What is "ARVI" and "ORZ", most people often confuse. Many people are mistaken in believing that they are one and the same. What is the difference between ARI and SARS? Understanding the difference between them, you can avoid a number of errors in the selection of drugs for treatment.
What is ARVI and ARI
To understand how ARI differs from SARS, it is enough to understand their definitions.
ARI (acute respiratory disease) - a disease of the upper respiratory tract with any infection (bacterial, atypical, fungal, viral, etc.). In fact, ARI is not a disease. This is a common name for several diseases with similar symptoms, since "acute" means a rapid onset of the disease.
Acute respiratory disease is transmitted by airborne droplets. Within 7-10 days, the patient can infect others with the virus, so ARI quickly causes an epidemic.
Diseases of the upper respiratory tract of bacterial etiology are most often caused by staphylococcus aureus, pneumococcus, streptococcus, tonsillitis. In the case when ARI is caused by mycoplasmal etiology, that is, there ismycoplasmosis, a complication such as pneumonia occurs.
SARS - a refined, private diagnosis of acute respiratory infections, that is, an acute respiratory viral infection transmitted by airborne droplets. This disease is always confirmed by tests. The most common type of SARS is influenza. In addition, there is parainfluenza, adenovirus and rhinovirus infections, coronavirus infection, etc. All these diseases have a viral etiology.
The flu affects everyone's general well-being. Patients complain of fatigue, muscle aches, weakness, headache, sweating. The temperature, as a rule, does not rise above 39 degrees and subsides after 2-3 days. Symptoms such as a runny nose, cough, sore throat and sneezing are mild, they may not be present on the first day.
Parainfluenza primarily affects the larynx, pharynx and bronchi. It hurts in the throat, it hurts to swallow, the voice is hoarse, coughing. The temperature fluctuates between 37-38 C.
Adenovirus infection affects the lymph nodes (or aden node), so they increase. The main difference from other infections is the appearance of lacrimation and redness of the eyes on the 2nd-3rd day. All other symptoms are moderately expressed: temperature in the range of 37-38 degrees, malaise, chills, headache and in the muscles. After 2-3 days, the nose becomes stuffy.
Rhinovirus infection is primarily characterized by the appearance of dryness and discomfort in the nose, which gradually develops into a runny nose with severewatery department. This is the main symptom of rhinovirus infection. But also the patient may be disturbed by coughing, sore throat, the temperature rises slightly.
Now, knowing what ARVI and ARI are, their differences from each other become obvious - the pathogens that cause the disease. To more accurately determine the causes, special analyzes are carried out to study the microflora of the throat. Since the disease is just beginning, it is necessary to immediately make an accurate diagnosis and start the right treatment.
ARI affects the respiratory tract when a bacterial infection appears along with a developing viral infection. In most cases, the disease occurs with hypothermia. While acute respiratory viral infections appear due to the presence of harmful viruses in the body.
SARS symptoms
When making a diagnosis, the doctor first of all pays attention to the symptoms. ARVI is accompanied by clear mucus in the nasopharynx, the patient often sneezes. Increasing pain in the throat, aggravated by swallowing, after a while the voice becomes hoarse. The cough has a dry character, hacking, painful, after a while it becomes wet. In addition, the patient complains of general weakness, aching muscles and joints due to sudden temperature fluctuations, due to the virus entering the bloodstream (intoxication appears). Chills, headache and loss of appetite occur. Often, the virus also infects the mucous membranes of the eyes and the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to all of the above, there may be insomnia or, conversely, drowsiness.
ARI symptoms
Symptoms of acute respiratory infections are pronounced: the temperature rises; dry cough becomes wet; red throat covered with white coating; the mucous membrane is inflamed and a clear liquid, mucus or pus is released.
Which is more dangerous
Most people are most wary of SARS, and rightfully so. It is this disease that is more difficult to tolerate and has unpleasant consequences in the form of complications. The virus in the body is always in a state of mutation, it changes. Therefore, doctors have to change the treatment program every time, to select other drugs. This is complicated by the fact that the human body is trying to develop immunity from viruses that have already been. But the new virus will take longer to fight.
How to treat acute respiratory infections and SARS
Having found out how ARI differs from SARS, you can proceed to the selection of drugs.
In most cases, antipyretics and antihistamines are prescribed for acute respiratory infections. But it cannot be treated, since it is not a disease, but a generalized name for several diseases. But at the same time, you need to constantly carry out prevention in order to protect yourself from unpleasant consequences.
Prevention of ARI
Prevention of acute respiratory infections is to strengthen the immune system. This requires:
- take more vitamins (especially A, C, B);
- gargle with herbal infusions;
- rinsing the nose, for example with saline;
- keep the air around moist and cool;
- periodicallycarry out inhalations;
- drink about 1.5 liters of pure water a day;
- avoid contact with sick people whenever possible;
- keep your hands clean.
Prevention of acute respiratory viral infections is no different from the prevention of acute respiratory infections. It is important to remember that with a high spread of the disease among others (epidemic, season - autumn or winter), it is necessary to protect yourself from participating in mass events, and if there is a need to use public transport, it is better to use a gauze bandage. This will once again save you from a possible virus, which means it will protect you from a serious illness with possible complications.
SARS treatment
ARVI is treated with antiviral agents. In some cases, of course, you can do without them, but this happens extremely rarely. Since the high temperature (above 38.5 degrees) must be brought down. In addition, the patient really wants to quickly get rid of an unpleasant sore throat, runny nose and annoying cough.
Immunity can be helped by drinking plenty of water, light food and cool moist air (75-90% at 17-19 0C). If you do not follow these simple rules, then even the most expensive drugs will not help.
In addition, from the very first days of illness, it is necessary to support the body with immunostimulating agents - echinacea, eleutherococcus, etc. Antiviral agents should be taken at the onset of the disease. This is more effective, since at this point the virus is activebreeding.
In this case, you should not overload the body with all kinds of potent drugs. Basically, the virus "burns out" in a week.
Ambulance required if…
- The temperature has risen above 40 degrees.
- Fever continues for more than 3 days.
- No improvement after 7-10 days.
- Slight relief turned into severe fever and cough.
- There was shortness of breath and severe pain when breathing.
- There is disorientation, impairment or loss of consciousness.
- There were convulsions that developed due to temperature.
- There was a rash on the legs or buttocks (crimson bruises - meningococcus).
- There is constant vomiting and diarrhea.
- Severe pain in the face, intense headache.
- The patient is over 60 years old, has chronic diseases of the kidneys, heart, liver, diabetes mellitus, blood diseases, autoimmune or immunodeficiency conditions.
Upper respiratory diseases are not catastrophic, so do not panic and be afraid. The bottom line is not the difference between acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections, but that a doctor should be consulted at the first symptoms, without starting the disease and not self-medicating.
