Influenza A and B Symptoms and Treatment

Influenza A - what is it? Influenza A and B: symptoms and treatment

Its name was given to the flu by the French word "grasp what is good characterizes its effect."

This disease develops rapidly. Since morning, a healthy person starts complaining about health at noon, and by midnight in some cases may no longer have a chance of recovery.

Historical facts

Influenza epidemics periodically cover the entire space of the globe and become a historical fact. For example, from such a type of flu as the Spanish, for 1918 and 1919 people died more than during the entire time of the First World War.

The causative agent, which is considered the cause of the flu, was discovered in 1933 and was subsequently called the virus A.

The year 1944 was marked by the discovery of the virus B, the next - the virus C - was discovered in 1949. Over time, it was determined that the viruses that cause influenza A, B, are heterogeneous, are constantly changing, and as a result of these transformations, a new modification of the flu can appear.

What is the flu

I wonder what the flu A or B. This is an acute infectious disease that begins almost instantaneously. Immediately viruses affect the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. Because of this, a runny nose appears, the paranasal sinuses become inflamed, the larynx is affected, breathing is disrupted and a cough develops.

With blood, the virus moves through the body and, by poisoning it, disrupts vital functions:

• high fever, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting;
• there are headaches and muscle pains;
• and in some cases hallucinations may occur.

The most severe situations are characterized by intoxication, which leads to the destruction of small vessels and multiple hemorrhages. The consequences of influenza may be pneumonia and heart muscle diseases.

Influenza A and B are types of acute respiratory diseases. When a disease occurs, there is a violation of the human defense mechanism. Under the action of microbes that are in the upper respiratory tract, cells die on the trachea and bronchus, opens the way for infection in deeper tissues and the process of purification becomes more difficult bronchi. In this case, the function of the immune system is suppressed. Because of this, a short period is sufficient to initiate pneumonia or to awaken other respiratory viruses.

How is it transmitted

A person is susceptible to a disease such as influenza A and B. This means that the likelihood of getting sick in the second and third time, especially a new subspecies. The disease is transmitted as follows:

• during communication with a sick person, through his droplets of saliva, mucus, phlegm;
• together with food that has not been thermally treated;
• with a direct touch of the hands of the patient;
• through the air, through the dust.

The patient is enveloped by a zone consisting of infected particles, the size of which is from two to three meters. Through any items that were in his hands (for example, the phone, armrest arm, door handle) can catch the flu A.

What is a contagious disease, everyone should know - a person poses a danger to others even during the incubation period, even before he felt unwell. However, on the sixth day from the onset of the disease, he practically does not pose a threat to the health of others.

Influenza A virus

So, the type A flu - what is it? This is one of the most terrible varieties of this disease. Immunity, which is acquired by a person who has had type A influenza, lasts two years. Then it becomes dangerous again.

It is interesting that between human and animal viruses, hereditary materials can be exchanged, and viral hybrids may appear on contact. As a result, the flu can affect not only humans, but also animals.

Approximately, every 35 years, a virus that causes influenza type A also undergoes significant changes. What is it, it is better not to know. After all, mankind does not have this serotype of immunity, as a result of which the disease covers most of the world's population. It flows in a very severe form. And in this case they speak not of an epidemic, but of a pandemic.

Symptoms and peculiarities of percolation

It should be mentioned, telling about the type A flu, that this is a disease that is characterized by rapid spread. The incubation stage lasts from two to five days, and a period begins that is characterized by acute clinical manifestations.

For flu, taking place in mild form, it lasts from three to five days. And after 5-10 days a person recovers. But for another 20 days a person can feel tired, weak, have a headache, be irritable and suffer from insomnia.

Let's list what causes the flu A symptoms in children:

• the temperature rises to 40 ° C;
• the child is shivering;
• the kid stops playing, whines, becomes very weak;
• complains of headache and muscle pain;
• he has a sore throat;
• possible abdominal pain and vomiting;
• begins a dry cough.

Treatment

Treatment includes recommendations not only on the intake of medications, but also on compliance with the regime. Since influenza A and B symptoms and treatment are the same, our advice is suitable for each of them.

During a period of elevated temperature, a person loses a lot of fluid that must be replenished. The first thing you need to do in the period of illness is to drink tea, drinks, decoctions of herbs abundantly. Chicken broth has a good effect on the course of the disease. By increasing the speed of mucus discharge, it reduces the swelling of the nose.

The use of coffee and alcohol causes dehydration of the body, which has already lost a lot of liquid, so it is better not to drink during illness.

What is dangerous about influenza A

What is it - the flu, know almost everything. But the opinion that this is a common disease, which everyone has been ill many times and without consequences, is mistaken. Its main danger is in the consequences that it can cause: pneumonia, rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis. It can exacerbate chronic diseases, provoke complications of the cardiovascular system, create problems from the muscular system.

By the way, the type A flu, unlike the disease caused by the B virus, is more dangerous. As a result of this disease, intoxication, hemorrhages into important organs, pulmonary complications, cardiac and pulmonary insufficiency can lead to death.

Prevention

In order not to be among the infected, each of us needs to follow preventive measures that can prevent the flu. And what is it? First of all, you must follow the basic principles of a healthy lifestyle, such as proper nutrition and even physical exercise. It is also important to tempering.

