ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection) is a huge group of diseases that are caused by various DNA and RNA-containing viruses (there are about 200 of them).
They affect the respiratory system and are easily transmitted by airborne droplets. The disease always arises sharply and proceeds with pronounced symptoms of the common cold.
This is one of the most common diseases: schoolchildren in 80% of cases miss classes due to the incidence of ARVI, and adults for the same reason lose almost half of their working hours. Today we will discuss ARVI - symptoms and treatment of this infection.
Causes
The main reasons for the development of viral respiratory infections are about two hundred different viruses:
- influenza and parainfluenza, avian and swine influenza;
- adenovirus, PC virus;
- rhinovirus, picornavirus;
- coronavirus, bocarubovirus, etc.
The source of infection becomes a patient in the incubation period and in the prodromal period, when the concentration of viruses in his biological secrets is maximal. The path of transmission of infection is airborne, with sneezing, coughing, talking, screaming with small particles of mucus and saliva.
There can be infection through common utensils and household items, through dirty hands in children and through food contaminated with viruses. Susceptibility to viral infection is different - people with strong immunity can not catch or carry the disease in mild form.
Promote developmentSuch factors as:
- stress;
- poor nutrition;
- hypothermia;
- chronic infections;
- adverse ecology.
Symptoms of the disease
The first signs of acute respiratory viral infection in adults and children include:
- temperature increase;
- a sore throat;
- coryza;
- headache;
- sneezing;
- weakness, malaise;
- bronchitis and / or tracheitis.
Symptoms of acute respiratory viral infection in adults
ARVI occur usually in stages, the incubation period from the moment of infection to the manifestation of the first symptoms is different, ranging from several hours to 3-7 days.
In the period of clinical manifestations, all SARS have similar manifestations of one or another degree of severity:
- nasal congestion, runny nose, discharge from the nose from lean to plentiful and watery, sneezing and itching in the nose,
- sore throat, discomfort, soreness in swallowing, redness in the throat,
- cough (dry or wet),
- fever from moderate (37.5-38 degrees) to severe (38.5-40 degrees),
- general malaise, refusal to eat, headaches, drowsiness,
- redness of the eyes, burning, lacrimation,
- digestive disorders with loosening of the stool,
- rarely there is a reaction of lymph nodes in the region of the jaw and neck, in the form of an increase with a mild soreness.
Symptoms of acute respiratory viral infection in adults depend on the specific type of virus, and can range from a slight rhinitis and coughing up to severe fever and toxic manifestations. On average, manifestations last from 2-3 to seven or more days, the febrile period lasts up to 2-3 days.
The main sign of acute respiratory viral infection is high infectiousness for others, the timing of which depends on the type of virus. The average infectious patient is the last days of the incubation period and the first 2-3 days of clinical manifestations, gradually the number of viruses decreases and the patient becomes not dangerous in terms of spreading infection.
In young children, often a symptom of ARVI is a disorder of the stool - diarrhea. Toddlers often complain of pain in the abdomen in the first stage of the disease, then a frustration and then a sudden increase in temperature. There may be a rash on the child's body. Cough and runny nose can appear later - sometimes even every other day. Therefore, we need to closely monitor the condition of the babies, and monitor the appearance of new symptoms.
As well as than to treat ARVI at occurrence of the first signs we shall consider or examine; survey a little more low.
How many days does the temperature last?
Inflammation in the throat and sneezing appear in the early stages of the disease. And usually go through 3-6 days.
- Low-grade fever(mild fever) and muscle pain usually accompanies the initial symptoms, the temperature at the orvi is kept around the week, says Dr. Komarovsky.
- Nasal congestion, nasal sinuses, ear sinuses- Common symptoms, usually persist for the first week. In about 30% of all patients, these symptoms persist for two weeks, although all of these symptoms usually go away in 7-10 days.
- Usually the first few days of nasal sinuses are not clogged, a lot of watery mucus is released from the nose, but after a while the mucus becomes thicker, acquires a color (green or yellow). Changing the color of the secretions does not automatically indicate a bacterial infection, in most cases the condition passes through 5-7 days.
- Cough appears in most cases of ARVI, and is usually more productive than with influenza. Sputum ranges from clear to yellow-green and usually go through 2-3 weeks.
Although, a prolonged dry cough can persist for 4 weeks in 25% of all infectious diseases.
Symptoms of influenza
The flu virus is not for nothing excluded by the majority of specialists from the ARD group. Its differences from usual colds are in lightning development, increased severity of the disease, as well as in complex treatment and an increased mortality rate.
