyle, walk in the fresh air, do not neglect rest, avoid stress, and also observe hygiene (wash your hands, vegetables, regularly do wet cleaning indoors).
Prevention of SARS in adults involves maintaining a proper diet. The menu should be dominated by natural products. Fermented milk products are useful for maintaining intestinal microflora and strengthening immunity. In addition, fiber should be present in the diet.
For prevention, you can take antiviral drugs or get vaccinated. Although it is impossible to completely protect yourself with a vaccine, as viruses are constantly mutating. Vaccination is recommended for children who attend kindergartens and schools, employees of medical institutions.
During epidemics, it is recommended to limit visits to public places, to strengthen immunity, take natural remedies or antiviral drugs at the recommended dosage.
If preventive measures have not helped you avoid infection, take care of your recovery, as well as those around you. Since SARS is contagious, do not forget to cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, ventilate the room, whenIf necessary, wear a gauze bandage. If these measures are followed, the disease will quickly leave your home.