Vaccination helps the body to form immunity to the most expected strain of the virus. The drug is administered 1-3 months before the expected onset of the epidemic.

A cotton-gauze dressing reduces the chance of getting infected through the respiratory tract. The bandage is changed several times a day to avoid getting infected from the bandage itself.

Here are some more tips for prevention:

1. The intake of vitamin preparations increases the protective functions of the body.
2. Garlic reduces the number of microorganisms in the mouth.
3. Avoiding visits to crowded places during an epidemic lowers the likelihood of infection.
4. During the epidemic it is desirable to conduct a wet cleaning of the room daily.
5. Helps protect against microbes treatment of the nasal cavity with oxolin ointment.
6. The use of antiviral drugs protects against the disease.

If the house is sick

Despite some differences, doctors still combine influenza A and B (symptoms and treatment). First of all it is recommended to give the body an opportunity to relax. Due to this, you will help the immune system. The necessary requirement - compliance with bed rest. And most importantly - calling a doctor at home, because it may not be the flu, and what it is - without a specialist's examination is impossible to say.

In order to reduce the possibility of infection of family members, the patient is placed in a separate room or fenced off from the main room. The patient is given separate utensils and hygiene items.

It is necessary and wet cleaning with disinfectants, because thanks to it more than twice the concentration of viruses. A good health effect gives ventilation at least 3 times a day.

fb.ru

Fighting the influenza virus

Flu is the most common seasonal disease associated with lung damage.The cause of the disease is the influenza virus, which is characterized by a huge number of species and their characteristics.The degree of severity of the disease and the individual tolerability of it by a sick person directly depends on the state of the immune system. The greatest risk of the disease can be for young children, pregnant women and the elderly due to their vulnerability to this pathology. The seasonal flu gets a special breadth of development. The time of its activity comes in the autumn-winter period with the aggravation of the epidemiological situation in the region.

This viral disease is characterized by the fact that it has acquired the status of an annual phenomenon that mutates, complicated by new strains, so during the onset of colds it is necessary to clearly understand what is the flu and how with it fight.

Danger of influenza

Every year, a large number of people die from the flu. Most of them are children and elderly people with weakened immunity. The peculiarity of the disease is that it can cause significant harm to the human body, affecting its various organs and systems. The big threat is influenza at conception of the child, in view of the fact that spreading, he starts to develop toxic substances that adversely affect human organs. Influenza viruses destroy all the environment favorable for engraftment of the fetus and can cause a miscarriage. If the fetus nevertheless begins to develop, the heavy influence of the virus can cause a number of pathologies in the genital area, respiratory and other body systems. Therefore, the flu and conception are not compatible.

In addition to the probability of getting an inflammatory process in the lungs (pneumonia), the flu is dangerous and the development of diseases such as otitis, pleurisy and bronchitis in a complicated form. Pleurisy is dangerous and insidious because it affects the shell, which covers the lungs.

Purulent inflammation of the middle ear - otitis, can cause not only inflammation in the ears, but also the neck and teeth. The flu that caused complications can cause this disease to be chronic, which is fraught with constant suppuration from the ears, frequent inflammation, and with severe form and partial loss of hearing. The greatest danger at any stage of the flu is the occurrence of an inflammatory process in the airways through which oxygen passes into the lungs. The bronchial mucosa is damaged, thereby creating conditions for the multiplication of bacteria. If the patient does all the recommendations for the flu, then the shell can recover. But in another course of circumstances, the ailment can cause serious pathological changes in the body.

Every year, doctors set a single indicator of the epidemiological threshold of influenza. Despite preventive measures against the disease, the epidemic threshold for influenza changes its indicators annually, and most of it is made up of children and the elderly.

Clinical picture

The mechanism of development and origin of the disease is that the pathogenesis of influenza has a number of characteristics. At the beginning of the autumn-winter period, very often patients are confused with influenza and parainfluenza.

These two states have a completely different picture of development. Influenza is an acute, sudden and severe disease that begins with a lung injury. Parainfluenza manifests itself gradually with headache, coughing, runny nose and changes in voice. The dominant influenza virus in the beginning of winter is seasonal, which gradually changes into a type A virus and all its subtypes.

The classification of influenza has its own peculiarity: for many years infectious diseases have divided this disease into three types: influenza A, B and C. Of all forms, type C is the safest and easiest in its clinical development: it does not cause an epidemic and is characterized as a mild respiratory disease.

The type of influenza A virus has a variety of complicated forms. The reason for this was the mutation of influenza, which leads to completely different reactions of the patient to the same type of virus. As a result of such a feature, many people who have weak immunity, very hard to tolerate the flu. The first type of illness is classified as seasonal. Sometimes, especially at the first stages of manifestation, its symptoms can be confused with catarrhal diseases, its course looks like ARVI, ARI. This type of disease begins because people are infected with the virus as a result of being permanently in stuffy, enclosed spaces with a large number of those present. This type of influenza is characterized by a number of complications, including:

• the appearance of bacterial pneumonia;
• violation of water balance in the body;
• exacerbation of concomitant diseases;
• an inflammation of the ears.

To treat this type of disease virus doctors recommend immediately anti-influenza drugs. In addition, do not forget about wearing a gauze bandage so as not to infect the surrounding people with airborne droplets. It is mandatory to use vitamins and other means that strengthen the immune system. Influenza in adults and children is treated almost equally, the difference is only the dosage.