- The flu comes unexpectedly and in a matter of hours completely captures your body;
- Influenza is characterized by a sharp increase in temperature (in some cases up to 4, degrees), increased sensitivity to light, aches in the whole body, as well as pain: head and muscle;
- In the first day of the flu, you are protected from the common cold, which is peculiar only to this virus;
- The most active phase of influenza falls on the third-fifth day of the disease, and the final recovery is on the 8-10th day.
- Given that influenza infection affects the vessels, it is for this reason that hemorrhages are possible: gingival and nasal;
- After the flu, you can catch another disease within the next 3 weeks, such diseases are most often very painful and can result in death.
Prevention of ARVI
To date, there are not really effective measures to specifically prevent ARVI. It is recommended strict adherence to the sanitary-hygienic regime in the outbreak area. This is a regular wet cleaning and ventilation of premises, thorough washing of dishes and personal hygiene products of patients, wearing cotton-gauze dressings, frequent washing of hands, etc.
It is important to increase the resistance of children to the virus by hardening, taking immunomodulators. Vaccination against influenza is also considered a method of prevention.
During the epidemic, it is necessary to avoid places of congestion, walk more often outdoors, take multivitamin complexes or preparations of ascorbic acid. It is recommended at home to eat onion and garlic every day.
.How to treat ARVI?
Treatment of acute respiratory viral infection in adults with a standard course of the disease is usually performed in the patient at home. Obligatory bed rest, abundant drink, drugs to combat the symptoms of the disease, easy, but useful and nutrient-rich food, warming up procedures and inhalation, taking vitamins.
Many of us know that the temperature is good, because this is how the body "fights" with the invaders. The temperature can be brought down only if it has risen above 38 degrees, because after this mark there is a threat to the state of the brain and the heart of the patient.
It should also be remembered that antibiotics for ARVI are not used, since they are indicated for acute respiratory infections of exclusively bacterial origin (eg, angina), and ARVI is caused by viruses.
- To directly combat the pathogens of the disease, antiviral drugs are prescribed: Remantadine (age requirement from the age of seven), Amantadine, Oseltamivir, Amizon, Arbidol (age requirement from two years), Amiks
- NSAIDs: paracetamol, ibuprofen, diclofenac. These drugs have anti-inflammatory effect, reduce body temperature, reduce pain. Possible reception of these drugs in the composition of medicinal powders such as Coldrex, Tera - flu, etc. It should be remembered that it is not necessary to reduce the temperature below 38 ° C, since it is at this body temperature that defenses against infection are activated in the body. Exceptions are sick, prone to convulsions, and small children.
- Cough medicine. The main goal of cough treatment is to make the phlegm liquid enough for the cough. This is greatly helped by the drinking regime, as the consumption of warm liquid dilutes sputum. If there are difficulties in expectoration, you can use expectorants mukaltin, ATSTS, broncholitin, etc. Independently prescribe drugs that reduce cough reflex, should not, as this can lead to dangerous consequences.
- Admission of vitamin Ccan accelerate recovery from ARVI and alleviate the condition, but does not prevent the development of the disease.
- Fortreatment of a coldand improvements in nasal breathing show vasoconstrictive drugs (Phenylephrine, Oxymethasone, Xylometazoline, Nafazoline, Indazolamine, Tetrizolin, etc.) and if necessary for a longer period of time, drugs containing essential oils (Pinosol, Cameton, Eucazoline and others).
- A good help in fighting the body with infection will bereception of immunomodulators, for example preparation Imupret. It increases immunity and has an anti-inflammatory effect, significantly reducing the period of acute respiratory infections. This is exactly the remedy that is shown for both prevention and treatment of colds.
- With considerable pain and inflammation in the throat, it is recommendedrinsing with solutions of antiseptics, for example furatsilina (: 000) or herbal infusions (calendula, chamomile, etc.).
Be sure to call a doctor if you or your child has any of the following symptoms: temperature is higher than 38.5 C; Strong headache; tear in the eyes from the light; chest pain; shortness of breath, noisy or frequent breathing, difficulty in breathing; rash on the skin; pallor of the skin or appearance of spots on it; vomiting; difficulty in waking up in the morning or unusual drowsiness; persistent cough or aches in the muscles.
Antibiotics for Orvi
Antibiotics of ARVI are not treated. They are completely helpless against viruses, they are used only in the event of bacterial complications.
Therefore, antibiotics should not be used without prescribing a doctor. These are unsafe for the body preparations. In addition, uncontrolled use of antibiotics leads to the emergence of resistant to them forms of bacteria.
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