Another subtype of virus A in medical practice was called avian influenza, in which the carriers of the virus are poultry. Symptoms of this disease are very similar to colds, but can be complicated by the appearance of pneumonia and heavy breathing. As a rule, if this type of infection occurs, patients die if treatment is not started at the earliest stages.

The third type is swine flu. It is very similar in its symptoms with seasonal, but it adds high body temperature, fever, cough, bowel disorder, lung damage. Treatment procedures are appointed depending on the patient's immunity and on what signs of the disease predominate.

This type of illness requires that the treatment be carried out at home. The patient needs bed rest with the doctor's therapy. With proper and timely treatment, the patient can count on recovery.

Types of disease

It is customary to distinguish between such types of influenza as:

• atypical;
• highly pathogenic;
• intestinal.

Atypical flu begins very quickly and differs from seasonal flu with serious complications. He is very cunning, because a person can get sick in any season, even in the summer. His unexpected appearance indicates that the virus is in the air constantly, which causes danger.

Highly pathogenic influenza is a disease that occurs as a result of a specific strain of the virus, for example, avian flu, and poses a huge threat to human life.

No less dangerous is rotavirus influenza, which appears as a result of rotavirus intestinal infection.

In view of the fact that the incubation period of the disease is about five days, the patient becomes a carrier of the infection from the very first days. Although after an illness the body produces a permanent immunity to this type of virus, a person can get sick twice. In the course of the disease, the intestinal mucosa is affected, and its inflammation begins.

Very often people confuse their flu-like condition with common colds. But there are features of the flu and it is necessary to clearly distinguish between its symptoms and cold symptoms, since improper treatment or neglected flu can lead to poor results. With the flu, the disease begins sharply, with a cold - sluggish. Colds are characterized by low temperature.

With flu, fever for several hours passes into a severe form and gives a high body temperature.

Characteristic for the common cold is the preservation of working capacity, there are no symptoms of intoxication, there is no severe headache. With the flu, there are symptoms such as photophobia, severe headache and temporal pain, dizziness, muscle aches. During the examination of the throat, a plaque is often observed in the tongue, which may indicate a strong toxicity of the body. Cough and a feeling of heaviness in the chest for a cold are observed almost immediately. With influenza, such symptoms can occur only on the second day.

Quite often, the flu causes reddening of the eyes. Even after two or three weeks after the treatment of the disease, the patient may experience rapid fatigue, loss of strength, sleep disturbance, irritability.

.

Historical epidemics of influenza

In the world medical practice cases are known when, during the pandemic (epidemic) of influenza, the most dangerous were varieties of the influenza virus, leading to mass deaths. Among such it is worth noting the deadly Spanish flu, which killed more than fifty million people. This is the most terrible epidemic in the history of mankind, which has gone into oblivion and today is not a threat to the world community.

At present, there is a so-called goat flu - fever Ku, which is spread by infected animals. A person can become infected with the virus of this flu only by close contact with the animal, or by eating his meat.

When infected with goat flu, a person increases the size of the spleen and liver, a rash appears on the body, the pupils turn red and the symptoms of pneumonia develop. To date, cases of infection have been reported only in the Netherlands.

Today, the once dangerous Hong Kong flu, caused by the A (H3N2) virus, is a seasonal flu and spreads to South Korea and China. Its name was received because of the main distribution in Hong Kong in 1969.

Modern infectious disease noted a few years ago the emergence of a new viral variety, which, despite a very small threat to the world, gained wide publicity and led to a world panic. This is a type of disease, like Chinese flu. After studying the molecular structure of the virus, scientists excluded him from the list of dangerous, giving him the status of Chinese seasonal flu.

Preventive measures

One of the most important moments in the treatment of the disease is its prevention. People prone to catarrhal and viral diseases should prepare in advance to make the flu as easy as possible.

The basis of prevention includes several components that help to withstand the disease qualitatively. It is easier to survive the incidence of influenza due to a timely vaccination. To date, there are two types of vaccines: live and inactivated. Live vaccines have a group of non-contagious and weakened viruses, inactivated do not contain live viruses. Vaccines "Grippol "Microgen "Fluarix "Influvac" are very popular.

.

Strengthening the body in the fight against influenza plays an important role. The use of vitaminized foods in the daily diet will help replenish the supply of useful substances, strengthen the body. Particular attention should be paid to vitamin C and group B.

In a period of complicated epidemiological situation, it is better not to visit places with a large number of people. This will help protect yourself from infection. A good antiviral is washing the nose with a solution of sea salt. To prevent the drying out of the mucous membrane, it is necessary to keep the air humidified in the apartment. This will help to avoid the accumulation and penetration into the nasopharyngeal mucosa of pathogenic bacteria that cause the reproduction of a viral infection and lead to the spread of the disease with influenza. Do not forget that you have to begin to temper the body from the summer. Water procedures, cold wiping can be done at home and in winter.

.

Particularly dangerous is self-medication, the use of methods of traditional medicine, which can not only complicate the process of recovery, but also lead to serious consequences. Only strict adherence to medical recommendations can give a positive result in the treatment of the disease.

respiratoria.ru

Influenza: types of influenza, symptoms, treatment, prevention

Influenza is a viral disease transmitted by airborne droplets, affecting the respiratory system, part of the ARVI group that causes severe complications, such as pneumonia, hearing loss, vision, death.

Annually, in addition to known, new viruses with altered RNA, causing the flu, appear. Types of influenza A, B, C. Each year, there are bursts of epidemics.

It is considered that the virus of group C is the least dangerous, since it does not cause epidemics, confining itself to respiratory diseases without coughing and fever.

The virus of group A includes the following strains: H1N1, H1N2, H3N2. Previously, not known the most dangerous strain of influenza A / H1N1, or swine flu, without timely, adequate treatment can lead to death.

Constant modification or mutation of the virus allows it to easily evade the immunity of the carrier (human, birds, artiodactyls). While the previously infected carrier is susceptible to influenza throughout life, that is, the host's body produces antibodies against the virus that caused the flu. The types of influenza that attacked a person or an animal will not be perceived by the immune system in the future and will pox the body again, and until the time of antibody production the disease will proceed at full speed.

Most people have innate immunity, but you can resort to vaccination.

Every year, more than 25 percent of the world's population develops seasonal The number of deaths associated with this disease ranges from , 00 to 5, 00 (mean per year - 38900).

Seasonal flu affects people every year from the beginning of September to the end of May, while there is unstable raw weather.

Symptoms of seasonal flu

Often a person can not always immediately distinguish seasonal flu from a cold, because the symptoms they have are quite similar: sputum discharge, thick discharge, nasal congestion, headache, weakness, heaviness in muscles and joints, increase temperature. Although the majority of the disease passes for seven days without any medical assistance, it is still very It is dangerous to treat the disease yourself, without the involvement of specialists, in some cases it is fraught with complications.

Complications of influenza can occur in:

• bacterial pneumonia;
• sinusitis, deafness, infectious diseases of the inner ear;
• dehydration of the body;
• inflammation of the heart muscle.

There is a certain group of people for whom any influenza virus can be very dangerous:

• elderly men aged sixty-two;
• women from sixty-seven years of age and older;
• babies and preschoolers.

Treatment of seasonal influenza is recommended to be carried out with such drugs as "Teraflu" Kodelak "Panadol" Dr. Mom. "

Prevention measures that are most effective against a viral disease: wearing an antiviral dressing, timely vaccination, the use of an antiseptic for hand disinfection, the intake of vitamins, and the use of fruits and vegetables.

Avian influenza in humans

Signs of H5N1 flu are similar to the initial symptoms of the seasonal virus: fever, cough, heaviness in the muscles. In this case, the developed complications in the form of pneumonia or breathing problems result in a lethal outcome in 70-85% of cases. The severity of the disease depends on the patient's immunity or vaccination and on how dangerous this strain of influenza is for a single organism.

The largest number of infected H5N1 was recorded in Mexico, Taiwan, Japan, Canada. Currently, there are no cases recorded by medicine, when the carrier of the H5N1 virus was a human, but the bird flu continues to be a disease that can be fatal.

Prevention of a dangerous disease

There is no reliable data on the transmission of the avian influenza virus from humans to humans, but there are cases when infection occurred with direct contact with an infected bird or through surfaces contaminated with fecal feathered masses peddlers.

Infection from meat or eggs is impossible, since heat treatment kills the virus.

To protect yourself from the virus, you must:

1. Eat only eggs and meat after careful heat treatment for thirty minutes at 60-65 degrees;
2. Wash hands with soap for at least twenty seconds, use an antiseptic in situations where a full washing is impossible.
3. Cook poultry meat on a separate cutting board and in a separate bowl.
4. Remove from the diet raw eggs and eggs with semi-salty (liquid) yolk.
5. Avoid contact with an infected person if contact was unavoidable, should be measured temperature for three days at least twice a day, and also to monitor the appearance of symptoms in for a week.
6. During a pandemic and in dealing with a patient, it is recommended to wear a mask, changing it every three hours.
7. Eat fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C.

Remember! Annual vaccination against seasonal influenza does not contribute to the development of immunity against avian influenza.

Effective drugs for the treatment of the H5N1 virus

In detecting early symptoms of avian influenza, patients are prescribed broad-spectrum inhibitors, such as neuraminidases.

Usually, drugs are used for drug treatment: "Oseltamivir" Zanimivir "Relenza". If the temperature is raised to 38 degrees, it is recommended to use antipyretic, for example, paracetamol. When complicating the disease and suspected of pneumonia, antibiotics are prescribed.

In some cases, the use of "Antihypin" Analgin "Aspirin" can lead to severe consequences, for example, deafness.

H1N1 or a new flu, known as pork

For the first time, swine flu cases were reported in the United Kingdom (England) in 2009, within a few months the virus spread to two hundred countries, continents.

As a rule, the symptoms of all viral infections are very similar, and the swine flu is no exception. Types of influenza, such as A and C, show the same symptoms as H1N1, but unlike it do not go so painfully and do not give complications in the form of pulmonary pneumonia.

Symptoms of the H1N1 virus

Infected with an increase in temperature to 38-40 degrees, abnormal migraine, nasal congestion in combination with a runny nose, swelling of the throat, fatigue, dry cough and shortness of breath, heaviness in the muscles and joints, signs poisoning.

The course of the disease depends on the health and immune system of the individual, however, according to the data, all Those infected with H1N1 started treatment in the first seven days of the disease, so the treatment was successful and without complications.

Risk group

In case of infection with a virus in a risk group:

• women in the 1-3 trimester of pregnancy;
• elderly people at the age of sixty years;
• babies and children under seven;
• people suffering from chronic diseases: pneumonia, pyelonephritis, diabetes, congenital heart disease, cholecystitis, seasonal asthma.

If symptoms of H1N1 are found, you should consult a doctor, if there is no way to call an ambulance, you can start treatment with antiviral drugs: "Temiflu" Relenza "Zanomovir to enhance the effect of the shock dose should be taken in the first forty-eight hours.

Swine flu in children is treated mainly by means of "Temiflu" and "Relenza but they need to be applied with a special caution, since probably the manifestation of side effects, such as: heaviness in the abdomen, migraine, signs acute poisoning.

New flu can be treated with timely vaccination, it is especially important to vaccinate people at risk.

Avoid infection if you do not neglect the following measures:

• Use a disposable napkin for coughing and sneezing;
• observe the hygiene of the hands and face;
• ventilate the premises, maintain the cleanliness of household items;
• use a protective dressing;
• to carry out a timely vaccination.

Swine flu in children is usually epidemic.

The most bloody influenza virus in history

"Spaniard or Spanish flu - a virus that has claimed a huge number of lives in the history of human existence. From history it is known that in 1920-1921 (over 20 months) more than 600 million people were infected, i.е. 30 percent of the world's population. According to the number of deaths, this epidemic is among the most large-scale disasters in the history of mankind. The virus that causes such dangerous epidemics - A / 1HN1.

Symptoms of the disease:

1. Gray-blue complexion.
2. Cyanosis.
3. Infectious pneumonia.
4. Coughing with blood.
5. The more severe stages are accompanied by the presence of blood in the lungs, which subsequently leads to death from suffocation.

The disease can pass and is asymptomatic, but in this case the patient dies after a few days.

The Spanish flu acquired its name because of the place in which the pandemic was first recorded - in Spain.

Gastrointestinal influenza

Types of influenza, such as rotavirus infection or gastroenteritis, are in fact not considered to be influenza, because The causative agent of the disease is calicivirus, which leads to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract rights. In general, this disease affects children under the age of seven, and in rare cases, adults. At the same time, intestinal flu in adults with a strong immune system can proceed in a latent form, full recovery in this case occurs within a week.

Usually, the virus enters the body with non-observance of personal hygiene. In people, gastric flu was called "disease of dirty hands."

Symptoms and treatment of gastric flu

A few hours before the onset of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, there is a cough with phlegm, signs of sore throat, runny nose, which go away in a few days.

When the first signs of the disease appear, you should consult a doctor who prescribes medicinal enzymes to improve the digestive tract, such as "Activated charcoal filter" Smecta "Polysorb".

Quarantine for influenza

Quarantine is a measure aimed at preventing viral diseases. The term of quarantine, depending on the severity of the disease and the number of infected, is an average of one week.

Most often, quarantine for influenza at school or kindergarten is announced, this is due to the fact that the immune system in the child is not yet formed, and the body can not resist infection.

Quarantine is declared if more than 20 percent of children are absent from the school.

Before the expected epidemic, it is necessary to vaccinate adults and children (with the permission of the parents), to ventilate the premises, disinfect the work surfaces, and avoid a large crowd of people. It is important to remember, during the quarantine period for influenza or ARVI, preventive vaccinations and Mantoux reaction are prohibited.

Preventive measures for influenza

Doctors recommend to strengthen their body and immunity throughout the year with the help of hardening, physical education, proper nutrition and intake of vitamins and minerals. The most effective way is vaccination against influenza two to three months before the expected epidemic. In addition, in public places it is necessary to wear protective masks, changing them every three hours.

fb.ru

General characteristics of the H3N2 flu and treatment of the disease

H3N2 influenza is a relatively young strain.It is dangerous because of insufficient knowledge. In addition, this variety of the strain of the virus can provoke a person to develop complications with hemorrhagic lesions.

General information about varieties of the influenza virus

The influenza virus belongs to the family Ortomyxoviridae, which also includes Influenza A, B, C. The affiliation of the virus to one of them is determined by the antigenic properties of the virion proteins. More detailed division of different types of viruses is carried out in accordance with the subtypes existing on the surface of the virus of proteins - hemagglutin (NA) and neuraminidase (NA). At the moment, 16 subtypes of HA and 9 subtypes of NA are known.

Specific epidemics for humans are viruses of three types of HA. These subtypes include H1, H2 and H3. Viruses A and B contain NA and HA, which play the role of the main structural components of the virus. The influenza C virus does not have neuraminidase. The viral particle of influenza C contains haemagglutinin-esterase (penetrating) protein.

The strand of RNA, which is a part of the virus, is surrounded by a protein and packed into a membrane consisting of lipoproteins. Virions have the ability to agglutinate erythrocytes and enter into them with the help of virus-specific enzymes.

Influenza A H3N2 is a subtype of influenza A virus.

The name of the species of the virus is based on the names of the recombination of genes.

The influenza virus has a spherical shape, having a diameter of 80-120 nm. At the center of the viral particle are eight fragments of RNA. Each of the available RNA fragments is encapsulated in a separate capsule of lipoproteins, the surface of which has spines. Antibodies produced by the body in response to hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N), are the basis of the body's immunity against a particular type of virus.

Viral particles have an unusual property, which is uncharacteristic for viral particles, fragmentation of the genetic material and high protein variability. The proteins that make up the virus particles can dramatically change their properties. This phenomenon is called antigenic shift. It leads to the appearance of varieties of virus particles causing a pandemic.

The new form of the virus particle undergoes a slow change in properties, called antigenic drift. This phenomenon contributes to the extension of the emerging epidemic.

Susceptible to influenza virus are all age groups of the population. The source of infection in society becomes a sick person with a pronounced form of the disease.

Symptoms of the H3N2 Influenza Virus

Most often, the clinical picture of the disease manifests itself 12-48 hours after the moment of infection. This strain of the virus is characterized by a very rapid process of reproduction of viral particles in the body in the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract. The disease develops very quickly, literally for several days.

The most vivid symptoms manifested with the development of influenza H3N2 in the body are the following:

• • development of chills;
  • the occurrence of severe headaches;
  • the appearance in the body of a patient of a strong general weakness;
  • the appearance of lacrimation;
  • development of muscle pain;
  • the appearance of aches in the joints;
  • increased sweat production;
  • absence or sharp decrease in appetite;
  • appearance of dryness in the nasal cavity and pharynx;
  • the appearance of a feeling of perspiration in the throat;
  • the appearance of a dry cough;
  • pain in the chest;
  • development of photophobia.

  Sometimes during the development of the disease there is a runny nose. In addition to the characteristic symptoms of influenza in the body when you join the influenza infection of colds, the symptoms of a cold develop.

Carrying out treatment for influenza

The first vaccination against influenza was carried out in the early forties of the last century. Almost until the last period, the treatment of influenza infection was carried out by relieving the emerging symptoms. Treatment is carried out by taking antipyretic, expectorant and antitussive drugs. In addition, to strengthen the immune system is used to take vitamins.

When performing treatment procedures, patients are recommended complete rest, and during the treatment requires the use of a large amount of fluid. During the period of illness, you should stop smoking and drinking alcohol. With the development of a cold that is not complicated by a cold, it is not treated with antibiotics.

Used in the treatment of antiviral drugs affect a certain phase of the development of viral infection of the body. For effective exposure, treatment is required before the onset of the first clinical symptoms of infection in the human body. Late reception of antiviral medications is practically inactive and not effective.

To treat the influenza state, two types of medicines have been developed, which are inhibitors of neuraminidase and inhibitors of M2. A separate group of drugs - means based on interferon, which have antiviral, anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, these medications show immunomodulatory activity.

Preparations with inhibitory properties

Preparations that have proven effective in treating influenza infection are oseltamivir and zanamivir. These neuraminidase inhibiting drugs are effective against most influenza strains, including avian and porcine strains. They help suppress the spread of the virus in the human body, while reducing the severity arising symptoms while reducing the duration of the disease and the incidence of secondary complications.

The use of these drugs, depending on the individual characteristics of the body, can provoke the occurrence of side effects in the body, such as the occurrence of vomiting, diarrhea. Sometimes it is possible to develop mental disorders, hallucinations and psychoses.

The inhibitors of M2 are preparations of amantadine and remantadine, which block proton pumps, which leads to preventing the virus from entering the cell.

Prevention of the occurrence of infection with influenza

The most traditional and one of the most common methods of counteraction is the implementation of vaccination.

The influenza vaccines used can provide moderate protection against the virologically confirmed influenza strain. The effectiveness of the use of vaccination proves its effectiveness for young children.

As a rule, the vaccines used contain antigens of three strains of the virus. Vaccination is considered desirable in at-risk groups, which include children, people in old age and patients with chronic heart and lung ailments. In addition, vaccination is recommended for doctors.

To prevent the spread of infection to strangers in the room where the patient is, regular wet cleaning is carried out using disinfectants.

To disinfect the air, ultraviolet irradiation and special air purifiers are used.

.

In the case of human infection with influenza in uncomplicated its course, the prognosis is favorable. With the development of complications in the body, there are cases of death for a person.

respiratoria.ru

Flu 2016 - symptoms, treatment

Annually, viral agents of acute respiratory infections are mutated, and as a result, epidemiological indicators inevitably increase. In the current period, a record number of cases fell on influenza 2016 - symptoms and treatment of this pathologies are complicated by the appearance of new antigenic strains resistant to preventive measures and vaccination. These include subtypes of the virus group A (H1N1, H2N2) and B.

Prevention and treatment of early symptoms of influenza 2016

According to the conclusion of the World Health Organization, the only true measure of prevention is vaccination. This year, the vaccines include 3 prevalent strains of influenza:

• A / Switzerland / 9715293/2013 (H3N2);
• A / California / 7/2009 (H1N1) pdm09 is the main virus;
• B / Phuket / 3073/2013.

Despite the proven efficacy of existing vaccines, they work only in 80% of cases, so therapists advise using additional antiviral drugs.

For the treatment of the first symptoms of influenza 2016, it is recommended to use the following tools in the incubation period:

• Tamiflu;
• Relenza;
• Tyloron;
• Cycloferon;
• Kagocel;
• Arbidol;
• Ergoferon;
• Ingavirin;
• Anaferon.

It is worth noting that Relenza and Tamiflu are effective only in the first 48 hours with the appearance of early signs of the disease. If therapy begins later, it is advisable to use the remaining drugs from the list.

The main symptoms and treatment of influenza during the 2016 epidemic

With a normally functioning immune system, the clinical manifestations of acute respiratory viral infections are poorly expressed and do not even require special therapy.

In those cases when there is a severe variant of the course of influenza, the following characteristic signs appear:

• a sharp rise in body temperature above 3, degrees;
• severe weakness and drowsiness;
• reduced working capacity;
• dizziness;
• profuse sweating;
• photophobia;
• the occurrence of cough and cold only after 2-3 days from the debut of the disease;
• painful sensations behind the sternum, in the trachea;
• aches in large joints and muscles;
• nausea;
• redness of the eyes, lacrimation;
• headache;
• feeling of heaviness in the region of the superciliary arches;
• difficulty breathing on inspiration;
• dyspnea.

Rarely, such manifestations of intoxication as vomiting and indigestion are associated.

For all types of influenza, a single treatment algorithm has long been developed:

• bed rest;
• daily airing of the room;
• frequent wet cleaning;
• abundant drinking;
• diet with the predominance of light soups, boiled meat, cereals, vegetables and fruits;
• reception of vitamins (Supradin, Vitrum).

The drug approach is to alleviate the main signs of the disease.

To treat the symptoms of influenza 2016, anti-inflammatory drugs are used - Paracetamol, Ibuprofen and their analogues. They can reduce the severity of pain syndromes, aches in joints, reduce body temperature.

If there are additional signs (cough, swelling of the mucous membranes, runny nose), appropriate medications are prescribed:

• mucolytics;
• antihistamines;
• vasoconstrictor.

It is important to remember that therapy of progressive symptoms is carried out only under the supervision of a doctor, since ARVI often causes complications in the form of pneumonia, otitis and sinusitis.

Treatment of flu symptoms in 2016 folk remedies

Unconventional medicine refers to symptomatic therapy, trying to use it to cure severe forms of influenza is very dangerous.

Simple and effective folk methods of alleviating the signs of ARVI:

1. Every day, eat a clove of garlic or a little onions, deeply inhale their scent.
2. In drinking water, add fresh lemon juice (1 tbsp. spoon for 1 liter).
3. Use warm compotes or water-diluted jam.
4. Instead of tea, take herbal decoctions based on the flowers of chamomile, raspberry and currant leaves, hips.
5. Make hot 10-minute hand baths.

WomanAdvice.ru

Treatment and symptoms of intestinal (gastric) flu in children and adults

Gastrointestinal flu, intestinal flu is a simplified name for a disease, which in medicine is called gastroenteritis or rotavirus infection, since this disease is not actually a flu. The causative agent of gastroenteritis is various viruses, most often it is the virus of the order Rotavirus, and also astroviruses, caliciviruses, noroviruses and adenoviruses, which, when multiplied, lead to inflammation gastrointestinal tract.

In general, children with this disease are susceptible to this disease, the intestinal flu in children lasts longer and is more severe, as well as older people. Symptoms of gastric flu are pronounced, but at the same time, in adults with a strong immune system rotavirus infection can occur in a latent form, asymptomatic, while an apparently healthy person can be a carrier the pathogen. Usually within a week the acute period of the disease ends and after 5-7 days there is a complete recovery, during this period the patient is still contagious.

How can you get stomach flu?

The easiest way to avoid getting infected with gastric flu is to wash your hands thoroughly

The virus penetrates the human body through the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. The incubation period of this disease is from 16 hours to five days. The rate of development and severity of the course of the gastric flu depends on the concentration of the pathogen penetrated into the body and the state of the human immune system.

• One type of transmission is food. That is, the infection enters the body through unwashed fruits, vegetables, substandard dairy products. Gastrointestinal flu can rightfully be called a "dirty hand disease". Also, infection through not boiled tap water, even with banal bathing, is possible.
• The second way of infection is airborne. With loud talk, sneezing, coughing, germs from a sick person spread in the air.
• It is not excluded and contact-household way of transmission of the pathogen, especially in places of mass congestion: in offices, in kindergartens, schools, shops.

The causative agent of gastric flu is very viable, the usual detergents can not destroy it. It is sufficiently resistant to frost and high temperatures, withstands heating to 60 ° C. The intestinal virus is destroyed only by concentrated chlorine-containing disinfectants.

What happens in the body during infection?

With the penetration of rotavirus into the body, half an hour later, it is possible to detect the pathogen in the cells of the small intestine. Due to the attack of the virus, the structure of the intestinal mucosa is disturbed. This, in turn, leads to a disruption in the production of digestive enzymes responsible for the cleavage of complex sugars. Thus, non-split carbohydrates accumulate in the small intestine, this attracts an excessive amount of fluid, causing diarrhea or watery diarrhea.

Symptoms of gastrointestinal influenza

If the child is sick, then a pediatrician's call is needed to determine the possibility of treatment at home or hospitalization in a hospital. As a rule, if vomiting is observed no more than 5 times, and the stool is not more often than 10 times a day, then outpatient treatment is acceptable. About 5 days the incubation period of gastric flu lasts. Symptoms of it are quite acute and violent.

Literally a few hours before the appearance of dyspepsia (gastrointestinal disorder), first there appear a small cough, runny nose, sore throats, which quickly pass. From other infectious diseases, the gastrointestinal tract is distinguished by intestinal flu, the symptoms of which begin not with digestive disorders, but with rapidly passing catarrhal phenomena.
The main signs of gastric flu:

• Pain in the throat when swallowing, redness in the throat
• Catarrhal phenomena - a slight runny nose, coughing, sneezing, which quickly pass
• Liquid stool up to 5-10 times a day, stools abundant, gray-yellow, clayey, with a sharp odor, but without mucus and blood
• Pain in the abdomen, rumbling
• Nausea, vomiting
• High fever or subfebrile
• Growing Weakness
• With severe development of gastric flu, dehydration (symptoms) is possible.

Similar symptoms may be accompanied by other diseases, such as cholera, salmonella, food poisoning, therefore, to differentiate the diagnosis, you should immediately consult a physician (see p. also the causes of vomiting and diarrhea in a child without fever).

Treatment of gastrointestinal influenza

Specific treatment of rotavirus does not exist yet. The main treatment is aimed at reducing intoxication, normalization of water-salt metabolism, which is disturbed by diarrhea and vomiting. That is, the treatment is mostly symptomatic, aimed at reducing the negative impact of the virus on the body: to prevent dehydration, reduce toxicity, restore the work of urinary and cardiovascular systems, prevent the development of secondary bacterial infection.

• First of all, rehydration therapy is necessary, for which 1 bag of Regidron is dissolved in a liter of boiled water and drunk during the day every half hour. If desired, this solution for rehydration can be done by yourself - boiled water 700 ml (or a weak chamomile broth) + 300 ml of decoction of dried apricots (carrots or raisins) + 4-8 h. tablespoons sugar + 1 hour. spoon of common salt + 1/2 h. spoons of soda. It is indicated for repeated vomiting and diarrhea, to drink with small sips. Adults, regardless of the severity of the condition after vomiting or stool, drink 200 ml. solution, since fluid loss should be replenished in the first 6 hours. Children with frequent vomiting and diarrhea are shown hospitalization.
• When it will be possible to take food, it is necessary to strictly observe a sparing diet and to exclude from the diet all milk and dairy products, as they contribute to the rapid multiplication of pathogens in intestines.
• Also, the patient should take sorbents, such as Activated Carbon, Enterosgel, Smecta, Polysorb, STI Filter.
• With severe diarrhea with fever, doctors usually appoint Furazolidone (70 rubles) Enterofuril (300 caps. 500 suspension) or Enterol, their use helps to stop a prolonged course of diarrhea.
• And also should take medicines with digestive enzymes - Creon, Pancreatin, Mezim forte. In rare cases, phthalazole can be prescribed, but it can be used no more than 3 days.
• When the acute phase of the disease passes, it is necessary to restore the intestinal microflora. For this, there are many medicines, such as Linex, Bifiform, Rioflora-immuno, RioFlora-Balance, Bifidumbacterin Forte, Hilak Fort, etc. (cm. a complete list of all probiotics).

A few facts about intestinal flu

Does the flu vaccine help with intestinal flu?

Do not confuse two completely different diseases, two different pathogens. Of course, some signs of ordinary flu resemble symptoms of gastrointestinal flu - headache, manifestations of general intoxication, aches in joints, temperature. However, the usual flu does not cause a strong intestinal disorder and vaccination against it can not protect against infection with rotavirus infections.

Intestinal flu is very contagious

In the warm season, when there is a maximum spread of viral gastroenteritis, hygiene should be carefully observed. Gastric influenza enters the body by the fecal-oral route, that is, from a sick person through infected vomit or feces, when a healthy person is touched with a contaminated surface. Moreover, it is not uncommon for sewage, reservoirs, where the rest are bathed, contaminated food and dishes cooked by an infected person, contribute to the transmission of the causative agent of intestinal flu. Only careful washing of hands before any intake of food is able to protect against the development of gastroenteritis.

The gastrointestinal flu virus is quite hardy in the external environment

The causative agent of intestinal flu (norovirus) can remain alive for several hours on any surfaces in everyday life, even after cleaning, and, to infect a child, even a very small quantity. It is better to wash hands with soap under running water, this is more effective than using other hand products (napkins, spray).

Symptoms of the flu can not appear right away

Such intestinal symptoms as abdominal cramps, diarrhea and vomiting occur only after 1-2 days, after infection in the body, because the virus should reach the gastrointestinal tract and multiply in him. However, such pathogens as salmonellosis, etc., can cause signs of food poisoning after a few hours.

The most serious danger in children and adults is dehydration

Especially it is dangerous for children, as during vomiting and diarrhea there is a loss of fluid, it should be replenished. Moreover, with the liquid the body loses potassium, sodium and other minerals. Therefore, rehydration therapy (rehydron) is indicated. It is best to drink mineral water without gases, green tea, chamomile broth. It is not necessary to use milk, sour-milk products, bread and sweets in an acute period. During the recovery period, you should replenish the supplies of potassium, adding to the diet products such as bananas, rice porridge.

Intestinal flu not treated with antibiotics

Because this intestinal disorder is caused by a virus, antibiotics can not help here, contrary to the beliefs of many. Intestinal flu is treated symptomatically and antibacterial drugs are not indicated.

zdravotvet.ru

Similar articles